The History of Cuba, vol. 2

The era of Cuban history which embraced part of the seventeenth, the eighteenth, and part of the nineteenth centuries, and which we have endeavored to review in this volume, pre...

Washington's warning of entangling alliances comes to one's mind on reading the curious results of the concerted action against Britain decided upon by France and Spain in Europ...

The French Revolution set the pace for the world's movements in the last decade of the eighteenth century and spread the seeds of many more in the century to come. Pamphlets, bo...

When Prado took charge of the governorship, he immediately proceeded to build quarters for the reenforcement of dragoons which were to be sent over from Spain, and for that purp...

When Governor Martinez de la Vega was promoted to the post of President and Captain-General of Panama, there was appointed in his place, as the thirty-sixth governor of Cuba, Fi...

The conditions which we have described did not, however, prevent the colony, when prosperity came to her, from succumbing to the evils which invariably follow in the wake of new...

Tales of Bolivar's triumphs in South America were not slow to penetrate to the knowledge of the Cubans. Liberty, which had seemed only a dream, now began to take on the aspect o...

General Geronimo Valdez, who succeeded the Prince de Aglona as Captain-General in 1840, probably endeavored to rule wisely, since he was by nature a rather gentle and just man;...

When the Treaty of Utrecht was signed on the eleventh of April, 1713, the Spanish colonies in America felt as if they were entering upon a new era, an era of peace and unhindere...

Perhaps it is a wise Providence that decrees that even government shall be subject to that rhythm by which the tides of human affairs rise and fall. Who shall say? In 1796, Las...

While the new Spanish possession annexed to Cuba by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, Louisiana, was passing through that painful state of transition which always follows the trans...

With the solemn signing of the foregoing articles of capitulation on the twelfth of August, 1762, began the occupation of Havana by the British, who thus seemed to have attained...

The prosperity of a new country and the happiness of the people depend largely upon a just apportionment of the land of that country and the opportunity to exploit the resources...

By the terms of the treaty signed at Versailles on the tenth of February, 1763, Britain was to give back to Spain the city and territory of Havana in the condition in which the...

The alliances among the powers of Europe in the middle of the seventeenth century and the unsatisfactory settlements of some of the most harassing questions in dispute produced...

For a correct understanding of the internal dissensions and uprisings which played so large a part in the history of Cuba during the greater part of the nineteenth century, it i...

We must consider, in order rightly to understand the situation of Cuba at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and the momentous train of incidents in her history which then...

The first records of the slave trade in Cuba--so far as the eastern part of the island is concerned--were in 1521. Curiously enough it was begun by Portuguese rather than Spanis...

While Cuba was enjoying the peace and prosperity which had followed its return to Spain, Louisiana, which by the Treaty of Paris had been ceded to Spain by Louis XV. of France,...

"Cuba; America: America; Cuba. The two names are inseparable." So we said at the beginning of our history of the "Pearl of the Antilles." So we must say at the beginning of a ne...

It was on May 2, 1823, that Don Francisco Vives, afterward Conde de Cuba, arrived in Cuba to take over the office of Captain-General. Let us first contemplate the good which he...

In the mean time events in North America continued to agitate the diplomatic world of Europe and to stir up trouble. As Great Britain had begun to interfere with the commerce an...

The changes which the island underwent during this time were far-reaching. The British occupation had established a direct contact with the world outside of Spain, which was bou...

The half century from 1776 to 1826 was afire with the spirit of revolution and freedom. During this period the United States won her independence from England; Belgium sought se...

Cuba, so rich and fertile, was an object of desire, not alone to America, but at least equally to the countries of Europe. Thus England cast covetous eyes at Cuba, and some of t...

Review of an Era in Cuban History--Progress in Inverse Order from International to National Interests--Alienation from Spain--Contrasts Between Cuba and Other Colonies, Spanish...

An Ill-Managed Armada--Neutrality Violated in Warfare upon Commerce--An Orgy of Privateering--Rodney's Exploits--Cagigal's Expedition to the Bahamas--Rodney's Menace to Havana--...

