Vintage Images Of Cuban History

The Republic of Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, and the seventeenth largest in the world, The main landmass of Cuba is known as the principal island, which is a total area of about 42,426 square miles, however, Cuba as an entire nation is comprised of 4,195 islands (officially known as archipelagos) which are scattered in the sea area surrounding Cuba's principle island. The four prominent archipelagos are called Colorados, Sabana-Camagüey, Jardines de la Reina, and Canarreos. The Republic of Cuba is located west of the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Gulf of Mexico, south of the Straits of Florida, and northwest of the Windward Passage, which is a strait in the Caribbean sea that connects with the Atlantic Ocean, but Cuba is also, northeast of the Yucatán Channel, which is a strait between Mexico and Cuba. The capital city of Cuba is Havana, and on the date of this publication the population of Cuba was said to be about 11.2 million. The official spoken language in Cuba is Spanish, but there are also a number of other frequently spoken languages in Cuba, such as Haitian Creole, Lucumi, Galician, Corsican, English, and French. The island of Cuba is known for its variety of ecosystems, forests, wetlands, and coral reefs, additionally, Cuba is famous for its vibrant culture, stunning cities and beaches, beautiful national parks, and fascinating architecture, also. this nation has a rich variety of music, cigars, rum, and cocktail drinks. Because Cuba is forever cloaked in the mystique of a bygone era, it is regarded as a unique place with a most captivating display of vintage classical American cars that are perceived as veritable embellishments, endlessly roaming upon the busy streets of Cuba from sunrise until sundown.

Christopher Columbus

In 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) became the first European to discover Cuba, which is the largest Island in the Caribbean Sea. Columbus originally named the island 'Isla Juana' but later decided to rename it Cuba, which translates 'great place' (coabana). The indigenous people on the island were essentially a society of farmers, hunter-gatherers and fishermen. There were three groups of natives that had initially inhabited the island of Cuba; the Guanahatabey, the Ciboney, and the Taíno peoples. The Spanish settlers began building their first colony at Baracoa, Cuba, around 1511, under the leadership of Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (Governor), who was commanded by the Spanish government to carry out a military campaign with a view to eradicate the native inhabitants on the Island, in order to gain full control of the entire country. However, historians claim that a significant number of the indigenous peoples on the island had died as a result of contracting certain types of European diseases from the Spanish, this was due to their immune system not being able to adapt quickly and sufficiently enough to provide them with good protection.

Spanish Colonization of Cuba

Cuba became part of the Empire of Spain in the early 16th century, and over the first three ensuing centuries the island was used as a stopping location for Spanish fleets on their way to the so called New World (America) in order to obtain mineral wealth from the land and set up other colonies there. Spain began to transport significant numbers of African Slaves to Cuba from the 16th century and Cuba eventually became a major producer of sugar. The climate on the Island was perfect for growing sugarcane. The rolling hills and expansive plains were blessed with rich fertile soils, numerous exotic plants, tall trees, and plenty of consistent rainfall. A key event in Cuba's history was the Haitian Revolution in nearby Saint-Domingue, spanning 1791 to 1804. The Haitian revolution was essentially a successful slave uprising, and this event initiated the exodus of over 300,000 French settlers from Haiti to Cuba. However, in Haiti's early history it was once the riches colony in the world and a leading producer of Coffee, indigo, cacao, cotton and sugar.

After the Haitian revolution (1791-1804), Haiti ceased to be the most successful sugar-producing colony in the world by the early 19th century. Many of Haiti's Creole business class relocated to settle in Cuba at the beginning of the 19th century, their language, culture, business expertise and ingenuity supplemented the Cuban economy, in addition, the Spanish authorities enacted protectorate policies, and the continuation of an ever increasing work force of African slaves, all of these factors had contributed to create a sugar revolution in Cuba. And by the mid-to late 19th century Cuba was spectacularly transformed into the most successful sugar producing colony in the Caribbean. The sugar production was so successful it replaced tobacco, agriculture, and cattle as the main occupation in Cuba. And because Spain had a vested interest on the island it continued to provide substantial support to Cuba's economy. Historians have stated that it was for these reasons why Cuba had delayed a progression for independence from Spain in the early nineteenth century.

