METHODS USED AND REASONS FOR SUCCESS

 METHODS USED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

 ROLE OF JOSE MARTI’S IN THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

 REASONS FOR SUCCESS OF THE INDEPENDENCE MOVT.

METHODS USED IN STRUGGLE FOR
INDEPENDENCE
– Before Cuba officially became independent – 3 military struggles to end Spanish rule or
slavery were very important
– 1. LA ESCALERA REBELLION 1843-44(BLACK REBELLION)
 BROKE OUT IN MARCH 1843
 JOINT REBELLION OF SLAVES AND FREE PEOPLE OF COLOUR
 REBELLION SIGNIFICANT BET APONTE CONSPIRACY AND FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN
1868
 STARTED IN WESTERN CUBA-STARTED IN MATANZAS PROVINCE
 LED BY FEMALE SLAVE KNOWN AS LA NEGRA CARLOTA
 CUBAS CAPTAIN GEN LEOPOLDO O’ DONNELL- COMISION MILITAR - REPRESSED THE
REBELLION- CUBAN AUTHORITIES EXILED ALL FREE BLACKS NOT BORN IN CUBA-
 REBELLION ESSENTIALLY OF BLACKS AND MULATTOS TO END SLAVERY
 RESULT OF REBELLION – WHITE CUBANS WORRIED AFTER REB- AS BLACKS
OUTNUMBERED WHITES
 WHITES SEEMED UNLIKELY TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH BLACKS TO END
SLAVERY
 CUBAS WHITE INTELLECTUALS WERE DIVIDED WHETHER TO DECLARE
INDEPENDENCE- RELY ON BRITISH FORCES OR ACCEPT US SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE
INDEPENDENCE THAT RETAINED SLAVERY
FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE – 1868-78
– Also known as 10 years war-east of Cuba-fewer railways and roadways making it difficult
for Spanish authorities to transport troops
– Pro independence groups used this knowledge and were prepared for armed uprising
centered on the town of Bayano in Orient province
– Main leaders- all Criollos – Carlos manuel de Cespedes- Salvador Cisneros, Betancourt,
Ignacio, Agramonte, Franscisco Vicente
– Summer of 1868- plotters refused to pay taxes – spread independence literature –took
support from pro reform Cubans in the west
– Cespedes wanted the revolt to begin in July 1868- majority decided in December but
when the authorities discovered the plot- Cespedes took action and started on 10 October
the revolt in his own plantation- freed all slaves and announced independence of Cuba
– Uncertainty in Spain- Cuba's Conservation Gen Fransisco Lersundi –took little action and
Cespedes was able to capture town of Bayano
– He declared independence of Cuba known as Cry of Yara Cry means shout referring to
movt in Latin America in 1820’s
– This led to various other risings- by early 1880’s colonial authorities faced with rapidly
expanding rebellion for 10 years
– Spain sent 100,000 troops to crush the rebellion- insurgents supported by local
inhabitants had good knowledge of landscape used to climatic conditions- Spanish
troops unwary of tropical climate faced problems in controlling the rebels
 Spanish tactics
– To restrict the rebel area to the east and Centre – preventing it from
spreading to west- Lersundi built a military trench more than 50 km length
across the middle of the island
– To control the guerilla activities Lersundi ordered forcible removal of
people from rural areas- into concentration camps- and towns controlled
by govt – young people were arrested ad executed
– Main reason why trocha proved to be effective was of divisions in the
rebel leadership whether to spread the rebellion to the west or not
– For in 1875 when Maximo Gomez was allowed to take forces he crossed it
with little difficulty
 Division within the rebels
– Div emerged within the rebels resulted in loss of their advantage
– Led to failure of first war of independence
– Diff combination of regionalism, conflicting class interest, arguments over military
strategy, and emerging racial and nationalist tensions
– April 1869 Rebel Constituent Assembly met proclaimed birth of new Republic of Cuba
– Meeting also called for annexation of Cuba by US set up a system her military leaders
d o not act without approval of civilians
– As Agramonte was worried with the fate of Cespedes who was deposed and killed in
1875
– Thomas Estrad palma became the new President of rebel republic
Coming of new leaders
– Younger and more radical leaders had become military leaders – Maximo Gomex and the
Cuban mulato Antonio Maceo
– Funds dwindled from US – when rebel agenda became more radical
– Restoration of political peace in Spain helped them to concentrate on defeating rebels in
Cuba
– New leaders of rebel forces convinced to take ind movt into west Cuba which was
wealthier
– By destroying sugar mills of the west they could destroy Spanish adm of vital funds- leave
thousands of slaves and peasants to join armed struggle
– Opposed by Criollo political leader as this would leave the peninsulares- who opposed
independence war continued most rebel leaders removed or resigned as there was
constant interference from civilians
 End of War
– Newly appointed Captain Gen in Cuba Gen Arsenio Martinez took a advantage of div in
rebels – promised reforms- and amnesty
– War finally ended by the pact of Zanjon in Feb. 1878
– Gave Cuba limited autonomy – freed all slaves and Chinese who had fought the rebel
Liberator Army
– All rebels were not happy – wanted complete ind and abolition of slavery- Led by Antonio
maceo rejected the treaty at Bargua in March 1878 and announced continuing with war of
independence
– With limited support Macao's protest of Baragua had little impact- and remaining rebel
forces were forced to sign treaty in May 1878 Gomez, maceo and other leaders went into
exile- despite a short uprising known as Guerra Chiquita in 1879 no major uprising till 1895
that is Second War of independence
SECOND WAR OF INDEPENDENCE- 1895-98
– First shot for Cuban ind came on 24 Feb 1895- started in eastern region-
main leaders Jose Marti & maxima Gomez landed on Southern Coast and
Antonio Maceo- and brother Jose landed on North Coast of Oriente
Province
– Outcome of second war of ind failed to meet aspirations of leaders
Spanish control ended in 1898 but replaced by US military occupation –
followed by long term dominating influence of US
 EARLY ACTIONS

