The Evolution Of Cuba Pt 2: DICKtators & Corruption
The Evolution of Cuba Part 2: DICKtators & Corruption
Welcome back to TMI: Cuba. In the last post, we ventured from colonisation, all the way through to Cuba’s independence. Today my friend, we will explore Cuba’s political inception & development. I know. That sounds like a total snooze fest, but I assure you it’s not. There’s corruption, mafias, shoot outs and a man on fire! Ok… that last one was just Anchorman – but the rest is true.
We’re going to look at a few of the presidents – but not all of them. For a while there, being president was like teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Many didn’t last long… And one in particular lasted a bit too long, but we’ll get to that.
TL; DR: Do you want all the results without doing any of the work? Scroll to the bottom for a quick summary of this post at no extra cost! Limited offer, subject to availability.
Independence & the corruption Offset
Cuba’s First President
For now, let’s pick up where we left off… The year is 1901. The UK has raised the minimum working age to 12 years old, the Germans are trying to ban duelling. The first native African (who also just happened to be a woman) graduates from a US college. Picasso holds his very first exhibition. The world witnessed the first woman to ride Niagara Falls in a barrel and Cuba has its very first President. What a year.
Tomas Estrada Palma should have signified change for Cuba – and he did a bit. But for all the progress he made, the USA still had too much of a hold on the country. The Cuban’s wanted real independence. Long story short, people thought he rigged the elections for his second term and the US eventually intervened again. They sent in William Taft to help.
Did You Know: Taft went on to become the fattest US president there has ever been. He was so fat, he had to have his own bathtub installed into the White House that fit 4 regular folks in it. Can we really believe everything we read on Wikipedia? I sure hope so.
Enter Stage Right: Corruption
Fast forward to 1925 & Cuba has elected it’s fifth President: Gerardo Machado. A president who promised to only serve one term but promptly changed his mind after election. How do they get away with it? But hmm, that sounds kind of familiar. Oh, that’s right, Trumps been joking about changing the constitution himself for a third term. A real DICKtator move if you ask me.
He started off all right, building roads & other good guy stuff. Cuba was benefiting from the USA’s sugar consumption – but it was also dependent on it. Giving the US the stronghold that Cuban’s passionately despised. He was responsible for ordering the construction of Cuba’s ‘El Capitolio’ building. It’s almost identical to the US Capitol building in D.C… except it’s a metre longer, wider and higher. In your face USA.
Racism was a big issue in Cuba around the 1930’s with segregation prevalent. My guess is Machado largely agreed with the way things were because he banned African Drums. He also banned bodily contortions. And I really enjoy the idea that folks knew he hated it & just lingered around corners tied up like pretzels waiting to piss him off.
Freedom of Speech & secret police
People started to dislike him & his values and it didn’t take long for opposing groups to start forming. In 1931, he ordered for a whole bunch of Newspapers to be closed down, quelling free speech. Students from The University of Havana were just another group that fell victim to his dictatorship. He didn’t like young educated folk thinking for themselves & speaking freely during elections. So, he closed the university. But of course, the groups just protested outside. Things got really heated when a young lad by the name of Rafael Trejo was killed during clashes with police.
Oh, and Machado created his own secret police (the Porra) who were basically glorified hit men. They went around taking out anyone who opposed him. Opposers or suspects would be arrested, and many were killed in custody. Thank god stuff like that doesn’t happen today eh? Jokes, it totally does.
Ahhhh, the perks of being in charge. Shutting people up & then taking more permanent measures when they don’t do what you’ve forced them to do.
The Return of cespedes
The US felt it necessary to intervene, again. Machado stepped down & fled Cuba. So, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (Full name Carlos Manuel de Cespedes y Quesada – even more fun to say) steps in. If you joined me for my first instalment, that name might seem familiar. That is because the father of this Carlos was the Carlos who rang his slave bell, freeing his slaves and instigating the Ten Years War!
You’d think the son of a Cuban revolutionary would be the perfect president! But, his reign of power lasted about a month. I told you this was some #DADA shit.
So, the problem with Cespedes is that whilst he’s way less corrupt, he doesn’t remove any of Machado’s men from their powerful military positions. This leaves the military men disappointed that they’re still taking orders from corrupt leaders.
Enter Stage Right: Fulgencio Batista
Batista was a young man of humble origins who rose in the military ranks as a talented stenographer. (That’s the fancy word for shorthand). In 1933, he forms a coup, often referred to as the Sargent’s Revolt. He realises there’s more of them than there are of seniors, so he just tells the men – ‘you’re taking orders from me now’… and they do… and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. That ladies & gentlemen is how you coup.
Fast Forward Just a Wee Bit…
We’re going to fast forward to 1940, here’s what you miss in those 7 years: A collective of leaders that last 5 days followed by 7 other presidents. The longest serving for just under 4 years. The shortest? Just 3 days. What did you do Carlos Hevia? In all seriousness, Batista seems to be pulling the strings & in 1940, he was elected President of Cuba. Shorthand must have been really important back then huh.
He rides out his term, disappears off to the US for a while before returning and get this – forms ANOTHER COUP! I’m not kidding. He runs for President; realises he’s trailing last place so just forces his way in & cancels the elections. He is President again from 1952 to 1959. And boy does a lot happen in that time. SPOILER ALERT Castro’s coming!
The Cuba that Batista created is not dissimilar to the one formed under Machado. The corrupt leaders thrive, whilst the masses starve. During his reign, the US owned 70% of Cuba’s farming land – leaving little for the Cubans. But things got way more intense than that. The Mafia moved in. Casinos popped up. Prostitution exploded. Famous mobsters like Meyer Lansky, Santo Trafficante & Lucky Luciano moved in on the casinos. Drugs were easily & readily available. Havana was attracting a lot of people. Famously Ernest Hemingway was known to spend years there & Sinatra was known to give performances too. Havana was fast & attractive. But it was at a great cost to many of the Cuban people.
I mean, not Batista obviously he was probably sleeping on a big bed of dollar bills. Diving in Scrooge McDuck style.
Up Next…
To summarise, Cuba is scrambling for honest & integral leadership. The Cuban’s are suffering & America has a giant hold on Cuba’s everything.
Stay tuned for The Evolution of Cuba Part 3: THE REVOLUTION. It’s a doozie.
Until then, take care & remember… No Info is Too Much Info
xoxo
TL ; DR – High president turnover in Cuba. Corrupt leaders in charge only want to make money. US own huge proportion of Cuba, whilst the average Cuban is starving. Batista stages a coup to become president… twice. Continues with corruption.
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