The Ten Year War (1868-1878)

During the late 19th century Cuba began the Struggle for independence from Spanish colonialism and US control. There were three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, beginning with the Ten Year War (1868-1878), followed by the Small War (1879-1890), and finally the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898). Prior to the first war the Spanish implemented laws which forced many Cubans to endure excessive taxations, trade restrictions, and the exclusion of native Cubans from working within their own government. These policies evoked resentment and antagonism against the Spanish and strained relations between the two nations continued to escalate, at the same time Cuban nationalism spread rapidly across the Island. In 1868, Cuban patriot and plantation owner, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819-1874), collaborated with other Cuban patriots to rebel against the Spanish, and they began to free native slaves on the Island and then proclaimed Cuba to be a free nation. This event marked the beginning of the protracted Ten Year War (1868-1878), also known as the Great War, which was Cuba's fight for independence. In Cuban history Carlos Manuel de Céspedes became posthumously revered as a Cuban revolutionary and his deeds as made him a celebrated national hero.

The Ten Year War between Cuba and Spain (1868-1878), ultimately failed to win independence for Cuba, as that war had ended in a stalemate, and on 11 February, 1878, both nations signed the Treaty of Zanjón at a meeting in Zanjón, Camagüey, which officially marked the end of the Ten Year War. There were various reasons why the Ten Year War proved indecisive, firstly, the Spanish forces were significantly depleted when they suffered immense fatalities due to contracting yellow fever (a tropical disease) during their military missions in Cuba, since the Spanish soldiers had no acquired immunity to yellow fever. But also, Spain's war campaign with Cuba was significantly stalled by a Spanish civil war called the 'Third Carlist War' which took place in Spain between 1872 and 1876. The Cuban forces were a conglomerate of fighting men which included, Cuban Slaves, Creoles, some Americans and Europeans, as well as the Mambi forces, the term was used to identify certain revolutionary guerrilla fighters, particularly from Santo Domingo (now known as the Dominican Republic). And some of the main issues for the Cuban insurgencies were that the leaders of their forces were not always in agreement with each other, and they did not always coordinate their military strategies effectively enough against the Spanish forces.

The Small War (1878-1879)

After the first war there was continued hostilities between Cuba and Spain, since Cuba was still a colony and shackled to the undesirable policies of the Spanish government. This state of affairs eventually caused the Little War or the Small War (1878-1879). The Cuban rebels who had decided to fight in the Small War were commanded by revolutionary Cuban leader Calixto Garcia. History records that Calixto Garcia was one of the few revolutionary leaders who had not signed the Treaty of Zanjón in 1878, and therefore he did not feel obliged to honour that agreement. However, a majority of the Cuban population were war weary from the previous war, and possessed little faith in a glorious outcome, therefore, many Cubans did not offer their support for the Small War and unlike the first war campaign, the rebel leaders were unable to galvanize enough foreign support. Furthermore, the revolutionaries were unable to obtain sufficient weapons and ammunitions to fight for their cause and inevitably the Small War ended with the defeat of the rebels.

The Cuban War Of Independence (1895-1898)

The Cuban War of Independence spanned (1895–1898), it was the third and final war fought by Cuba against Spain for their independence. Spain had continued to impose crippling taxes on Cuba and placed restrictions on their international trading arrangements, these were two of many reasons for the Cuban revolt against Spain in 1895. The Cuban patriot and revolutionary leader José Martí (1853-1895), had initially helped to spearhead the 1895 revolt against the Spanish. However, he was tragically killed during the Battle of Dos Ríos on 19 May, 1895. In Cuban history José Martí (writer, philosopher, professor, and publisher) is considered a Cuban national hero for his role in the eventual liberation of Cuba from Spain. During the Cuban war of independence, the Cuban forces achieved an important moral boosting victory against the Spanish which occurred at the Battle of Ceja del Negro in 1896, the rebel soldiers were commanded by Cuban Generals Antonio Maceo and Juan Rius Rivera, while the Spanish troops were led the Spanish Colonel, Granados. The historic battle had taken place near or on a hill known as Ceja del Negro, and although the Spanish forces were far superior in numbers and military capabilities, the Cuban forces exhibited better fighting tactics, and eventually achieved a remarkable victory.

