U.S. Policies towards Cuba Cuba was a Spanish colony. The country’s economy was based on agriculture, with its sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations. These goods were exported to Europe, and later to the North America. In 1762 the country was seized by the British, however, in a year it became Spanish territory. In 1820s, when the other parts of Spanish Empire in Latin America formed independent governments, Cuba remained in Spanish possession; however, some Cubans strived for independence.
The desire for independence was partially stipulated by the prosperity of Cuban inhabitants that depended on their import trade with the European countries, partially because of their fear of slave rebellion (as it took place in Haiti), and partially because Cubans were afraid of consistently increasing power of the United States. The Cubans were afraid of the United States even more than the negative influence of Spanish colonial government. Close proximity to the United States had a dramatic impact on the history of Cuba. Throughout the 19th century the political leaders of the United States were preparing the act about Cuba being annexed to the U.S. in order to become one more star in the great American constellation.” (History of Cuba) Some Cubans also supported this idea. The U.S.
also wanted to purchase Cuban territory; however, Spanish government consistently refused all U.S. offers. Cuban rebellion of 1868 took place shortly after the U.S. civil war. The protracted war lasted for more than ten years. When the conflict seemed to be finally over, the island was near exhaustion. Partially as a response to the American pressure, the slavery was finally abolished in 1886, although Africans, who constituted the minority, remained socially and economically oppressed nation despite the formal civil equality granted in 1893.
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Although the Cuban economy may be thought of as to some as a complete failure, the command system structure can still be an effective way of creating a successful economy, if the correct steps are taken in it's planning. From the 1960's revolution to the 1990's collapse of russia, the soviet union managed to maintain the Cuban economy by trading them sugar in return for oil (web). The USSR paid " ...
During this period the poverty among the Spanish rural population led to increased immigration to Cuba. During the 1890s, strives for independence experienced the second birth. As far as the war of independence was about to begin, the United States detained three ships with supplies and arms for the rebels. This was a “terrible blow to the revolutionary effort, at the cost of nearly three years of work and $58,000, and the first of a number of serious setbacks. (History of Cuba) In April 1895 there was a rebellion, during which Jose Marti and Gomez proclaimed Cuba an independent republic. Jose Marti was soon killed in his first appearance on the battlefield at Dos Rios in eastern Cuba and became a national hero. Spanish government undertook measures to suppress the rebels.
In 1897 Spain, being afraid of the U.S. intervention and response, adhered to a more peaceful policy and promised the rebels institutions of local government. However, the rebels declined this proposal and the war continued. In February 1898 the U.S. ship Maine explodes in the harbor of Havana. The United States government accuses and blamed Spaniards.
The Spanish-Cuban-American war begins. Shorty after the explosion (February 25, 1898) Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of State puts the U.S. Navy on full alert. In April 1898 the U.S. Congress adopts the Teller Amendment. Under this Amendment, the United States disclaims intention to maintain control over the Cuban territory after the war.
Few days later the U.S. President signs the proclamation that calls for 125,000 volunteers for the U.S. Armed Forces. Finally, on April 25 the President approves the declaration of the war that was issued by the U.S. Congress (History of Cuba).
Cubans consider this approval to be an intervention in Cuban war for independence. The U.S. government wants to make Cuba American territory and in June the U.S. Marines battalion lands in Guantanamo Bay. However, quite soon (July 16, 1898), in Santiago de Cuba, Spain and the United States sign a peace agreement.
The Essay on Spanish American War Cuba Cuban Spain
... war against Spain, he stated 'For the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the Government of Spain relinquish its authority and Government ... Spanish General Weyler arrived, he controlled the rebellion in Cuba by herding the Cuban citizens into enclosed concentration camps. They were detained ...
In August Spain and the U.S. sign a bilateral armistice in Washington. Cuba doesnt take part in these negotiations. In December the U.S. and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, under which the U.S. was granted control of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and Cuba.
Although Cuba was officially granted independence, the Cuban representatives were not allowed for signing the treaty and the U.S. raised its flag over Havana. In 1899 the U.S. installs the provisional military government in Cuba under commandment of General John R. Brooke. In April 1899 the Spanish-American war formally ends with the exchange of ratifications of the peace treaty by the U.S. and Spain.
(History of Cuba) In January 1901 the finished draft of the Constitution of Republic of Cuba is published. It was then adopted in February 1901. According to the new agreements, the Army Appropriation bill with the Platt Amendment that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in March 1901, Cuba was allowed for a limited right to conduct its own debt and foreign policy. The U.S. obtained a right to intervene in Cuban affairs, when necessary.
