Date Created:
Year Created: 1823
Historical Theme:
Description: In his "Ripe Fruit" Theory, John Quincy Adams argued that Cuba, then a Spanish colony, would gravitate toward the United States once its unnatural connection with Spain was severed. Comparing Cuba to a ripe fruit, Adams argued that the laws of political gravitation would bring the island under U.S. control, much like an apple falling to the ground. His theory highlights the U.S.'s interest in Cuba and its belief that annexation would be crucial for the Union. It advocates for patience rather than the forceful seizure of the island.
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