The Spanish-American War (21 April, 1898 - 13 August, 1898)

Cuba was coincidently assisted in its quest for independence, when America began a war with Spain in 1898, it was called the Spanish-American War. There had already existed hostile international relations between America and Spain, and the US was concerned about its economic interests in Cuba (American businesses and citizens situated in Cuba), but also its strategic interest in a future Panama Canal. However, on 15 February, 1898, a mysterious explosion erupted on the USS Maine, a United States navy ship, which was based in the Havana Harbor, following this event American newspapers that were engaged in yellow journalism (sensationalistic or biased views of events without foundations) attempted to increase their readership by making the claim that the Spanish were responsible for the ship's destruction, which had caused the death of 250 American lives. And it was this event which proved to be the controversial catalyst, that prompted the US to start a war with Spain spanning 12 April, 1898 until 13 August, 1898. The United States prevailed in the conflict, and subsequently the Spanish agreed to a number of major concessions when they signed the Treaty of Paris on 10 December, 1898 (officially promulgated on 11 April, 1899). The representatives of Spain and the United States signed the peace treaty in Paris on 10 December, 1898, which finally gave Cuba its long awaited independence. In addition, the Spanish ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the Americans, and was also compelled to sell the Philippines Islands for $20 million to the US. This first overseas purchase of foreign land meant that the United States had officially become an Empire.

The Platt Amendment

The Platt Amendment was enacted in 1901, and it was named after American Senator Orville H. Platt (1827-1905), who had introduced the amendment to an Army Appropriation bill (an original bill enacted in 1880) that set terms for ending the U.S. occupation of Cuba. The Platt Amendment compelled Cuba to allow the United States to intervene in Cuba's internal affairs, and to lease an area of Cuba's territory in order to operate US naval bases on the Island which included an area called Guantanamo bay. The terms of the Amendment prohibited the Cuban government from entering into any international treaty that would compromise Cuban independence or allow any foreign powers, other than the US to utilize the island for military purposes. The Act also permitted US involvement in Cuban international and domestic affairs in order to maintain law and order and enforce Cuban independence. The terms of the Platt Amendment for US-Cuban relations were essentially an unequal treaty which had provided the US with significant dominance over Cuba.

The Republic Of Cuba

In the early years of Cuba's new found independence, US-Cuban relations was considered to be relatively stable, and parts of Cuba's economy began to flourish, especially from the 1910s, when there was a shortage of sugar supply in certain parts of the world during and after the first World War, a situation which had generated an economic boom in Cuba. And yet within Cuba there was a steady increase of crime syndicates, political corruption, violence, and people's revolts, collectively these events began to impact very adversely on Cuban society. As a result, the United States had intervened militarily in Cuban affairs in 1906, and again in 1917, and in the early 1920s. These interventions were attempts by the US to suppress people insurrections, help to resolve or mediate extreme political hostilities between opposing political groups, suppress gang related violence, and to protect U.S. business interests which were situated in Cuba.

Authoritarianism

Gerardo Machado y Morales, who lived between (1871 - 1939), became president of Cuba from 1925 - 1933. Machado had already achieved popularity in Cuba, when he served as Cuba's general during the War of Cuban Independence between 1895 and 1898. However, his government began to lose public support once his administration became a despotic regime, by implementing policies which curtailed free speech, and enacted repressive policies with the support of the Cuban army and the police. Also, following Machado's re-election in 1928, many Cubans were outraged because Machado had violated his pledge not to run for more than one term. In addition, the 1930s world depression had severely impacted on the Cuban economy and society, additionally, many Cubans were already extremely unhappy with their government's policies, and the increasing interference and control of Cuba's economy by foreign powers such as the USA.

