The road to Independence for Cuba

• Cuba was first colonised by the Spanish in 1511

• From 1514 Cuba was ruled by a Spanish Governor.

• At first they enslaved the Amerindians but after 1550 many had died and they freed the few remaining ones.

• Over the years the Spanish, British and French brought in large numbers of enslaved Africans to work on the plantations.

• They developed cattle ranching and tobacco plantations and sugar production. 

• Cuba became the main sugar producing country in the world with very wealthy plantation owners.

• The Spanish Government tried to impose taxes but the local free Creoles wanted to rule the island for
  themselves and constantly rebelled and conspired against the Spanish rule.

• In 1868 the Ten Years war against the Spanish began when Carlos Manuel de Cespedes a Cuban planter
  freed his slaves and declared Independence war against the Spanish.

• The Cubans were led by Jose Marti in the fight against slavery.

• It took three wars to gain independence and end slavery.

• Slavery was finally abolished in 1886

• The Ten Years War from 1868 – 1878

• The Little War from 1879 – 1880

• The Cuban War of Independence from 1895 - 1898

• In 1892 the Cuban Revolutionary party was formed with Jose Marti as the leader.

• Jose Marti was killed in 1895 but Maximo Gomez and Antonio Maceo took over to fight a guerrilla war against the Spanish.

• The rebels called for help from the USA

• In 1898 The USA sent their battleship which was destroyed by an explosion

• The US declared war and won. Spain was expelled from Cuba and the US took control.

• On May 20, 1902 Cuba declared independence.

Celebrating Independence in Cuba today.
Independence Day is celebrated on October 10, the day when Manuel de Cespedes freed his slaves and
started the Independence War against the Spanish.

Jose Marti

Carlos Manuel de Cespedes