Skip to main content

Final Essay

 The time has come for my final essay regarding Cuba. Classes end in a week, so I am sharing the introduction of my final essay here as per my professor's request. Enjoy.

Benjamin Shepard

Cuban-American Relations

English Composition 1102-Section 58

11/8/2020

Cuban-American Relations

The history of Cuba can be ascribed to the foreign powers it associated with. During colonial times, it was ruled by Spain. After the Spanish-American war Cuba became a protectorate of the United States of America and after the revolution, Cuba allied itself with the Soviet Union and accompanying philosophy. The Soviet Union has since fallen and dissolved into fifteen Post-Soviet nations, leaving with it a power vacuum in the form of protector of world socialism, a vacuum assumed by China. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba has normalized diplomatic ties with many members of the NATO Pact, however, despite attempts by President Obama, full diplomatic ties have not been reestablished yet with the United States. Many of the attempts made by the Obama administration were spoiled by the Trump administration to win over the Cuban-American voting bloc in Florida by appearing ‘tough on communism’. (Superville, 2020)

Following the Spanish-American War, Cuba was seeded to the United States as a new territorial holding. In 1903, the Platt Agreement was signed, officially granting Cuba independence. Except, the Platt Amendment included provisions that would grant the right to the United States Government to  “intervene in Cuban affairs for “the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty”. (31 Stat. 897) Essentially, Cuba had gone from a territory to a protectorate. Under the Platt Act, the United States held oversite over all aspects of Cuban Government and in 1906, the Platt Act was used to justify a second occupation of Cuba following a highly disputed election that would lead to bloodshed. In 1909, following a new election, President Gomez was inaugurated, the island proved stable, and United States forces were recalled. The Platt Act remained the status quo until 1934 when the Good Neighbor Policy was enacted under President Roosevelt.


Refrences:

Superville, Darlene. “Trump Tightens Cuba Sanctions as He Woos Cuban-American Vote.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 23 Sept. 2020, apnews.com/article/donald-trump-florida-archive-courts-cuba-1380bca4b965163fde80a31cef3b1396.

Vol. 32, 1902. United States Statues at Large Congress.


Comments

  1. Very good and detailed intro. States what you want to hear in an intro and isnt too long and drawn out, great job!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Four Flags of Cuba

  From its time as a colony to now, Cuba has seen a few different flags flying over the island.   1.    The Spanish Flag of the House of Burgundy   This was the colonial flag of Spanish overseas territories and by default, the flag of Cuba from the founding of Havana in 1515, up until Cuba an American territory after the Spanish-American War in 1898. The flag was also known as the St. Andrews Cross.  2.    The Stars and Stripes   After the Spanish-American War, Cuba was a territory of the United States, and the American Stars and Stripes flag flew over the island for a short four-year period from 1898-1902. 3. The 26 th of July Flag   The M-26-7, also fashioned as M-26-J, was the flag of the revolution that overthrew President Batista in 1959. It was designed to appear similar to the flag of Angola. The M-26-7 stands for Movimiento 26 de Julio. The 26 th of July Movement was an early attempt to overthrow Batista that ...

History of Colombia

Pedro de Heredia, Spanish Conquistador The earliest recorded history of Colombia dates back to about 1499 with the first Spanish conquest. Conquistador Alonso de Ojeda landed at Cabo de la Vela where he encountered the Muisca Confederation. A later expedition in 1533 led by Pedro de Heredia founded the first  permanent settlement of Cartagena. The Muisca Confederation was a nation of Amerindians located near what is now the city of Bogota. They had an economy largely based on agriculture and salt mining and would trade with other nearby tribes such as the Inca. The capital of the new colony, Colombia, Bogota, was founded in August of 1538 by Conquistador Jimenéz de Quesáda . The colony's main exports were gold and jewels mined through the forced labor of the Muisca people through the Encomienda system, a precursor to African slavery. In 1739 the Spanish holdings in the New World were reorganized and the Viceroyalty of New Granada Map of the  Viceroyalty of New Granada was form...