Early Relations

From WolfWikis

Early relations between North America and Cuba began in the 18th century through trade. Cuba was the center of tobacco and sugar production. Cuban merchants took advantage of their lands wealth and began traveling to North America in order to establish trade relations that endured for years to come. Cuba soon became dependent on this trade relationship.

Mid 1800's

President John Quincy Adams realized the importance of the relationship between North America and Cuba and believed that if Cuba was to ever break ties with Spain, it had the potential to become U.S. territory.^[1] In 1854 the Ostend Manifesto was formed by U.S. diplomats. The main goal of the 'Ostend Manifesto was to acquire Cuba from Spain for $130 million dollars, however the manifesto was rejected when the plan became public." ^[2]

Late 1800's

In 1897, "U.S. President McKinley offered to buy Cuba" from Spain for "$300 million" however after his offer was rejected and the explosion of a battleship (USS Maine) in Havana harbor occurred, the Spanish-American War began.

In 1898 the United States defeats Spain in the Spanish American War which ends Spain’s occupation of Cuba. After the Treaty of Paris was signed the United States occupied Cuba until it won formal independence in 1902. However, The Platt Amendment kept Cuba under U.S. protection and gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. ^[3] It also "aimed to secure the independence of Cuba, a stable government, financial solvency, adequate naval bases, and sanitary conditions on the island" ^[4] The amendment also gave the United States the continued use of Guantanamo bay where a U.S. Naval Station was built in 1898. The amendment was significant because it "defined the relations between the United States and Cuba" for years to come. ^[5]

Early 1900's

Despite Cuba's gain of formal independence in 1902 U.S. maintained "temporary military rule for three more years" following a rebellion led by the President, Jose Miguel Gomez. ^[6] U.S. forces returned to Cuba in "1912 to help with protests by Afro-Cubans against perceived discrimination." In the years to come U.S. presence was also felt economically in Cuba due to the fact the sugar industry in Cuba was owned by "60% of U.S. companies and 95% of Cuba’s total crops.” ^[7]

Internal confrontations between the government of Gerardo Machado and political opposition led to a military overthrow by "US influence, Sumner Welles old Cuban War of Independence Veterans, Army Officers and Civic Leaders in a general strike rebels in 1933" ^[8] After Machado's loss of power Cuba faced revolutionary uprisings and eventually gave power to Batista. ^[9]

During Sergeant’s Fulgencio Batista's two terms as President of Cuba, the U.S. had close cooperation with the island. President Truman began supplying Cuba with economic and military aid during Batista’s second term. ^[10] During Batista's presidency American corporation presence in Cuba rose. Arthur Garner a U.S. Ambassador, later commented on the relationship between the United States and Cuba during Batista's presidency. He stated:

“Batista had always leaned toward the United States. I don't think we ever had a better friend. It was regrettable, like all South Americans, that he was known-although I had no absolute knowledge of it-to be getting a cut, I think is the word for it, in almost all the, things that were done. But, on the other hand, he was doing an amazing job." ^[11]

Description

Mid 1900's

In 1953 Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada army barracks in order to overthrow Batista. However his attempt was unsuccessful. Castro was imprisoned however Batista released him due to "pressure from the Cuban people. ^[12] After going to Mexico to plan another attempt to overthrow Batista, Castro, led a guerrilla army into Havana forcing the President "Batista to flee the country". ^[13] Before Castro actually took power from Batista the United States slowly started to impose trade restrictions on Cuba and withdrew military aid in 1958. One U.S. Ambassador stated "there is no doubt that the decision made by the State Department to suspend the shipment of arms to Cuba was the most effective step taken by the Department of State in bringing about the downfall of Batista" ^[14] Once Castro became the leader and allied Cuba with the Soviet Union the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Two Key Events

The two events that followed, The Bay of Pigs and The Cuban Missile Crisis, would define the relationship between Cuba and the United States for years to come.

References

1. ↑ Schlesinger, Arthur. The American Empire? Not So Fast. World Policy Journal. Volume XXII, No 1, Spring 2005.
2. ↑ Sierra, J.A. Ostend Manifesto. http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/Ostend.htm
3. ↑ LaRosa, Michael & Mora, Frank. Neighborly Adversaries.
4. ↑ Woolsey, Lester. The New Cuban Treaty. The American Journal of International Law, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1934), pp. 530-534
5. ↑ Munroe, Vernon. “Our Relations with Cuba.” Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York, Vol. 12, No. 1, International Problems and Relations (Jul., 1926), pp. 354-355
6. ↑ Woolsey, Lester. The New Cuban Treaty. The American Journal of International Law, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1934), pp. 530-534
7. ↑ Ayala, Cesar. Social and Economic Aspects of Sugar Production in Cuba, 1880-1930. Latin American Research Review, Vol. 30, No. 1 (1995),pp. 95-124
8. ↑ Gilcrease, Christopher & Dur, Philip. US Diplomacy and the Downfall of a Cuban Dictator: Machado in 1933. Journal of Latin American Studies. 2002. 34: 255-282.
9. ↑ Munroe, Vernon. “Our Relations with Cuba.” Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York, Vol. 12, No. 1, International Problems and Relations (Jul., 1926), pp. 354-355
10. ↑ http://www.hicuba.com/eng/history-2.htm
11. ↑ Communist Threat to the United States Through the Caribbean Hearings Before the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws. Committee on the Judiciary. United States Senate. Eighty-Sixth Congress. Second Session. Part Nine. 1960.
12. ↑ http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:vTvoaQK-rIgJ:www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDbatista.htm+castro+and+batista&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us
13. ↑ The Alliance of a Preliminary Audit in LaRosa and Mora. 183
14. ↑ Eisenhower and Batista in LaRosa and Mora. 171

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