CARIBBEAN HISTORY

THEME: UNITED STATES IN THE CARIBBEAN- 1776-1985

TOPIC: United States in Cuba (1898)

Cuba was of strategic importance to the U.S. because it lay across the mouth of the Gulf of
Mexico and blocked the United States’ access to the Caribbean. Cuba commanded the important
shipping lanes of the Yucatan Channel and the Florida Strait. Havana, the capital and main port
of Cuba was the key port in the Spanish trade system. America tried at least four times to buy
Cuba: 1848, 1852, 1854 and 1859. Each offer was refused by the mother country, Spain. If Cuba
became an independent country America could have a deeper and profitable relationship with
her.

The Cuban War of Independence or the Spanish Cuban War began in 1895. It was led by the
great patriots Jose Marti, Antonio Maceo and Maximo Gomez. Their main aim of course was to
get Spain to grant them their independence. The one lesson that they had learnt from their
previous battle for independence (Ten Years War (1868-1878) was that it would take much
"convincing" to do this. It seemed as if the nineteenth (19th) century was going to end, and they
would still be ruled by Spain.

The then U.S. President maintained neutrality as the war progressed into its second year although
he was seriously pressured by both the American Public and Congress to become involved. Why
then was the decision taken to get involved in 1898?

● Economic Interests

Investments

1. By 1898 the U.S. had invested some fifty million dollars ($50M) in Cuba.

2. American merchants, ship owners and bankers (financers) invested in the production and
marketing of Cuban sugar.

3. The U.S. invested also in coffee, cocoa and tobacco plantations and cattle ranches, railway
construction and mining: for example, Chrome Mines in Santiago were controlled by the
Pennsylvania Steel Company.

Trade
4. Eighty-three per cent (83 %) of Cuba's exports went to the U.S. In return they bought
foodstuff, lumber and manufactured goods from the U.S. Annual trade figures were estimated at
one hundred million dollars ($100M) or thirty-eight per cent (38%) of total imports. This
includes half of Cuba's total tobacco output.

Businesses
5. The United States not only invested in various industries and companies, but they actually
bought and operated several economic enterprises. For example, the American company Edwin
and Atkins bought and operated the Soledad sugar estates while New York investors began
operating the Tuinucua estate in 1893. There were of course a number of other commercial
activities that they owned and operated.

● Defense
She desired to annex Cuba for strategic reasons. Cuba commanded the approaches to the
Windward Passage while its proximity to Florida and the Central American mainland would
certainly be of use in the near future. It would be the perfect site therefore for a naval or military
base.

● Public Pressure and Campaign

American Journalism or the "Yellow Press" played an integral part in ‘forcing' America's hand.
There was strong competition between the New York Journal owned by Randolph Hearst and the
New York World owned by Joseph Pulitzer. Each sought to outdo the other in sensationalism, the
hallmark of U.S. mass media. They presented fantastic graphics: artist's impressions of what they
had heard. Their shocking headlines of the war in Cuba, took sensational journalism to its peak
even though it meant ‘bending or twisting' the truth at times. They went for headlines that caught
one's attention and stirred one's passion. They reported endless stories of Spanish' excessive
abuse of innocent Spanish peasants who were said to be feeding and hiding rebels in the
countryside.

On hearing this, the U.S. public began to put pressure on the Government to stop the war. As the
watchdog and consummate humanitarian America felt it was her ‘duty' and Manifest Destiny to
intervene. The blowing up of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbour provided an excellent excuse
for America to enter into the war. The ship was docked in the harbour in February 1898 to
protect American life and property in Cuba.

American Life

1. In 1897 American Red Cross members had entered Cuba to provide essential supplies of
food and clothing for the suffering Cubans.

2. As you would imagine due to their extensive investment in Cuba, there were quite a
number of U.S. businessmen residing on that island: foremen, accountants, managers and
so on.

American Property

1. They had $50Million worth of investments that was worth defending.

2. American Steamship involved in the lucrative trade with Cuba. According to steamship
owners the war was costing them some $100Million per year.

3. It was reported that as the war gathered momentum the rebels using guerilla tactics burnt
plantations and sugar mills throughout the island. Remember that the U.S. owned quite a
number of sugar plantations and mills in Cuba.
The ship was mysteriously blown up killing all 266 Americans reported to be on board. The
Yellow Press went into frenzy! Headlines after headlines rang out, demanding U.S. intervention.
Here is a nice example: “Remember the Maine to Hell With Spain” The U.S. pointed fingers
at Spain who looked puzzled. Could it have been the Cuban nationals eager to force the U.S.
involvement in the war so they could be assured of victory against their Spanish masters? Or
could it have been an accident? The Americans interpreted it as an act of war and immediately
took offensive measures.

