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49th anniversary, and counting. Last Tuesday, in a New Year's TV message, ailing leader Fidel Castro (81) saluted the Cuban people for the 49th anniversary of the Jan. 1, 1959, triumph of the Revolution that brought Castro to power. The date has a burdensome meaning for many Americans as for over 170 years the US has sought to prevent Cuban independence. In the early days of the US confederacy, which was meant to be "the nest, from which all America, North and South, is to be peopled", it was best for Spain to rule until "our population can be sufficiently advanced to gain it from them piece by piece" (Thomas Jefferson). Then, as Spain ceased to be a world power, it was necessary to deal with the Cubans who did not appreciate to an adequate degree the economic and political status within the protective system of the US. The time span of 110 years is covered in the timetable below. |
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1851: Gen. Narciso Lopéz leads an expedition of Spanish refugees and Southerners from New Orleans to Cuba in an unsuccessful attempt to free the Cubans from Spanish rule. Lopéz is captured and executed. 1873: American schooner Virginius is seized by Spanish officials in Cuba on suspicion of carrying men and arms to the Cuban revolutionaries. Fifty-three members of the crew, including some Americans, are executed. 1895: Cuba fights Spain for its independence. Pres. Cleveland calls on US citizens not to give aid to Cuban rebels fighting against Spanish rule. 1897: Congress votes for relief of American destitute in Cuba. Imprisoned Americans are released. US anti-Spanish sentiment increases; many people advocate intervention in Cuban revolution. 1898: US battleship Maine arrives at Havana, Cuba, to protect American residents and property and is blown up in the harbor. US fleet destroys Spanish fleet off Santiago, Cuba. Santiago surrenders to US. Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War. Spain gives up claim to Cuba and cedes to the US Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines (the latter for the payment of $20 million). US is recognized as world power. 1901: Congress passes the Platt Amendment, making Cuba a US protectorate. Cuba had to append it (1902) to its constitution before US withdrawal from the island. Amendment is repealed in 1934. 1912: US Marines land in Cuba to protect US lives and property. 1959: Castro’s forces topple Batista’s government in Cuba. Castro executes Batista’s supporters and sets up a totalitarian regime. Batista flees to the Dominican Republic. 1960: Premier Castro confiscates US property in Cuba. US places an embargo on exports to Cuba, 1961: US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba, calling it a "Soviet satellite". About 1500 Cuban exiles trained by the US make unsuccessful attempt to invade Cuba and overthrow Premier Castro (Bay of Pigs invasion). Failure is blamed on the CIA and lack of air support. The Timetables of American History (L. Urdang, Editor), Simon & Schuster, New York, 1981. |
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