Members:

Jowayne Hudson
Renae Henry
Kavaughan Grant
Dean-jay Knight.
Melissa Taylor

Page | 1
 Table of Contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………….3
Acknowledgement …………………………………………………….4
Cause of the Cuban Revolution:
(i) Politically …………………………………………………5
(ii) Economically……………………………………………...
(iii) Socially …………………………………………………..
Bibliography ………………………………………………………….

Page | 2
 Introductions

The Cuban revolution (1953 – 1959) was an armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro’s 26th
of July Movement, and its allies against the authoritarian government of the Cuban present,
Fulgencio Batista. The revolution began in July, and continued sporadically until the rebels
finally ousted Batista on January 1st 1959, replacing his government with a revolutionary
Socialist state. The 26th of July Movement later reformed along communist lines, becoming the
Communist Party in October 1965.

The Cuban Revolution had powerful domestic and International repercussions. In

particular, it reshaped Cuba’s relationship with the united states. Efforts to improve diplomatic
relations have gained momentum in recent years.

This Project gives a mild overview over some of the major causes of the Cuban
Revolution.

Page | 3
 Acknowledgement

Special thanks would like to be expressed to these few people.

1. Mrs. Creary-Martin for giving us this educative and informative project on the Cuban
revolution.
2. God for giving us the health and strength for starting and completing this project.

Page | 4
 Causes of the Cuban Revolution
Politically

The Spanish -American War: In march 1897 William McKinley, who had
campaigned for Cuban independence became president (1897-1901). The united states
1 still did not intervene immediately because Spain again promised reform in Cuba, and
replaced ‘butcher’ Weyler. In February 1898, a battleship, the USS Maine, blew up in
Havana harbor with the loss of 260 lives. The US court blamed this on Spanish mines.
To avoid war, Spain offered concessions, but the united states demand immediate withdrawal
from Cuba. This was refused and in April the United states declared war. There was fighting in
the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico. In Cuba, itself, Spain was defeated in ten weeks. The
main battle took place at sea, off Santiago de Cuba in the south-east, where Admiral William
Sampson sank the Spanish fleet, which was made up of old and inferior ships.

The Platt Amendment: The Platt amendment gave the United States close control over

2 Cuban affairs after the withdrawal of the military government. Cuba could not:

(a) Conclude treaties with foreign powers;

(b) Borrow money in excess of what its normal revenue could repay
(c) Completely control its internal affairs in such matters as sanitation and health.
(d) Refuses the United States bases and Coaling stations
(e) Allow any other country to have basses
(f) Prevent the United States intervening in Cuba for ‘the protection of life, liberty and
individual property.’

The convention was unwilling to accept the Platt amendment since it limited Cuban
independence. The Platt amendment governed American relations With Cuba until it was
withdrawn in 1934.

Page | 5
 The Cuban War of Independence: The demand for independence had remained

3 simmering since the end of the Ten Years War in 1878. During the last decade of the
century Cuban Nationalist were encouraged and supplied with money and arms by
exiles in the United States, and there was mounting discontent, particularly among Afro-Cubans.
The Spark which turned this discontent into war in 1895 was a result of the stranglehold that the
USA had on the Cuban Economy through the sugar market. The war began in February 1895
with rising in Matanzas, the province to the east of Havana. It was fought under the leadership of
Jose Marti. The war ended on December 10, 1898 with the Treaty of Paris.

Jose Marti

Jose Julian Marti (1853-1895) was a writer and patriot born into a well-to-do Cuban
Family. He carried on a life-long opposition to Spanish rule, beginning as a schoolboy. In 1869
he founded a newspaper, Patri Libre, the Contents of which led to his being imprisoned for two
years, and then banished from the island. In 1879 in New York he formed the Cuba
Revolutionary Committee for the purpose of achieving the island’s independence. In 1895, with
the assistance of revolutionaries who had taken part in the Ten Years War, he launched the War
of Independence. He died during the war.

Economically and Socially

America was largely dominating the Cuban Economy. All or almost all of the

4 industries in Cuba were owned by American business men. From the Sugar industry to
the Oil refinery. All the other businesses were owned by Americans

Cuba was dubbed ‘The American Playground.’ From 1919 to 1933 there was

5 prohibition in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of Americans came to Cuba for
liquor etc. Gambling and Vice flourished and this attracted more tourist. Casinos and
Hotels were renowned which attracted still more renowned.

Page | 6
 Bibliography

Gilmore, John et al. Longman Caribbean History: Freedom and Change. Pearson Educators,
2004.

Dyde, Brian et al. CSEC History: Decolonization and Development. Macmillan Educators, 3rd
Edition, 2009.

Page | 7