Focus Question:
When did countries in the Caribbean and in Central America became independent nations and how independence was achieved?
The Boston Globe, May 28, 1898 cartoon shows Uncle Sam seated in restaurant looking at the bill of fare containing "Cuba steak," "Porto Rico pig," the "Philippine Islands" and the "Sandwich Islands" (Hawaii) with President William McKinley saying to the waiter: "Well, I hardly know which to take first!"
CROSS-LINKS
Background: (Click here for a timeline)
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Mexico was home to the Aztecs.
1521: the Aztec empire fell. Europeans gained full control.
1810-1821: War for Independence, freed Mexico from Spain
1910: The Mexican revolution → led by mestizos (half-indigenous and half-Spanish-blooded Mexicans).
The Mexican Revolution:
Began 1910
Liberals and intellectuals began to challenge the dictator Porfirio Diaz, who had been in power since 1877
Violated principles and ideals of Mexican Constitution of 1857
Francisco I. Madero, exiled for political activism, drafted the Plan of San Luis Potosí
Called for uprising November 20, 1910
Restore constitution of 1857
“Replace dictator Diaz with a provisional government”
Establish democratic republic
Abolish unlimited presidential terms
1911: armed struggle in Chihuahua led by Pscual Orozco and Francisco “Pancho” Villa
Success sparked uprisings across the country
May 25, 1911: Diaz resigned and leaves country
Francisco I. Madero became president after elections
Assassinated in early 1913 by Victoriano Huerta, commander of federal forces, and joined Diaz’s nephew to seize power
1914: US president Woodrow Wilson sent American Marines to support revolutionaries.
Huerta’s presidency ended and Venustiano Carranza (supported by the US) “called for a constitutional convention to draft supreme law of Mexico”
Final constitution approved in 1917, agrarian reform and economic rights for Mexican people present in constitution
Carranza effectively ignored its promises and the revolution continued until 1920 when Carranza was assassinated
(Background and Mexican Revolution information gathered from this article)
Fidel Castro, 1959
CROSS-LINKS:
History of U.S. Diplomacy with Cuba, 1898 to 2015 from U.S. Department of State
Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Who Defies U.S. Dies at 90 (November 25, 2016)
Brief Timeline of Cuban History from Michigan State University.
See also The Economic History and Economy of Cuba from the Department of Economics, San Jose State University
1895: Cuban War for Independence from PBS.
For a brief overview, see Spanish-American War for Cuba's Independence from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida.
Jose Marti
Republic of Cuba History Archive from Marxists.org
See also
Click here for a biography of Jose Marti
Click here for a look at the USA's perspective during the fight for Cuban Independence
Click here for a podcast of Cuban Independence
Cuban Missile Launch Site 2, 1962
Cuba's New Now, National Geographic (August 2015)
CROSS-LINK: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haitian Revolution
Portrait of Toussain L'Ouverture
Click here for a history of Haitian Independence
Click here for a timeline of Haiti's history
Click here for the first part (4 parts total) of an essay on Haitian Independence
PBS documentary:the Haitian Revolution (2009)
In return for its independence, France required Haiti to pay restitution for lost slaves and property. In today's money, the total debt was about 21 billion dollars. After the earthquake in 2010, France was urged to repay this money to help with rebuilding, but denied this request.
Click here for a video on Haitian Independence and the years following
CROSS-LINK: Puerto Rico: History and Government
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Puerto Rico is the only territory that has never gained full independence.
Click here to read article on the shift from Spanish to United States controlled Puerto Rico.
Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances
Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Click here to read an article explaining Grito de Lares (Cry of Lares), Puerto Rico's First and Only Cry for Independence.
Click here for a timeline of Puerto Rican History
Click here for a full history of Puerto Rico
Click here for a history of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War
Click here for a list of reasons why Puerto Rico is currently not an independent country
Link here for a timeline of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War
The Strange Case of Puerto Rico, Slate (October 9, 2017)