National protests against the Cuban government continued unabated until finally Machado was forced to abdicate on 12 August 1933, after which he fled to the Bahamas. A provisional government was quickly installed, brokered by US ambassador Summer Wells. The interim government was headed by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada, (born 1871 - died 1939. Céspedes was a Cuban revolutionary, diplomat and writer, who had famously uttered 'Grito de Yara' on 10 October 1868, a proclamation that Cuba was a free nation, he had also freed over 30 slaves on his plantation. It was this event that marked the beginning of Cuba's first war of independence (1868-1878) against Spain. However, US ambassador Summer Wells's first choice as the new Cuban president was Cuban General Alberto Herrera Franchi (1874-1954), but Wells choice was opposed by the army rebels as they feared Herrera would not be accepted by the majority of Cubans on account of his infamous despotic reputation, and his close association with the deposed president Gerardo Machado. Nevertheless, because there was a power vacuum General Alberto Herrera did agree to serve as interim president between 12 - 13 August, 1933, until Céspedes was officially installed, who then briefly served as Cuba's president from 13 August - 5 September 1933.

The Sergeant's Revolt

The new administration of President Carlos de Céspedes proved to be contentious because certain high ranking officials from the previous government and its army had retained their positions, and some of them were known to be sympathizers of the previous despotic regime, which had been presided over by Gerardo Machado. Also, various senior military and political officials of Machado's previous administration who were known to be involved in corruption had been allowed to leave Cuba without prosecution. These controversial events and certain policies of the new administration had fuelled growing resentment and tensions within some factions of the Cuban army, and within some apposing political groups. The Cuban revolution of 1933, also known as the Sergeants' Revolt, was a coup d’etat that occurred in Cuba between 4 and 5 September, 1933. It began as a revolt of sergeants, some of which had returned from retirement, together with a number of military soldiers, they allied with student activists in the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario (DEU), as well as certain Cuban intellectuals, and collectively this conglomeration had attempted to instigate radical political reforms and profoundly transform Cuban society. Immediately following the coup a five-member executive committee called the 'Pentarchy of 1933' was chosen to head a provisional government, also known as the Executive Commission of the Provisional Government of Cuba, this coalition was briefly in charge of Cuba from 5 September until 10 September 1933.

Fulgencio Batista Y Zaldivar

Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (1901-1973) was a Cuban military officer, who opposed the proposed policies by the new Cuban administration in 1933, particularly those policies relating to reduction of pay and restrictions of promotions for certain officers within the Cuban army. Batista was one of the sergeants, who joined forces with the militant students on 4 September, 1933 and helped to successfully overthrow the U.S.-backed regime of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes on the 5 September, 1933. In Cuban history this event was unprecedented, and it resulted in the assimilation of the Cuban military with the government. Following the installation of the new Cuban president, the infamous General Herrera, resigned his position and then swiftly departed Cuba. Meanwhile, Fulgencio Batista seized the opportunity to cultivate support from within the military ranks, for his ambitious bid to become the new General, and since his authority was scarcely contested, at a suitable moment, Batista declared himself as the new General of the Cuban army.

The Hundred Days Government (1933-1934)

A coup which resulted in the installation of the five-member executive committee (the Pentarchy of 1933) was not officially accepted to govern Cuba. As a result, the members of the committee carefully debated who should be the next president. It was eventually decided that Cuban physician Dr. Ramón Grau San Martín, also known as Raymond Grau San Martin (1887-1969), should be the next Cuban president. Dr. Ramón Grau was initially one of the five members of the Pentarchy government 5 - 10 September 1933. Unfortunately, Dr. Ramón Grau's presidency was short-lived and it became known as the One Hundred Days government (1933 - 1934). Initially, Dr. Grau's government had courageously put forward a progressive agenda, but unfortunately his government was eventually tarnished by corruption charges, also, there existed significant political power struggles from within the party, in addition, a number of important traditional political groups refused to fully support the new administration because they opposed some of Grau's policies, furthermore, the US refused to recognize Grau's government as an official one, partly because the US was opposed to Grau's policies, and partly because Grau was not elected to power by virtue of an official general election. Meanwhile, behind the scenes General Batista was involved in ongoing discussions on the issues in question with the US and other political groups in Cuba. After numerous intense debates, General Batista engineered a coup on 14 January, 1934, which curtailed the presidency of Ramón Grau, following this event General Batista, who was backed by the USA, significantly influenced Cuban politics for over 20 years.