Soon independent Republic of Cuba faced with various difficulties in result of corruption and heated debates in the government. In 1906 Cuba decided to make elections, and shortly after the elections occurred, another rebellion took place. The United States intervened in Cuban conflict, as “for there [was] just one way in which Cuban independence can be jeoparded, and that [was] for the Cuban people to show their inability to continue in their path of peaceful and orderly progress. (History of Cuba) The U.S. put Cuban territory under control, and names Taft U.S. Governor of Cuba, taking control of the Cuban government.
In 1908 General Jose Miguel Gomez, a liberal, is elected President, and Cuba obtaines self-administration. Constitutional government lasted until 1925, when Gerardo Machado frames new constitution. During his government, the Cubans gained control over their own economy, and some important national projects were held. The country made a shift away from the U.S. influence and reliance on the U.S. as a trading partner. Cuba managed to obtain self-sufficiency in its agriculture and other products, and reduced its imports from the U.S. from $200,000,000 a year to about $20,000,000 a year. The president of Cuba was so successful that he changed the Constitution so to prolong his term.
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A Cuban's Childhood My family is from Cuba. My Brother, Sister, and I were born in the Untied State. My parents emigrated to the United States when they were 5 years old. My grandparents were raised in Cuba. Both of my grandparents went to school until they were in 3 rd grade. Then they had to work to help their family bring food to the table. Believe or not, Castor has changed the Cuban ...
However, in 1940, Cuban national assembly adopts the Constitution that finally strikes the balance between the rich and the working classes, protects social and individual rights, supports minimum wage, full employment, and calls for equal pay for equal work. In 1940 General Fulgencio Batista, who enjoyed a great power and influence is elected Cuba’s 14th president (History of Cuba).
In 1948 Carlos Prio Socarras is elected president. He was less liberal than Ramon Grau San Martin, and during his period of reign the corruption increased significantly. This was partially explained by the postwar restoration of the United States and capital inflow in Havana that became the center of mafia operations. However, Carlos Prio Socarras managed to hold a few reforms, found a National Bank, etc. In 1952 Fidel Castro runs for Congress as a Candidate of the Orthodox Party.
In March the U.S. finally recognizes the government of Fulgencio Batista, who takes over in a bloodless coup de etat, and in Canada, Carlos Prio, Emilio Ochoa and others organize a meeting to unite their forces against Fulgencio Batista (History of Cuba).
This union was called the Pact of Montreal. In 1959 Fidel Castro, a constitutional liberal and nationalist, became the Prime Minister. By 1960s, as the newly established revolution in Cuba shifted to a Marxist-Leninist political system in the early months of the new decade, Cuban relations with the United States became cold and stale and finally came to an abrupt end in the early 1961. The policies pursued by the United States toward Cuba and Cuban government turned out to be not very successful.
The United States, through its numerous initiatives and policies, wanted to gain and maintain control over the Cuban territories, but in vain. Despite the U.S. efforts to control Cuba, the government of Fidel Castro held a number of reforms (nationalization of the enterprises, land reform, and combating corruption, including bans on gambling industry and extradition of the U.S. mafia).
In March 1960 Cuban government has signed the agreement with the Soviet Union. In the context of the cold war the United States saw the influence of the Soviet Union on Cuba, and, as the U.S.
The Essay on State Of Union Iraq Afghanistan Iran
I. Mr. Speaker, Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished citizens and fellow citizens: Every year, by law and by custom, we meet here to consider the state of the union. This year, we gather to determine what lies ahead of us in the next year. We gather to determine what goals we need to accomplish in the next year. We gather to determine how safe we are, and what we can do to make this ...
considered it inadmissible, the U.S. Congress made efforts to put an end to this influence. In March 1960, the U.S. President Eisenhower approves a covert action plan against Cuba. Under this plan, the U.S. wanted to hold a powerful propaganda campaign aimed to overthrow Castro. According to it, the U.S.
planned to terminate sugar purchases, to end oil deliveries, to continue the arms embargo in effect since mid-1958, and to organize a paramilitary force of Cuban exiles to invade the island. (History of Cuba) However, these actions had very little success, and, as it was already mentioned, in May 1960 the Soviet Union and Cuba established diplomatic relations. References History of Cuba. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 4, 2008, from http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/time/timetbl2 b.htm.