Influence of the French Revolution in Spain--Toussaint Louverture--Cession of Santo Domingo to France--The Peace of Basle--Panic and Chaos in Spain--Advantages Gained by Cuba--A...

The "Soles de Bolivar" in Cuba--Administration of Villanueva--Oppression of the People--Vain Attempts to Suppress Patriotic Societies--Conspiracies for Freedom--Early Martyrs to...

Beginning of Slave Insurrections--David Turnbull's Pernicious Activities--O'Donnell the Despot--Roncali the Ridiculous--Causes of Slave Unrest--Story of One Uprising--Vacillatin...

First Appearance of Yellow Fever in Cuba--Preparations to Resist the British Attack--Divided Counsels--Arrival of the British Fleet--Consternation of the Inhabitants--Velasco Ch...

Entering a New Era--The Freedom of the Seas--Progress of the Slave Trade--Clandestine Commercial Operations and Political Intrigues--The Genius of Governor Guazo--Attacking the...

Administration of the Marquis de la Torre--One of Cuba's Best Governors--Cleansing and Paving the Streets of Havana--New Public Buildings--Harbor Improvements--The First Theatre...

Rise of Relations Between Cuba and the United States--Early Interest of the United States in Cuba--Action of Congress in 1811--"The Ever Faithful Isle"--First Overtures for Anne...

The Administration of Guemez--Introduction of Reforms--Sanitation--Economic and Fiscal Reforms--Monopolies in Trade--Further Fortifications--Controversies Over the Slave Trade--...

British Occupation of Havana--Attitude of the Cubans Toward the British Conquerors--Departure of the Spanish Forces--British Views of the Conquest of Cuba--A Controversy Over Ch...

Departure of the British and Re-entry of the Spanish--The New Spanish Governor--Antagonisms Between British and Spanish--A Period of Reconstruction--Reclassification of Revenues...

The Land Problem in Cuba--Lands Withheld from the Real Workers--Indolence Induced by Lack of Opportunity--Manners and Customs of the Cuban People at the End of the Eighteenth Ce...

British Designs upon Cuba--Cuban Negotiations with the United States--The Mission of Morales--Annexation Sentiment--Attitude of the United States Government--Issuance of the Mon...

Conditions Accompanying the Rise of Wealth--Strange Mixture of Immorality and Religion--Seclusion of Cuban Women--Amusements and Entertainments--The Bull Ring--The Cock Pit--The...

The Administration of Santa Clara--Someruelos--Great Fire in Havana--Architectural Progress--Fear of Invasion--A French Fiasco--Hostility to Napoleon--Loyalty to an Unworthy Kin...

Spain in Her Decline--The Napoleonic Wars--The Constitution of 1812--Revolt of Spain's South and Central American Colonies--Cuba the "Ever Faithful Isle"--Reasons for Her Loyalt...

Some European Alliances--A Period of Peace for Spain--Reasons for the British Attacks upon Cuba--The Family Pact Between France and Spain--Spain's Break with Great Britain--Decl...

Early Records of the Slave Trade--Participation by the Portuguese, French and British--Statistics of Slave Importations--Illegality No Bar--Relations Between Masters and Slaves-...

An Era of Peace in Cuba--Tribulations in Spanish Louisiana--Spain Still Lagging Behind Other Colonial Powers--Fear of a Republic--O'Reilly's Expedition from Cuba to Louisiana--H...

Rise of the United States--Spanish Interests Involved--Negotiations Over Florida--Alliance Between France and Spain--Cuba's Intense Interest in the War Against Great Britain--Di...

Far-Reaching Effects of British Rule in Cuba--A French Picture of Life in Havana--A British Tribute to the City--Character of the People--Economic Changes in the Island--The Com...

The First Cuban Census--The Second Census and Humboldt's Comments Thereon--Distribution of the Population by Races--Effects of the Slave Trade on Population--The Census of 1817-...

Good and Bad Deeds of Vives--A Royal Decree that Proved a Boomerang--Dangers of the Slave Trade Perceived--Apprehension of Intervention by Other Powers--A Subtle Appeal for Patr...