The Republic Of Cuba (1934-1948)

From 1934 to 1940, there were at least half a dozen interim Cuban presidents that were installed, some of which were, Carlos Mendieta y Montefur, José Agripino Barnet y Vinajeras, Miguel Mariano Gómez y Arias, and Dr. Federico Laredo Brú. Nevertheless, it is believed that General Fulgencio Batista continued to influence political events from behind the scenes, And when the Cuban General elections were finally held on 14 July 1940, Fulgencio Batista campaigned and won the presidency running under the People's Socialist Coalition banner. Just 4 years later, Ramón Grau San Martín returned to challenge for and win the presidency in 1944, he ran under the Auténtico-Republican Alliance banner. Fortunately, Grau's administration coincided with the end of World War II, and although his government inherited financial difficulties which was left by his predecessor, Batista, the Cuban economy was buoyed by an increase in prices and a growing demand for sugar production. Grau's government was pro-labor and nationalistic, and it opposed the dominance of foreign capital. Grau increased Social Security benefits, implemented a program of public works, by building more schools, and attempted to diversify the Cuban economy. Unfortunately, Grau's attempts to achieve ambitious reforms proved unsuccessful, his government was accused of Nepotism and corruption, additionally, the US was not supportive of Grau's policies, in particular, Grau had publicly rejected the Platt amendment and called for its abolition. The Cuban General elections was held on 1 June 1948, Ramón Grau San Martín resigned prior to this event, and handed over the leadership of the Auténtico-Republican Alliance to his protégé, Carlos Prío Socarrás, who campaigned successfully and won the presidency in 1948.

President Carlos Prío Socarrás

Carlos Prío Socarrás (1903-1977) was a Cuban politician who became president of Cuba (1948 - 1952). Some of his accomplishments included the creation of the National Bank of Cuba, the extension of major highways, and the construction of a number of public-works. In Cuba sugar was the dominant commodity, major export contracts had been arranged with the United States, and other nations around the globe. The Cuban sugar industry created an economic boom following the World War II. However, Prio's rule was plagued by corruption, a legacy of his predecessor, Ramón Grau San Martín. Because Socarrás was unwilling or unable to resolve the corruption crisis, over time his supporters abandoned him, and ultimately Socarrás was viewed as an ineffectual President against organised crime and political corruption, which had risen to an intolerable level during his tenure. Meanwhile, during secret talks regarding the crisis, it was rumoured that the US had encouraged General Fulgencio Batista to launch a military intervention. Subsequently, three weeks before the Cuban general election on 10 March 1952, Carlos Prío Socarrás was deposed in a military coup, ordered by General Fulgencio Batista, who became the self-imposed president and military dictator of Cuba from 1952-1959.

The Dictatorship Of Fulgencio Batista (1952-1959)

During Batista's right wing-dictatorship he had fraudulently acquired great wealth for himself and his close associates. Nevertheless, controversially, certain people agreed that Batista had governed Cuba quite effectively, since he was credited with expanding the educational system, also he funded and directed a wide variety of public works, and importantly he achieved the sustained growth of the Cuban economy over a number of years. However, although Batista had control over the Cuban army and the police forces, under his rule corruption and criminal organisations had risen significantly. During his tenure Batista became infamous for overseeing a ruthless and repressive regime. He curtailed people's liberties, controlled the media, and ordered his secret service forces to apprehend, arrest, torture, and execute many thousands of dissidents. Nevertheless, during this era Cuban society was polarized, as Batista sustained significant support, but there was increasing public outrage, and some people expressed their frustrations and resentments through violent riots and mass demonstrations. A war of attrition between the people's revolution and the dictatorship government (started years earlier in Cuba on 26 July, 1953), finally culminated with a concerted attack on Havana by the 26th of July Movement (a vanguard revolutionary organisation), led by Fidel Castro. Meanwhile, Batista was confronted with the grim impending doom of his regime, which was finally vanquished by Fidel Castro's rebel forces on 31 December 1958. After his downfall Batista organized his escape and fled with his family to the Dominican Republic on 1 January 1959, from there he went into exile on the Portuguese island of Madeira, and then onto Estoril near Lisbon.

