History of Cuba (1898-1934) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Constitutional Convention of 1901

After the Spanish-American War ended in 1898, Cuba became free of centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Yay! However, the island was not yet fully independent. The United States military occupied Cuba, and they had some really strong opinions about what an independent Cuba should look like. Would they go so far as to insist on certain measures before withdrawing troops from the island? You bet they would! The Constitutional Convention itself was a perfect demonstration of idealism running up against hard reality. Delegates gathered in Havana hoping to build a modern republic from scratch.

However, they found themselves navigating the demands of a far more powerful neighbor.

Answer: Platt Amendment

Yes, this is the big one. The Platt Amendment was attached to a U.S. Army appropriations bill in 1901. It became a condition for the end of American occupation in Cuba after the Spanish-American War. The amendment gave the United States broad authority to intervene in Cuban affairs to preserve independence, maintain order... and other lofty ideas. But it didn't end there.

Cuba would not be allowed to make treaties that might impair its independence. It would also be required to lease land for naval bases, avoid excessive public debt, maintain sanitation standards, and a whole lot more. Independence came with a pretty lengthy Terms of Service agreement.

The Platt Amendment became extremely unpopular in Cuba, with many Cubans viewing it as a major limitation on true independence. It remained in effect until 1934, when most of its provisions were repealed.

Answer: Guantánamo Bay

The right to lease Guantánamo Bay came directly out of the ugliness of the Platt Amendment era. In 1903, Cuba signed agreements allowing the United States to establish a naval station at the bay. You'll find it tucked away on the island's southeastern corner.

The location was prime because of its deep natural harbor and strategic location near major Caribbean shipping routes. What started as a refueling stop and a naval station would go on to become one of the most famous (and infamous) military bases in the world. The United States still maintains control of the base today more than a century later... much to the chagrin of many Cubans.

Answer: Tomás Estrada Palma

After years of war, revolution, and U.S. occupation (1898-1902), Cuba became an independent republic on May 20, 1902. That was the day Tomás Estrada Palma took office. He had spent much of his earlier life involved in the Cuban independence movement against Spain and had served as president of the Cuban government-in-exile during the final push for independence. But it was complicated. When he took office, a lot of people viewed him as someone who was overly cautious, overly conservative, and a little too buddy-buddy with the United States. But there were definitely others who felt good about the prospects of stability and investment that he promised.

Cuba's early republican history was packed with coups, revolutions, outside pressure, and political reinventions. Estrada Palma's story marked the beginning of that chapter.

Answer: The collapse of Palma's government after a disputed election

The first occupation was 1898-1902.

Well, that didn't last long. Tomás Estrada Palma, the great prospect for stability, had just became the first president of the Republic of Cuba in 1902. Well, that new-country smell had barely faded, when the 1905 election came along and messed everything up again. See, the election was bitterly disputed, with opponents accusing Palma's administration of fraud and intimidation. Chaos erupted. Armed uprisings followed. Things got so bad that Palma resigned in 1906.

The United States claimed the right to intervene under the Platt Amendment, and off they went to preserve order and protect Cuban stability. American troops landed, and thus began another occupation that lasted until 1909. Many Cubans saw the second occupation as proof that full sovereignty was still a dream.

Answer: Independents of Color revolt

By 1912, it's safe to say that Afro-Cubans weren't pleased. Many Black Cubans had fought heroically during the wars against Spain, and they had this crazy notion that they would enjoy equality afterward. Didn't happen. Discrimination remained deeply ingrained in Cuban society. Enter the Independents of Color revolt, sometimes called the War of 1912 or the Little Race War.

The Independents of Color, officially the Independent Party of Color, was formed to push for political representation and civil rights. Cuban authorities viewed the movement with disapproval. Strong disapproval. When protests and armed resistance broke out in eastern Cuba, government forces responded with severe brutality. Thousands of Afro-Cubans were killed during the suppression, making it the bloodiest racial conflict in Cuban history.

Answer: Sugar

Sugar completely dominated the Cuban economy during the early republic. The world's sweet tooth shaped everything from politics to foreign relations to the landscape. Massive sugar plantations and mills spread across the island, and the United States quickly became Cuba's largest trading partner after the Spanish-American War. American investors poured money into sugar production, buying plantations, railroads, mills, and other infrastructure with lightning speeds. Within a few years, the economies of Cuba and the United States were tied together with enough sugar to keep dentists in business for life.

Of course, all this left the Cuban economy dangerously dependent on a single export crop. That meant when sugar prices were high, Cuba's economy boomed. It also meant when prices collapsed, the pain spread across the island. Political instability quite often followed close behind.

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the Good Neighbor Policy during the 1930s as part of a shift in how the United States dealt with Latin America. Instead of perpetual military interventions and an almost parental role, the policy was all about cooperation, diplomacy, and noninterference.

In Cuba, this change had huge consequences. One important change was the repeal of most provisions of the Platt Amendment in 1934. This ended the formal U.S. right to intervene directly in Cuban affairs. After decades of acting like an overbearing parent, Washington was taking a softer approach. Okay, so maybe changing the slogan didn't completely change behavior.

But it SOUNDED nice!

Answer: Gerardo Machado

Gerardo Machado was forced from power in 1933 after Cuba descended into political turmoil... again. At the time there were strikes, protests, economic crises, and powerful opposition to his increasingly authoritarian rule. Machado had come to office promising modernization and progress. For a while it looked like it might come true, too. There were major public works projects and infrastructure improvements, and the people were happy.

Then the Great Depression hit, sugar prices collapsed, unemployment soared, and political dissent and repression intensified. By the early 1930s, many Cubans viewed his government less as a reform movement and more as a heavily armed group of thugs. Opposition came from everywhere: students, labor groups, intellectuals, and political organizations from all over the spectrum. General strikes helped paralyze the country, while violent clashes and assassinations became increasingly common. Under mounting pressure, Machado fled Cuba in August 1933.

Answer: Fulgencio Batista

The Sergeants' Revolt of 1933 was a military uprising that completely reshaped Cuban politics. At the time, Fulgencio Batista was a relatively low-ranking army sergeant, which made his grand ascent all the more astounding. After the fall of Gerardo Machado, the revolution overthrew the existing military leadership. Batista proved exceptional at building alliances and influence in those dark smoky rooms behind the scenes. Within a short time, he became the most important figure in Cuba's armed forces and, by extension, in Cuban politics.

The revolt helped bring Ramón Grau San Martín to the presidency for a brief period, but Batista remained the guy who could make or break your political career. Over the following years, he controlled Cuba either directly or indirectly, eventually serving as president and NOT a popular one.
But that's another chapter.