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Article #33: Cuba: So Close Yet So Far

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The island of Cuba has been inhabited for republic. Martí was killed shortly
more than several thousand years by thereafter and has become Cuba's
Amerindian peoples known as the Taíno undisputed national hero.
and Ciboney. The Taíno were known to be The Spanish-American War resulted when
mostly farmers while the Ciboney were the U.S. battleship Maine was
hunter-gatherers. The name Cuba in fact mysteriously blown up in Havana harbor,
is derived from the Taíno word killing 266 men. The U.S. accused Spain,
cubanacán, which means "a central even though they had no motive, and
place". Christopher Columbus sighted the quickly passed a resolution calling for
island during his first voyage of intervention. The war started when U.S.
discovery on 24 October 1492, and forces landed in Cuba in June 1898 and
immediately claimed it for Spain. quickly overcame Spanish resistance. In
Spain possessed the island of Cuba for August a peace treaty was signed under
388 years, ruled by the governor of which Spain agreed to withdraw from Cuba.
Havana. It had an economic base of Some advocates in the U.S. supported
plantation agriculture and main exports Cuban independence, while others argued
of sugar, coffee and tobacco to Europe for outright annexation. As a compromise,
and later to North America. British the McKinley administration placed Cuba
seized the island in 1762, but returned under a 20-year U.S. trusteeship. The
it to Spain the following year. Like most Cuban independence movement bitterly
of the Spanish Empire, a small opposed this arrangement, but unlike the
land-owning elite of settlers held all Philippines, where events had followed a
the social and economic power. They were similar course, there was no outbreak of
served by a population of small farmers, armed resistance.
laborers and slaves. Theodore Roosevelt, who had fought in the
Many architectural masterpieces Spanish-American War and had some
constructed during Spanish rule still sympathies with the independence
stand today. An excellent example is the movement, succeeded McKinley as President
Catedral de San Cristóbal, Havana. of the United States in 1901 and
During the 1820s, when the rest of abandoned the 20-year trusteeship
Spain's empire in South America rebelled proposal. Instead, the Republic of Cuba
and seceeded, Cuba remained loyal, gained formal independence on 20 May
although some campaigned for 1902, with the independence leader Tomás
independence. Partly because fears of a Estrada Palma becoming the country's
slave rebellion (as had happened in first president. Under the new Cuban
Haiti) if the Spanish withdrew, partly constitution, however, the U.S. retained
because the prosperity of Cuban settlers the right to intervene in Cuban affairs
depended on their export trade to Europe, and to supervise its finances and foreign
and partly because Cuba feared the rising relations. Under the Platt Amendment,
power of the United States more than they Cuba also agreed to lease to the U.S. the
disliked Spanish colonial rule. naval base at Guantánamo Bay.
Due to the fact that Cuba is a mere 90 Independent Cuba soon ran into
miles from the United States has had a difficulties as a result of factional
profound influence on the countries disputes and corruption among the small
development. Politicians in the south educated elite and the failure of the
plotted the island's annexation as a government to deal with the deep social
means of bolstering the pro-slavery problems left behind by the Spanish. In
forces in the U.S. throughout the early 1906, following disputed elections to
1900's. In 1848 a pro-annexationist choose Estrada Palma's successor, an
uprising was defeated after several armed revolt broke out and the U.S.
failed invasion atemps from Florida exercised its right of intervention. The
proved fruitless. After that the United country was placed under U.S. occupation
States tried to buy Cuba from Spain but and a U.S. governor took charge for three
was always turned down. years. In 1908 self-government was
Rural poverty in Spain led to a restored when José Miguel Gómez was
substantial Spanish emigration to Cuba. elected President, but the U.S. retained
Among those arriving were the parents of its supervision of Cuban affairs. Despite
Fidel Castro. During the 1890s frequent outbreaks of disorder, however,
pro-independence agitation revived, constitutional government was maintained
fueled by resentment of the restrictions until 1925, when Gerardo Machado y
imposed on Cuban trade by Spain and Morales, having been elected President,
hostility to Spain's increasingly suspended the constitution.
oppressive and incompetent administration This brief article can't possibly address
of Cuba. On 15 July 1895 rebellion broke the vast history that is Cuba. I have
out and the independence party, led by listed several excellent books at the end
Tomás Estrada Palma and the poet José of this article. You can find them all at
Martí, proclaimed Cuba an independent Amazon or your local bookstore.






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