 Marti took part in military actions- but after six weeks killed in a Spanish ambush
 Marti distinguished and respected civilian political elder- had serious repercussions for
the rebellion- div between rebels began to emerge before Marti’s death
 Marti had clashed with Maceo over civilian control over military leaders
 After Marti’s death – Gomez and Maceo saw the need for pol org that could obtain int
recognition and military supplies- began to organize a rev govt closer to their views that
is the need to have more independence for military leaders
 Sep 1895- rebel leaders formed a constituent assembly – Gomez and Maceo able to
include a clause made clear civilian authorities could only intervene in military
operations if absolutely necessary
 Constituent assembly chose Salvador Cisneros Betancourt- as president Tomas Estard
Palma- foreign rep of Republic in Arms Gomez as commander in chief Maceo as second
n command
– Ordinary Cubans esp blacks gave rebels considerable support- rebellion
spread quickly
– End of 1895- Gomez and Maceo commanded a force of more than 30,000
rebels 80% of them were blacks Spanish troops called them as mambises
– Spanish forces in Cuba were 20,000- no of black rebels strengthened the
determination of whites to remain under Spanish control or turn to US –
either option to prevent Cuba turning to next Haiti
– Rebels considerable success- div began to emerge in rebel leaders- those
were question of US involvement and whether rebel forces should take war
into rich sugar lands of western and central Cuba- However Gomez and
Maceo – took matters in their own hands quickly crossed the old trocha in
Oct 1895 and forces were threatening Matanzas
– No Serious battles- cane fields, mills, plantations, houses were set on fire-
rebel strategy of burning everything that could provide income to the enemy-
la tea (torch or firefighter)
– Martinez Campos was sent back by Spain as Cap gen with extra troops-first he
hoped as in 1878 bring an end to rebellion by obtaining political resolution-
however he realized much more support for the rebels than in first war
– Jan 1896 rebel forces under Gomez marched to the outskirts of Havana
proving this war of ind to be more successful than First war
– Martinez-Campos- refused to resort to severe repression for civilian pop
resigned as Cap-Gen and returned to Spain- rebels almost on verge of victory
 SPANISH REPRESSION
– New Cap-gen Gen Valeriano Weyler more prepared to impose harsh
repression- follow scorched earth policy in order to keep Cuba for Spain
– Weyler determined to push rebel forces back to the east behind the trocha
constructed during First War of Ind- built a new one west of Havana from
Mariel to Majana
– His actions forced the rebels to fight in open and Maceo’s forces suffered
many casualties as they tried to join Gomez’s troops- Weyler set up
communication system to give advance warning of rebel troop movt- Maceo’s
troops join with Gomez – rebel forces recd fresh weapons and took command
entire eastern region
– Weyler began a counterinsurgency strategy which made war infamous-
widespread use of concentration camps- strategic hamlets determined to
make full use of recontrado method of intimidating and controlling the
civilian pop.-forcible removal of pop from entire towns and villages –
civilians to be defended- rebel forces to be deprived of food & support-
New pop centres to be provided food ideally if this was not possible- might
starve
– Entire pop to be registered- First Concentration orders issued in October
1896- in Western area- harsh methods unsuccessful- as many civilians-
rather than passively accept possible disease or even starvation in
concentration camps- decided to join rebels
 REBELS ON THE DEFENSIVE
– 1896- REBELS FACING PROBLEM- Weyler had taken control of West- Gomez having
difficulties with civilian pop- Particular prob- over the tactic of la tea which angered the
sugar and coffee plantation owners- civilian also objected to Gomez promoting lower
middle class and black people- to officer appointments based on proven military skill- he
was told to promote members of white professional cases- even if they lacked military
experience
– To help him deal with this political crisis- Gomez ordered Maceo to come to east to
support him
– Maceo’s forces were recently been reinforced by new recruits- including Francisco Gomez-
son of Maximo Gomez- Gomez managed to evade new trocha and estd camp at Havana-
1896 Maceo and Gomez’s son killed in 1896- Maceo’s death w as a serious loss to rebels-
– Weyler took advantage of Maceo’s death to launch an attack on Gomez’s forces- Almost
40000 Spanish troops were sent to central Cuba –using guerilla tactics- attacked Spanish
 SPAIN’S REACTION
– Second ind War extremely costly for Spain- August 1896- Spain had also
faced rebellion in Philippines- so many troops tied up in Cuba and
Philippines- Spain forced to open negotiations with rebels in Philippines
– June 1897-more liberal govt came to power in Spain- decided to end
hostilities with Cuban rebels- Spain granted Dominion Status(form of home
rule)- a home rule govt under Jose Maria Galvez an autonomous leader from
1870’s Weyler outraged and resigned in protest- 1898-Peninsulares began to
organize violent demonstration in Havana against new govt
– Gomez not happy with Home Rule- rejected the reforms and offers of
negotiations with Spain- fighting continued with rebels determined to
achieve complete ind from Spain
 INCHARGE
SPANISH
OF SPAIN WHEN?
CAPTAIN REPRESSION

