Figure 1.--Here a Cuban boy is selling "The Havana Post" in 1917. The United States left Cuba in 1902 with a democratic constitution and a lively free press. Even during the dictatorships of Machado and Batista, that fee press was not entirely extinguished. It was under Fidel Castro and the Communists. Besides the importance to democracy, it is notable how most countries without a free press are economic failures and poor. Communist Cuba is one of those countries. Source: Library of Congress LC-USZ62-65404

The United States withdrew its military forces, ending the military occupation (1902). During the brief American era, the United States suppressed yellow fever. American investors began making substantial investments which were important in developing the moribund economy which was one of the poorest islands in the Caribbean. The 1901 Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs and it did so four times after the withdrawl (1906-1920). The amendment was finally terminated (1934). The first Cuban Congress convened (May 5, 1902). This was the first representative assembly in Cuban history. It assumed the responsibility for governing the country (May 20). Thus May 20 is considered Independence Day. Thomas Estrada Palma was selected as the first President of the Republic. A revolution occurred (July 1906). President Taft intervened and set up a provisional government. The Americans restored civil order. President Staff appointed Charles Magoon govenor The United States handed power back to the Cubanst (1909). The Cubans elected José Miguel Gómez (1909). He was followed by Mario García Menocal (1913). Cuba's principal crop was sugar. The new country prospered because of the high price of sugar on the world market. This began to change after World war I when the prices of agricultural commodities including sugar began to decline (1920). Cuba experienced a financial crisis. The United States provided a $50 million loan which helped stabilize the economy. Alfredo Zayas was elected president after the price of sugar began to fall (1921). Opposition to him became wudespread and include widespead civil disorder. Independent Cuba was obstensibly a democratic republic. The country was, however, during the republican period ruled by authoritarian political and military figures supported by wealthy landowners and businessmen. General Gerardo Machado was elected president (1925). He was re-elected (1928). He proved to be Cuba's first real dictator. As a result of increasing opposition, Machado during his second term declared martial law. Supporters in the Cuban Congress permitted him to suspend civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press and assembly. Fulgencio Batista, an army sergeant, staged an unusual non-commissioned officer coup overthrowing President Machado (September 1933). Given Machado's unpopularity, there was little resistance. Machado fled the country. Batista at first controlled the country behind the scenes. He was elected president (1940), but lost the presudency later (1944). He did not run in the next election (1948). Batista decided to run again, but deciding he would not win an ekection, he seized power in another coup (1952). He suspended the election and began ruling by decree. Cuba polticans abd various civilian governments demanded the reinstatement of the 1940 Constitution and a return of democratic rule. The Batista era was notable for extreme levels of corruption. Fidel Castro who had entered politics befor Batista's coup staged an attack on the on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago (1953). He was arrested and tried and then went into exile in Mexico.

American Occupation (1898-1902)

The United States was not sure what to do with its new possessions in the Caribbean and Pacific. We do not at this time have extensive details about the discussions in Washington concerning what to do with Cuba. One has to be careful when assessing the American occupation because views of this era commonly reflect an author's ideology more than a disapassioned assessment of fact. It is true that the United states was concened about leaving an independent Cuba. Various factors were at play here. One is geography. Cuna was only 60 miles from Florida. Race was another factor. Cuba had a large black/muklatto population, about half the total population. It is difficult to assess the precise concerns of American policy makers. Some appear to have thought that Cuba was incapable of self rule. Southeners were uncomfortable with a racially mixed country so close to the UnitedStates. Even so, often loss in this discussion is the fact that the United States did grant independence, albeit with restrictiins. This is not what other countries were doing. The other colonial powers (Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Russia) were doing. They were still activelly acquiring colonies in competitiin with each other, in fact this competition actually sparked World War I. No other country granted a colony independence until after World War II with the exception of the British dominions. The United States during the beief occupation made improvements in the island's infrastructure. The United States also suppressed yellow fever--a very important accomplishment. American investors began making substantial investments which were important in developing the moribund economy which at the time of independence was one of the poorest islands in the Caribbean. Cuba in fact was the fuirst country voluntarily granted independence after four centuries of European imperialism begun with Columbus' discovery of the Americas. The United States withdrew its military forces, ending the military occupation (1902). The 1901 Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs and it did so four times after the withdrawl (1906-1920). The Platt Amendment was finally terminated (1934).

Independent Government

The first Cuban Congress convened (May 5, 1902). This was the first representative assembly in Cuban history. It assumed the responsibility for governing the country (May 20). Thus May 20 is considered Independence Day. Thomas Estrada Palma was selected as the first President of the Republic.

Revolution and Intervention (1906-09)

A revolution occurred (July 1906). President Estrada asked for American assistance. President Taft intervened and set up a provisional government. The Americans restored civil order. President Staff appointed Charles Magoon govenor The United States handed power back to the Cubanst (1909).

