After the Spanish-American War, Cuba stopped being a Spanish colony and moved under U.S. control for a few years before becoming formally independent in 1902. But that independence came with limits: the U.S. kept major influence over Cuban affairs through the Platt Amendment and leased Guantánamo Bay.

What changed

  • Spain gave up sovereignty over Cuba in the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
  • The United States then occupied Cuba militarily from 1898 to 1902.
  • Cuba became the Republic of Cuba on 20 May 1902.

Why it still was not full freedom

The Platt Amendment let the U.S. intervene in Cuban affairs and limited Cuba’s foreign policy, which made the new republic something like a U.S.-backed protectorate in practice. It also led to the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, which remained a major symbol of that unequal relationship.

In simple terms

Cuba went from Spanish colony, to U.S.-occupied territory, to independent republic, but with strong U.S. influence hanging over it for decades.

If you want, I can also give you a 3-sentence version or a timeline.