L'évolution des relations américano-cubaine

Résumé du document

Since the United States have continued having views on Cuba, through several annexationist movements in the name of economic interests in particular. Such projects will finally result in failures and separatist conflicts until Cuba became an American protectorate in 1901.

Extraits

[...] This is why Bernabé Sanchez, representative of several planters, went to Washington in September 1822 to conspire the annexation of Cuba. John C. Calhoun and T. Jefferson were both very interested in this proposal because it would remove two main dangers : one risk was Cuba falling under the British yoke, the other was the potential revolution of black slaves in Cuba. On the first danger, Madison wrote: « the disposition of Cuba gives the United States so deep an interest . [...]

[...] By year-end the rebellion had spread across the island. The United States, on the pretext of freeing the Cuban people from Spanish oppression, invaded Cuba and made the Caribbean island a semi-colony. But interests were more on an economic level. For instance, in 1ate 1895, Olney warned that "the US can not contemplate with complacency another ten years of Cuban insurrection" because of the disruptive effect of the conflict on US economic interests and the dangers faced by US citizens living in Cuba. [...]

[...] This is the kickoff of the Ten Years war, known as `El Grito de Yaya', a Cuban cry for freedom. This revolt was led by whites, quickly joined by free mulattoes, then slaves, as a symbol of a mixed struggle for freedom. Therefore, the first Cuban war of independence was in many ways a conflict between Cuban Creole planters and recent Spanish immigrants. On February an armistice was finally signed in Zanjon. The Ten Years War had brought together different segments of the Cuban population within the rebel factions, beyond any social and racial categorization. [...]

[...] Indeed, Madrid was the weakest of the European imperial powers and hence constituted no strategic threat for the United States. Moreover, she was not a serious commercial competitor. As a result, Cuba could remain outside the North American Union as long as the island remained under the aegis of the Spanish Empire. Convinced of inescapable annexation, the Americans wanted absolutely to avoid any transfer of power to the British crown. That is why Jefferson said: " Guaranteeing Cuba's independence against all the world `except' Spain would be nearly as valuable to us as if it were our own". [...]

[...] Both feared social tensions, racial revolts and political instability. Both seemed pessimistic to a possible independence of Cuba. Thus, they both supported the future annexation by the United States. For the Cuban elite, this rapprochement with the United States was a guarantee for its private property and privileges.For the American ruling class, this position ensureed the presence of a weak and replaceable European power. The development of nationalist and independentist feelings: During the 1840s and 1850s, in the United States, the support for the expansionist cause increased steadily. [...]