Cuba: The Plight Of A Nation And Its Revolution

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Cuba: The Plight Of A Nation And Its Revolution

Cuba: The Plight of a Nation and its Revolution
While the isle of Cuba was initially discovered on October 27, 1492 during one of
Columbus’ first voyages, it wasn’t actually claimed by Spain until the sixteenth century.
However, it’s tumultuous beginnings as a Spanish sugar colony provides an insightful backdrop
into the very essence of the country’s political and economic unrest. From it’s early
revolutionary days to the insurrectional challenge of the Marxist-Leninist theories emerged the
totalitarian regime under Fidel Castro in present day Cuba.
Cuban colonial society was distinguished by the characteristics of colonial societies in
general, namely a stratified, inegalitarian class system; a poorly differentiated agricultural
economy; a dominant political class made up of colonial officers, the clergy, and the military; an
exclusionary and elitist education system controlled by the clergy; and a pervasive religious
system.1 Cuba’s agrarian monocultural character, economically dependant upon sugar
cultivation, production and export severely restricted its potential for growth as a nation, thereby
firmly implanting its newly sprouted roots firmly in the trenches of poverty from the very
beginning of the country’s existence.
In 1868, Cuba entered in to The Ten Years’ War against Spain in a struggle for
independence, but to no avail. Ten years of bitter and destructive conflict ensued, but the goal of
independence was not achieved. Political divisions among patriot forces, personal quarrels
among rebel military leaders, and the failure of the rebels to gain the backing of the United
States, coupled with stiff resistance from Spain and the Cubans’ inability to carry the war in
earnest to the western provinces, produced a military stalemate in the final stages.2 The war had
a devastating effect on an already weak economic and political infrastructure.
The defeat, however, did not hinder the resolution of the Cuban proletariat for an
independent nation. In the words of one author,
The Cubans’ ability to wage a costly, protracted struggle against
Spain demonstrated that proindependence sentiment was strong
and could be manifested militarily. On the other hand, before any
effort to terminate Spanish control could succeed, differences over
slavery, political organization, leadership, and military strategy had
to be resolved. In short, the very inconclusiveness of the war left a
feeling that the Cubans could and...

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