1890′S Cuban Revolution Essay, Research Paper

1890’s Cuban Revolution

The makeup of Cuba in the late nineteenth century is

much the same as it is today. Nearly 66% of the population

are white and of Spanish descent. About 22% are of mixed

racial heritage, and 12% of the populace is black. Cuba

lies to the south of the United States, and is most easily

accessible by boat from the Florida region. It is this naval

quality that encompasses the island.

During the Ten Years War, between 1868-1878, the

Cubans fought against Spanish rule in their country.

Rebellion broke out around the island, and the rebels joined

under a united leader, Carlos de Cespedes, a wealthy planter,

who proclaimed independence from Spain. Nearly 200,000

lives were lost, until the Treaty of El Zanjun was signed.

This agreement promised the government would reform and

abolish slavery and the tyrannical rule it held over the

Cubans. The treaty was not honored however, and resistance

was again put up in 1885.

The Spanish king at the time Alfonso XIII, encouraged

the use of concentration camps for revolutionaries caught in

battle. The Cuban Revolution became extremely bloody due to

the use of Guerrilla warfare. This military operation,

conducted on its home terrain, consisted of inhabitants fed

up with oppressive rule. The men involved operated from

bases located deep in the jungle, dense forests, and high

rocky elevations. Guerrillas depended on natives for food,

shelter, and useful information. While striking swiftly was

a must, the bands of men were specialized in the undetected

raiding of enemy camps. They could ambush a patrol, kill the

soldiers, and supply their entire company in a matter of

hours. Cutting communication between enemy lines became a

prime target, once severed from the army, a battalion could

be attacked, disarmed, and their reserves used for the

revolutionaries.

It was the unfortunate, destitute populace that

rebelled. Having little to lose they could fight on home

turf and soon, much to there delight had help from the United

States. While in port in Havana on February 15, 1898 the

U.S. Battleship Maine was sunk by a large explosion. The

Americans declared war on Spain immediately, attacking all

Spanish naval vessels in the area, marking the beginning of

the Spanish-American War. Finally on July 18, 1898, George

Dewey, a U.S. naval officer commanded the fleet that destroyed

Spanish vessels in Manila. Upon being defeated once again,

Spain surrendered, giving up Cuba and the Philippines as free

countries. Therefore with the help of the United States,

and there own fighting rebellion within the country the

inhabitants of Cuba gained freedom from Spanish dictatorship,

becoming the Cuban Republic in 1901 and electing Tomas

Estrada Palma as president in 1902.