Cuba and the United StatesBFFs?

HistoryCuba the last Latin American country to

achieve independence from Spain

Between 1868 and 1878 Cuba fought a war with Spain ending in a truce whose peace agreements Spain later ignored. (Ten Years War)

In 1898, the USA declared war on Spain and won. Spain cedes Cuba to the United States.

Independence Cuba is officially declared an independent nation in 1902

with the election of Tomas Estrada Palma.

The US Platt Amendment places Cuba under the protection of the US government and gives the USA the right to intervene in Cuban Affairs.

The Platt Amendment promised the US would withdraw troops from Cuba provided seven promises were kept including “That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba”

Between 1906 and 1934 when the Platt Amendment was rewritten, the USA intervened in Cuban sociopolitical crises at least four times.

In 1904 President Theodore Roosevelt also altered the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the USA had the right to intervene in Latin America in cases of "flagrant and chronic wrongdoing by a Latin American Nation

It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. If every country washed by the Caribbean Sea would show the progress in stable and just civilization which with the aid of the Platt amendment Cuba has shown since our troops left the island, and which so many of the republics in both Americas are constantly and brilliantly showing, all question of interference by this Nation with their affairs would be at an end.

-Theodore Roosevelt: “State of the Union Address” December 6th 1904

In 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt rewrote the Platt Amendment as the U.S.-Cuba Treaty of Relations

Four of the seven “promises” were revoked, leaving only the US’ right to maintain a military base at Guantanamo Bay.

This was part of Roosevelt’s “Good Neighbour” policy, which proposed non-intervention in Latin American affairs beyond “counsel”. The “Good Neighbour” policy would eventually be shelved in 1945 because of the Cold War.

According to Samuel Farber, the US’s continuous presence in Cuban affairs lead to a kind of “fatalism” among the political and governing classes.

“The principal weakness of the Cuban capitalist class may have been its view of the US government as its political guarantor of last resort….nothing could be done without US approval.” (Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959

Jose MartiPoet, journalist and statesman,

born in Havana in 1853.

Poet, Statesman, and Journalist, concretized both Cuban and Latin American identity in his writings.

Was arrested in 1868 for protesting the practice of slavery in his writings.

Lived in exile in Spain and Mexico following his arrest. Returned to Cuba in 1878

Began writing articles for multiple Latin American Newspapers including La Nacion in Argentina.

One year after returning to Spain was once again accused of trying to overthrow the Spanish and was exiled to New York

Marti’s time in New York was fruitful, he discovered the poetic work of Walt Whitman and honed his own lyrical style. Published several works of poetry including Versos de Cuba and Versos Sencillos.

Political views were “Classical liberal” believed in democracy, Cuban independence and the abolishment of slavery.

Was also extremely wary of the United States’ influence on Cuba. In “Nuestra America” he exhorts the Latin American Nations to present a United front against their northern neighbor. In the prologue to Versos Sencillos, he condemns the US’ designs on Cuba in strong language.