Fidel Castro Ruz

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (1926-2016) was a legendary, charismatic, Cuban revolutionary leader and politician. After his rebel forces overthrew the Batista regime at the end of 1958, Castro seized power on 1 January 1959, when he became Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to1979, and President of Cuba from 1979 until 2008. Historians have defined Fidel Castro as a Marxist-Leninist Cuban nationalist, who possessed extreme anti-American sentiments. After becoming Prime Minister Fidel Castro ordered the appropriation of US businesses and investments that were situated in Cuba, without offering compensation to the US, and on 16 April 1961, Castro's rule began to convert Cuba into a one-party communist state. Cuban industries were nationalized and state socialist reforms were inaugurated throughout the nation. As a result of Castro's reforms the Cuban government increased cooperation with the Soviet Union, the relations between the United States and Cuba drastically deteriorated. The USA severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961, and in February 1962, the US imposed a crippling embargo on Cuba which subsequently forced the Cuban government to increase their trading relations with the Soviet Union. Fidel Castro's new administration had attempted to create a Cuban economy that was self-reliant by way of increasing industrialization and economic diversification, however, those ambitious policies failed and Cuban government was forced to resort back to its previous economic system, as Cuba became considerably more dependent upon Soviet economic aid, Cuba began exporting about 80% of its entire sugar production to the Soviet Union.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In recent history the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, was considered to be the most dangerous confrontation that took place between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War era (1946-1991), it is also known as the October Crisis of 1962. The Cuban Missile crisis developed from a combination of events. In 1959 the US developed and deployed a number of medium-ranged, nuclear armed, ground to air, Jupiter ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey in order to counter the threat of long range Soviet Union nuclear missile strikes against allied Europe and America. However, on 17 April 1961, the CIA spearheaded an invasion called the 'Bay of Pigs' (a description for a particular location in Cuba) launched from the southwestern coast of Cuba, and it consisted of about 1,400, CIA trained Cuban exiles, who were tasked with a mission to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government. However, the mission proved to be a catastrophic failure, as it was convincingly defeated by Fidel Castro's forces over a two day period spanning 17 to 19 April 1961. The victory was celebrated triumphantly across Cuba. But, once the celebrations had ceased, Castro feared a second American led invasion at a certain moment in the future. Therefore, Cuba's government made a request to the Soviet Union to deploy nuclear missiles on Cuban soil, in order to deter another American led invasion, the request was granted by the Soviet Union.

In October 1962, an American high altitude reconnaissance surveillance air craft (U-2 spy plane) had secretly photographed nuclear missile sites under construction by the Soviet Union on the island of Cuba. Once the US President John F. Kennedy was informed he immediately consulted with the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, and then was compelled to respond to the new Soviet threat forcefully. The deployment of Soviet Union nuclear missiles just 90 miles from US shores, initiated an intense 13-day political and military deadlock between the Soviet Union and the US between 16 October and 28 October, 1962. After President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade around Cuba in order to prevent the Soviets from delivering more military equipment and supplies to the Island, President Kennedy addressed the nation to explain the crisis that faced the US, and delivered an ultimatum to the Soviet Union on 22 October, 1962, by demanding that they remove all of the Soviet missiles, and the destruction of the military sites already established in Cuba. There followed a frenzy of intense negotiations between two nations, each determined not to give away one inch of an advantage, meanwhile, millions of people around the world was gripped by the intense drama, as it unfolded on their television screens. Fortunately, the crisis was finally averted when the Soviets agreed to dismantle and remove all of their nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for a US declaration never to invade Cuba, and the withdrawal of the United States nuclear-armed Jupiter missiles from Turkey. This agreement ended what has been recorded in modern history as probably the most dangerous and defining international crisis that the world has ever witnessed.