Cuban Government

The Cubans elected José Miguel Gómez (1909). He was followed by Mario García Menocal (1913).

Sugar Economy

Cuba's principal crop was sugar. The new country prospered because of the high price of sugar on the world market. This began to change after World war I when the prices of agricultural commodities including sugar began to decline (1920). Cuba experienced a financial crisis. The United States provided a $50 million loan which helped stabilize the economy.

World War I (1914-18)

Cuba was still a newly independent country when World War I broke out in Europe. Cuba's economy was based primarily on sugar, exporting sugar. Cuba was the world's largest exporter. Sugar became a particularly scarce food commodity during the War. In Germany and Austria-Hungary it became sarce because of the Royal Navy blockade. Among the Allies it became scarse because of American policies toward Cuba. Herbert Hoover oversaw the International Sugar Commission who sought to limit the sugar prices. Unlike other agricultural commodities Hoover sought to regulate, sugar was mostly imported and Cuba was the primary source. The inevitable impact of price controls set at abnormally low levels was to produce a shortage. The Cuban Government was prepared to cooperate with the United States after America declared war on Germany (April 1917). This meant that the Allies had access to an important source of sugar. President Mario Menocal proposed that Cuban join with the United States in pursuing "international justice". The Cuban Congress approved the policy. Cuba's geographical position made it difficult to pursue any other policy. Cuba was an important part of the American defenses of the Panama Canal. The United States had a naval base at Guantanamo. Cuba's declaration of war on Germany meant that it was virtually impossible for German U-boats to operate in the Caribbean. Most of the other islands were British and French colonies abd thus histile to Germany. The Cubans interred German and Austrian citizens in a camp. The Cubans sent a hospital unit of 100 Cuban doctors and nurses which set up on the Western Front. The Government approved a conscription law and 25,000 Cuban soldiers were preparing for transport to France when the Armistice ended the War (November 1918). The sugar price issue with the United States was finally resolved and Cuban planters increased production. The shortage turned into a glut after the War and the price plummeted to only 1.8¢ a pound, adversely affecting the economy.

Alfredo Zayas

Alfredo Zayas was elected president when after World War I the price of sugar began to fall (1921). Opposition to him became wudespread and include widespead civil disorder. Independent Cuba was obstensibly a democratic republic. The country was, however, during the republican period ruled by authoritarian political and military figures supported by wealthy landowners and businessmen.

Gerado Machado

General Gerardo Machado was elected president (1925). He was re-elected (1928). He proved to be Cuba's first real dictator. As a result of increasing opposition, Machado during his second term declared martial law. Supporters in the Cuban Congress permitted him to suspend civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press and assembly. Machado raised political corruption to new levels.

Fulgencio Batista

Fulgencio Batista, an army sergeant, staged an unusual non-commissioned officer coup overthrowing President Machado (September 1933). Given Machado's unpopularity, there was little resistance. Machado fled the country. Batista at first controlled the country behind the scenes. He was elected president (1940), but lost the presudency later (1944). He did not run in the next election (1948). Batista decided to run again, but deciding he would not win an election, he seized power in another coup (1952). He suspended the election and began ruling by decree. Cuba polticans abd various civilian governments demanded the reinstatement of the 1940 Constitution and a return of democratic rule. The Batista era was notable for extreme levels of corruption. Fidel Castro who had entered politics befor Batista's coup staged an attack on the on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago (1953). He was arrested and tried and then went into exile in Mexico. The Castro Government gives a largely distorted view of Cuban history. Their description of Batista, however, is largely accurate. Machado had been corupt. Bagtista raised coruption to new levels. He got on well with American gangsters in large measure because he was essentially a gangster himself and ran Cuba like a criminal overlord. Besides large amounts of money made through controling the national treasury and government agencies, Batista's thugs also regularely extorted money from Cuba businessmen. Batista besises contriling the army and police had various ways of squeezing money out of businessmen. One was contol of the Cuban labor federation. This coruption was why so many businessmen supported the revolytionary movement against Batista. José "Pepín" Bosch running the Bicardi company, for example, suported what he thought was a democratic revolution. [Gjelten]

Cuban Society

Castro and his propaganda machine paints a picture of political coruption, gangsters, and torism based on prostitution and gambling. But this is in fact a caricature of republican Cuba before the Revolution. This is not to say that there were not corupt politicans and American gangsters. It is to say that the picture the Communists paint is not a fair assessment of Cuban society. Quite a number of memiors and other studies give a much more representative view of the rich society that Castro destroyed. One description of the Bacardi family provide a much more comprehensisev view of Cuba before the Revolution. [Gjelten]

Sources

Gjelten, Tom. Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause.

Created: 7:26 PM 6/25/2013
Last updated: 11:57 PM 1/8/2016