Independence for Caribbean and Central American Nations


 

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


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!"

 

 

Overview of Central American/Caribbean Independence Movements

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico

 

CROSS-LINKS

 

 

 

Background: (Click here for a timeline) 

 

The Mexican Revolution:

(Background and Mexican Revolution information gathered from this article) 

 

Cuba

Fidel Castro, 1959

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)

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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


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

Missile Launch Site 2, 1962

 

 

Cuba's New Now, National Geographic (August 2015)


 

 

 

 

Haiti

 

 

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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


Puerto Rico

 

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.

File:Dr. Ramon Betances.jpg

Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances 

Segundo Ruiz Belvis.jpg

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 Insular Cases


The Strange Case of Puerto Rico, Slate (October 9, 2017)