WHO 2 WAR
PARTICPATED OF IND LEADER SPAIN’S
REACTION

EFFECTS OF
OUTCOME WHERE? SPANISH
REPRESSION
JOSE MARTI’S ROLE IN STRUGGLE FOR INDEPEDENCE

– Killed early in Second war of ind- played a significant role in forging a movt which brought
in Cuban Independence
– Act as an inspiration for other Cuban movts-
– Early Actions- Cubas’ ind leaders in Exile after first war of ind – Unity bet white and black
needed to be restored within ind movt- These circumstances Jose Marti became an
inspiration for Cuba’s later Ind movt
– From 1875-travelled trough Europe –Study role of Maximo Gomez in First war of ind
convinced that civilian democracy and not military dictator should be the way forward for
Cuba-Frim believer that Cuba should attain ind on its own- strongly opposed to US and
saw it as a monster
– Joined CRC sent into exile in Spain for his part in planning the Guerra Chiquita in 1879
 MARTI’S YEARS OF EXILE

– Travelled back to New York in 1881 stayed fro 15 yrs began planning to re launch Cuba’s ind
movt- determined that independent Cuba should avoid form of govt that saw military
wealthy white landowners an d church join together to dominate rest of pop
– Soon appointed as president of CRC in 1882 sent an outline of his views to Gomez and
Maceo
– 1884- Gomez and Maceo came to New York –clash with marti regdng ind struggle to be
controlled by military commanders rather than civilians led to mart temporarily
abandoning some of his political work
– Continued to see expression of US sympathy as a mask as powerful groups in the US were
simply looking for ways to add Cuba to their empire
– In 1887- began to resume political act as by now everyone agreed on the need of civilian
control of the movt
– Formed CRP – in 1892 believed Cuban nation needed one political party
that would dedicated to the vast majority of people
– Second reason for formation of CRP was to avoid dependence on a small
no of wealthy donors who tried to use their money to limit the more
radical aspects of new ind movt individual members of the party to
contribute 10% of their earnings
PLANNING SECOND WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

– Jose Marti gave up all his paid employment and devoted himself to full
time fund raising for Second War of Ind
– Rebels plans suffered a set back when US authorities seized their ships
and weapons-Marti gathered new supplies and met Gomez –issued their
first political manifesto of Montecristo –how political victory would be
won and run by blacks and whites acting in unison- manifesto was
adopted along with slogan “La Victoria e el Sepulcro ( Victory or the
tomb)
 CLASH OF
CLEVELAND IMPACT OF
AND Mc. FIRST WAR Maine incident
Kinley as OF IND
president usa

WHY DID ECONOMIC

SECOND IMPACT(COMING
WEYLER’S METHODS OF US
IND MOVT
INVESTORS)
SUCCEED?

