Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

50  INTRODUCING CUBA

The Early Period of the Republic
In its first 25 years, the Cuban Republic
was headed by various presidents who
did relatively little for the country. The
second incumbent, José Miguel Gómez,
who was nicknamed tiburón (shark), is at
least to be credited for having introduced
free public education and freedom of
association and speech, as well as the
separation of Church and State, and laws
regarding divorce. In the early 1900s, sugar
cane production increased to the point
where sugar became virtually the only crop
grown, and several new sugar factories A popular uprising against the corrupt, inefficient government of
were built. Havana, especially in the 1920s, Gerardo Machado
saw the develo pment of entire urban areas.
However, in general, independence had not Gerardo Machado’s Regime
really benefited the population at large, and In 1925 Gerardo Machado became president
protest demonstrations, repressed with force, of Cuba, later changing the Constitution so
began to increase. The first trade and student he could rule for a further term, which he
unions were set up, and in 1925 the Cuban did with iron force until 1933. This period
Communist Party was founded. The leading was marked by violence and tyranny; the
figure in the party was the Marxist intellectual people demonstrated their discontent by
Julio Antonio Mella, leader of the Havana means of continual strikes, and the situation
student movement and key to Latin Amer­ worsened with the Great Depression.
ican left­wing politics. Mella was arrested in A long general strike and the loss of the
Cuba but then freed because of the massive support of the army forced Machado to
demonstrations that took flee to the Bahamas on 12 August 1933.
place after he went on After a brief period of progressive govern­
hunger strike; he was ment, from early 1934 onwards there were
then sent into exile various presidents who were little more
in Mexico. However, on than puppets, placed there by Sergeant
10 January 1929, Mella Fulgencio Batista – who himself became
was assassinated in president from 1940 to 1944. From 1934
Mexico City by hired to 1940 various social reforms came into
killers in the pay of being: the Platt amendment was revoked,
the dictator Gerardo women were allowed to vote, an 8­hour
Machado. He became working day was instituted, and a new
The Marxist intellectual Julio
Antonio Mella a national hero. constitution was enacted.

1907 Birth of Independent Colour Party, 1925 Gerardo 1929 Economic
which demands equality between 1910–20 Architectural Machado becomes crisis
whites and blacks boom in Havana president
1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930

29 September 1906
Intervention of US 1925 Founding of
Marines, who police Havana railway Cuban Communist
Cuba until 1909 station (1912) Party

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