1890's Cuban Revolution

The makeup of Cuba in the late nineteenth century is
much the same as it is today. Nearly 66% of the population
are white and of Spanish descent. About 22% are of mixed
racial heritage, and 12% of the populace is black. Cuba
lies to the south of the United States, and is most easily
accessible by boat from the Florida region. It is this naval
quality that encompasses the island.

During the Ten Years War, between 1868-1878, the
Cubans fought against Spanish rule in their country.
Rebellion broke out around the island, and the rebels joined
under a united leader, Carlos de Cespedes, a wealthy planter,
who proclaimed independence from Spain. Nearly 200,000
lives were lost, until the Treaty of El Zanjun was signed.
This agreement promised the government would reform and
abolish slavery and the tyrannical rule it held over the
Cubans. The treaty was not honored however, and resistance
was again put up in 1885.

The Spanish king at the time Alfonso XIII, encouraged
the use of concentration camps for revolutionaries caught in
battle. The Cuban Revolution became extremely bloody due to
the use of Guerrilla warfare. This military operation,
conducted on its home terrain, consisted of inhabitants fed
up with oppressive rule. The men involved operated from
bases located deep in the jungle, dense forests, and high
rocky elevations. Guerrillas depended on natives for food,
shelter, and useful information. While striking swiftly was
a must, the bands of men were specialized in the undetected
raiding of enemy camps. They could ambush a patrol, kill the
soldiers, and supply their entire company in a matter of
hours. Cutting communication between enemy lines became a
prime target, once severed from the army, a battalion could
be attacked, disarmed, and their reserves used for the
revolutionaries.

It was the unfortunate, destitute populace that
rebelled. Having little to lose they could fight on home
turf and soon, much to there delight had help from the United
States. While in port in Havana on February 15, 1898 the
U.S. Battleship Maine was sunk by a large explosion. The
Americans declared war on Spain immediately, attacking all
Spanish naval vessels in the area, marking the beginning of
the Spanish-American War. Finally on July 18, 1898, George
Dewey, a U.S. naval officer commanded the fleet that destroyed
Spanish vessels in Manila. Upon being defeated once again,
Spain surrendered, giving up Cuba and the Philippines as free
countries. Therefore with the help of the United States,
and there own fighting rebellion within the country the
inhabitants of Cuba gained freedom from Spanish dictatorship,
becoming the Cuban Republic in 1901 and electing Tomas
Estrada Palma as president in 1902.