ROLE INFLUENEC
OF JOS
PLAYED EMARTI
AND CRP
YELLOW JOURNALISM

BY US PARTY
RESULT: SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR -1898
TELLER AMMENDMENT: stated that US occupation
should not be permanent
 WHY DID INDEPENDENCE MOVT SUCCEED?
– Cuban ind achieved not just by rebels but also combination of external nd internal factors
– IMPACT OF FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
– ECONOMIC IMPACT
– Destruction of many sugar mills in the east led to modern technologies and machinery
being introduced –many of those who suffered big losses or could not afford to invest in
sugar mills –were forced to sell sugar mills at low prices to US investors and business 1878-
US eco penetration of Cuba –US soon came to displace Spain as economic focus of Cuba’s
sugar trade
– One factor behind Second War of Ind was the decision of US govt in 1894 to put tariffs on
sugar imports –Cuban sugar exports dropped from 8,00,00 tons to 2,25000 tons in 1896-
eco created political and social atmosphere to new rebellion
 POLITICAL IMPACT

– Most significant pol impact was the rise and fall of Autonomist party and growing
influence of Jose Marti and his CRP
– After first war of Ind – reformists along with many Cubans met in Havana to form
Autonomist party –aim to achieve autonomy for Cuba those who wanted ind were
opposed to this party – and peninsulares as well
– Despite the failure of First War of Ind strengthened those feelings of collective Cuban
identity by 1878 a clear national consciousness had emerged among many Cubans –
memories of Cuban heroes and victories and acts of Spanish brutality stirred up
nationalist and patriotic feelings- First War of Ind was just the first battle in an on going
thirty year war of ind which came to an end until 1898 when US intervention finally
ended Spanish rule in in Cuba
 ROLE OF US
– Ironically role played by US which had an interest in Cuba was one of the most significant reasons why
Cuba’s ind movt was eventually successful in ending Spanish rule
– US and Cuba 1800-1850
– US had a significant int in Latin America and the Caribbean esp in Cuba in early 19 th century- As Spain lost
its colonies in Latin America in early 1820’s US began to take greater int
– 1823 US Secretary of State made it clear that US should not allow Britain or any other foreign power to
replace Spanish control with their own- Former US president Thomas Jefferson wrote to US president
James Monroe- value of US acquiring one or more of Spanish provinces –pros and cons of ether annexing
Cuba or allowing it to become independent
– His ideas later enshrined in Monroe Doctrine
– Remerged in 1840’s following US invasion of Mexico in 1846 –success of US in Mexico renewed int in US for
further imperial expansion- either purchasing Cuba or sending military force –vast majority of Cuba's sugar
was exported to USA –Cuba also exported tobacco,coffee, and cocoa close eco links – growing no of US
citizens settled in Cuba Cuba’s exiles all these factors chose US rather than any country to take over Cuba
 US AND CUBA’S SECOND WAR OF IND
– Initially US president Grover Cleveland believed US business int were
best served by Spain remaining in control of Cuba as they provided
compensation for damages done to US properties
– Weyler’s methods and of counter insurgency slowly made US business
realize that Spain was no longer able to protect their properties- call
for US intervention and annexation –or set up ind Cuban govt acceptable
to US interest
– 1896 elections –Cleveland was accused of doing nothing about Cuba
resulted in victory of Republican candidate Mc.Kinley –he was very
much in favor of intervention
 THE MAINE INCIDENT FEB 1898
– Hearst had done much via his papers to stir up public opinion and pressure
the US govt to support US intervention in Cuban ind war
– Opportunity came in feb 1898 when the US battleship Maine was blown up in
Havana harbour killing 258 soldiers Roosevelt blamed the Spanish press said
disaster had been because of Spanish mine
– US govt held an inquiry which confirmed Spain was to blame
– Maine incident stirred up public opinion “Remember the Maine” led to rush
to join forces and regular Us army units
– US govt portrayed its role in Cuba in 1898 as humanitarian intervention-
historian Louis Perez said that Cuba's guerilla forces had just defeated Spanish
troops before US decided to intervene
– Spain authorities suggested Gomez to join forces against US invasion even promising to
supply him with weapons – Spanish offer was rejected by Gomez –unlike Marti and
Maceo Gomez did not think US intervention would necessarily be bad For Cuba's ind
– Attitude of Calixto Garcia commander of rebel forces in oriente was unclear- little waring
about imminence of US intervention when it happened he wasn’t sure how to react – on
the spot decided to help the forces of US before too long they all had come to regret
their passive or active acceptance of US intervention
– US decided to declare war on Spain on 25 April not just on Cuba but also Spain's other
colonies in the Caribbean and even in pacific.
– The Teller Amendment- stated that US occupation should not be permanent
 Spanish-American war 1898
– First serious action took place not in Cuba but in Philippines- US
destroyed Spain’s pacific fleet in Manila Bay-in August occupied Manila
bay
– Bloody invasion of Philippines fiercely resisted by nationalist groups
– Spain sent its Atlantic fleet to Caribbean to defend Cuba
– US forces helped the rebel forces- an was based on bay of Santiago de
Cuba