Cuba History Largest Island Caribbean Spanish Colony until 1898

Cuba

Colonial Cuba Spanish Colony: Creole landowners raised cattle and crop mix tobacco, coffee, sugar cane British occupied Havana and trade potential of Cuba was realized 1790’s major slave revolt in French Haiti and many French planters moved to Cuba establishing a new sugar industry and importation of slaves to Cuba Cuba develops into large-scale slave society By 1840s a minority of planters wanted US to annex Cuba for the following reasons: US major trading partner & afraid slave trade might be ended by Spain 1698 Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, proclamation of independence from Spain and started Ten Years War concluded with Treaty of Zanjon in 1878 War devastated much of Cuba, leaving US planters taking over may ruined farms

Independence Maximo Gomez & Antonio Maceo revolutionary war heroes, revived independence movement Jose Marti, poet, Cuban nationalist nd uprising against Spain, guerilla war, bloody draw Spanish commander Valeriano Weyler :brutal Maine blew up in Havana Harbor in 1898 killing 268, US declares war Superior US Navy defeats Spanish in port of Santiago Insurgents help fight on side of US but are left out of peace settlement US military occupation of Cuba

Cuba US occupation improves conditions in Cuba, elimination of disease by sanitation & education Local and National Government put on place in 1901,liberal constitution and universal male suffrage Tomas Estrada Palma first elected president in 1902, US troops left sovereign state Platt Amendment to constitution allows US to intervene in Cuba and several US bases including Guantanamo US companies had acquired large parts sugar and other industries Fraudulent elections led to US intervention US Ruled Cuba US interventions Price run up in sugar in 1920 lead to overproduction and ruin during 1929 Wall Street Crash, US Purchased more in Cuba

Revolution University of Havana students start protests, Platt Amendment not liked, small communist party started in 1925 Gerardo Machado elected in 1924, very popular with people, public works and diversify economy. Machado becomes increasingly repressive Students oppose and assassinations/shootouts occur Carlos Manual Cespedes takes over with army support Problems

Batista 1933 Humble background rose ranks of army, had backing of enlisted men Nationalists: benefactor to the people, unions, social welfare, public works programs Platt amendment annulled in 1934 Constitution of 1940> democratic government by the people, US aide and improving economic policy Elections honest, Batista lost election of 1944 Dr Grau of Autenticos party

Batista Grua allows corruption and violence, problems leading to 1952 election 1952 coup d’estate by Fulgencio Batista was welcomed Dictator had some improvements with public works projects Cuba was making progress in education with 80% literacy rate & 65% of national income to workers 56 % population rural with much lower living standards Fidel Castro a law student at Havana University plans to overthrow Batista by attacking Santiago in July 26,1953 with 160 students Most killed but Fidel and Raul Castro escaped but captured Public outcry prevented them being killed, now Castro Nationalist hero, trial Castro “History will absolve me” and speech about corruption in Cuba become major document of 26 July Movement

Castro released from prison in May 1955 and soon begins new plot to overthrow Batista! December 1956, Castro and 82 men retruned to Cuba after training in Mexico Ambushed but 12 survivors form guerrilla force which will slowly expand.{26 July Movement} Batista winning militarily but losing propaganda war with brutal tactics Castro wins major battle in 1958 Jan Batista fled to Dominican Republic

After the Revolution To gain power Castro had made alliances with many opposition parties including the Communists Idea that new society had to be created since so many problems in Cuba in past leaderships Castro had promised free elections but none held and he appointed judges and stopped free press. Companies, banks nationalized US relations strained Castro expropriated all US property Many middle class fled to Miami from new dictator By 1960 Eisenhower placed total embargo on US exports to Cuba Suspicion builds

Bay of Pigs US had been covertly training Cuban exiles Plan to spark anti-Castro Revolution in Cuba Assumed unpopular Castro with unready military Kennedy did no want to aggravate Cold War so no “official” support What problems may arise?? April 15, 1961 invasion force lands Bay of Pigs Crushing defeat by Castro, no Cuban support from people or air support by US October 1962 U-2 finds Missiles Standoff Kennedy v. Khrushchev Détente to follow near nuclear war

Revolutionary State Goals of Revolution included lesson dependence on sugar by diversifying agriculture, creating industry 4 year plan made to restructure economy by central planning & workers motivated by moral incentives not material[money] What might be problems? Economy lagging and no capital to make changes also US Embargo Soviet Union provides money and technology By 1963 Soviets recommend going back to sugar based economy Supply and demand out of balance shortages, problems Castro accepted Soviets recommendation and developed sugar wanted 10 million tons by 1970 Cuba wanted to control sugar by being largest producer Radical restructuring, many leave to US Rationing introduced do to imbalances Rationing part of Cuban Life Free medical care and SS established

Cuba Cuba promoted literacy and women where given equal rights Revolution inspired a sense of national pride in some citizens and anti-American Create New Man Cuba promote training of anti-government guerrillas hurts him with Latin American neighbors 1970 produces 8.5 million ton record but not 10 Problems>One crop economy, declining sugar prices and dependence on Soviets for oil, etc..

Constitution created by Communist leaders based on Soviet Union Economy run by Communist planners Send troops to Marxists struggles > such as Angola [20K troops to 1989 ]& Ethiopia 1979 Cuban advisors sent to Nicaragua set help new regime 1980 growing signs people Cuba unhappy Castro allowed 125K, those unhappy and criminals to leave from port of Mariel, Mariel Boat Lift “free markets” slowly allowed to operate along official ration system Inflation rates of 20-30% Soviet Union main trading partner supporting Cuba which ended in 1990’s Collapse of Communism in Europe increased Cuban economic problem and oil shortages