Cuban Independence & Spanish American War
Cuban Revolution & the Cold War in the tropics
1920s
Prohibition
Jose Marti [1853-1895]- poet & rebel leader for
Cuban independence from Spain
in the U.S.
brings
tourist
boom to
Cuba
U.S. entry into Cuba during independence war marked the
beginning of U.S. intervention into foreign countries affairs &
establishing their institutions of imperialism.
1898-
U.S.S
Maine sinks in a
Cuban harbor &
U.S. enters war
with Spain in
Cuba.
Removal of Platt Amendment
In 1934 the US removed the Platt Amendment in the Treaty of Relations. It would
bring to power the military general Fulgencio Batista. His pro-American policies
plummeted Cuba into abject poverty for majority of the Cubans while enriching the
American investors and himself with cutbacks from the investors. Batista’s reign was
corrupt with political dissidents being executed and silenced.
The poor were in uproar but Batista silenced them with brutal tactics.
The economic situation was dire and only the people in Batista’s circle were getting
rich
Americans controlled utility companies, banks, public works, hotels, cane fields, sugar
factories, railways and many more business. Socially it brought decay with the mob
owing hotels & casinos being a business that encourage prostitution.
26th July Movement [Cuban Revolution ]
1st attempt by Castro lead rebels [150 men] on Moncada
Barracks attack. Failed & Castro put on trial.
Delivered “History will Absolve Me” speech.
1955 [2yrs later] was granted amnesty & they fled to Mexico
where Argentine Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara joins them.
25th Nov 1956, 82 rebels boarded the Granma & set out for
Cuba.
Landed under heavy attack in Oriente & then headed out for
fighting in Sierra Maestra mountains.
1958 fighting intensified with Batista fleeing Cuba on Jan 1st,
1959. 3 days later rebels celebrate with symbolic march into
capital La Habana.
Cold War & Cuba
Platt Amendement1.
2.
3.
US right to military intervention in Cuba
Restrict Cuba from signing treaties or seeking loans without approval.
Cuba to provide U.S. with naval coaling stations.
1898
U.S. intervened in Cuban independence
then take control of Cuba through Platt
Amendement
1903
U.S fomented secession of Panama
from Columbia & sent troops to support
rising. 50 days after Panama breaks off
they sign agreement to allow U.S.
control of canal.
1960s Cuba- Soviet deal for sugar in exchange for money, oil & other
goods was the turning point of decline in U.S. Cuba relations.
Bay of Pigs- 1961- 1400 fighters (CIA trained in Guatemala) landed
Bahia de Cochinos. Lasted 2 days after which 300 died & Castro took
1000 prisoners & later exchanged them for $50m worth of food &
medicine.
Castro would further his Socialist policies eventually completely breaking U.S.
ties. This reached a peak in 1962 in what was termed the Missile Crises. U.S.
President J.F. Kennedy took harsh criticism for not being able to stop the
construction of Soviet missile launch stations in Cuba during the height of the
Cold War.