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In 1493 Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for the Spanish Empire. For centuries it was known for its rich sugar plantations and beautiful landscape, and was considered the “pearl” of the Empire. In the 1800’s the Spanish Empire began to crumble, however, and Cuban citizens grew restless for independence. By 1868 the restlessness turned into revolution. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a slave owner and plantation owner, led the revolution by declaring the independent Republic of Cuba. He also wrote an early constitution for the island that ended slavery and annexed Cuba to the United States. He freed his slaves and gave his land to the revolution's cause, and several other prominent plantation owners followed his example. President Ulysses S. Grant did not respond to the Cuban constitution, but many American citizens financially supported the revolution. Due to an inability to unite around a common goal, the revolution was never successful. It became known as the Ten Year’s War because it spanned from 1868 until 1878, when the Cuban rebels and Spanish government signed the Treaty of Zanjón to end the War. The treaty proved to be more of a truce, however, as it did not grant Cuba its independence, but rather promised it a status similar to Puerto Rico. In theory, Cuba would have representation in the Spanish parliament, and would be granted greater freedoms in regards to the press and assembly. The Treaty also pardoned all political offenses since 1868, and many of the leaders of the rebellion left the island to begin work on the next step in the fight for complete Cuban independence.
http://www.pbs.org/crucible/tl1.html
Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Manuel_de_Céspedes
http://www.pbs.org/crucible/tl1.html
Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Manuel_de_Céspedes