-April 19, 1898

The U.S. demanded compensation for her damages. She presented an ultimatum to Spain, which
called for her (Spain) to withdraw from Cuba and declare the island free. Of course, Spain
refused!

-April 25, 1898

President W. McKinley with Congress permission of course, declared war on Spain. The war
now changed from the Cuban War of Independence to The Spanish American War. The U.S.
was assured of military victory. Spain was now a weak power. She was defeated in three (3)
months. The ‘war' took place in three countries: the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

● Results

1. Cuba gained its independence from Spain

2. The U.S. paid Spain $20Million for the loss of her territories

3. A Peace Treaty was signed in Paris December 1898 to seal the above decisions.

4. The U.S. immediately took full control of the new nation of Cuba. She underwrote the
cost of repairing much of the damage done during the war. She also opened schools and
started other social projects.

5. The people who had been in the reconcentrados (concentration camps) were given food,
seeds, cattle and equipment to start their lives over again

6. The United States got Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. The last two territories
afforded them a foothold in the Pacific Ocean.

Cuba received the bulk of U.S. attention. By the Teller Amendment the U.S. recognized Cuba's
independence and promised not to interfere in their domestic matters. This was followed by the
military occupation of Cuba from 1898 to 1902.

General John Brooke - first military governor of Cuba 1898 to 1900 General Leonard Wood -
second military governor of Cuba 1900 to 1902

● Positive Effects of Military Occupation

Both governors gave Cuba what they thought of as the blessings of American civilization which
they felt that the new nation of Cuba was so privileged to receive.
Sanitation
A refuse disposal system was instituted A sewage system was put in place
The streets were cleaned

Health
Hospitals and asylums were built
A rigid health care program aimed at eradicating malaria and yellow fever

Education
Schools were built
The University of Havana was reopened Textbooks were sent to various schools

Social Services
A relief program was instituted

Public Utilities and Works

The telegraph and phone system were repaired, and extended Roads and bridges were built
The Havana harbour was widened
Railways and docks were constructed

Development of the Economy through Trade and Investments

Cuban exports to the U.S. increased. In 1899 the total value of export was $34.4M. This more
than tripled by 1901 to the tune of $118M. Cuban imports from the U.S. increased. In 1899 the
total value of import was $36.8M. This almost tripled by 1901($97.5M.)

● Negative Effects of Military occupation

1. The Cuban army was disbanded in order to prevent conflict between the Cuban and
American troops

2. Cubans were relegated to few jobs and junior positions in the Public Service and
Government as more and more Americans were imported to run the government.

3. The haughty U.S. ignored Cuban tradition and culture and experience. They refused to
appreciate that the Cubans had a lifestyle and a culture before they came. A lifestyle and
a culture that they cherished. But the U.S. did NOT understand this. It was hard for them
to even conceive that anyone would hesitate to give up their ‘backward uncivilized'
culture in exchange for the superior culture! So, they doggedly forced their culture upon
the people.

4. Much colour prejudice was evident in the dealings of the Americans with the Cubans. As
a result there was a colour ban in Cuban restaurants and hotels that wanted to attract and
cater exclusively to the United States and the Cuban upper class that supported this type
of behaviour.

5. The American soldiers practiced prostitution. Even young girls were involved in this
illegal activity.
 6. The textbooks used in the schools were written, printed in and sent from the U.S. In many
instances, they were merely Spanish translations of American publications, painful
reminders of the displacement of Cuban culture and its subsequent replacement.

7. In the road building programmes, only American equipment was used. And of course, the
contracts for the constructions of such roads and other public works were reserved for
American engineers.

8. The military government opened and operated the National Bank of Cuba.

The U.S. would not withdraw its troops or end the military occupation unless the Cubans signed
the Platt Amendment and included it as part of their Constitution. This document gave the
Americans complete control over Cuban affairs. The Cubans were reluctant to sign it. It seemed
as if they were just changing one master (Spain) for another (America). But they had no choice,
it was to sign or continue military rule of Cuba. They signed.

● Terms of the Platt Amendment Cuba could NOT:

1. (a) Conclude treaties with foreign powers

2. (b) Borrow money in excess of what its normal revenues could repay

3. (c) Completely control its internal affairs in such matters as sanitation and health

4. (d) Refuse the U.S. bases and coaling stations

5. (e) Allow any other country to have a base in Cuba

6. (f) Prevent the U.S. from intervening in Cuba for the ‘protection of life, liberty and
individual property'.

The Platt Amendment governed American relations with Cuba until it was withdrawn in 1934.
The economic control of Cuba's resources and wealth continued. Many of the Cuban Presidents
that were elected were mere puppets and ‘yes man' for the U.S. Military occupation was enforced
at least four times before 1959.