Cubas Colonial History - 3014 Words

Cuba Cuba The forces that define Cuba today are in many ways the same ones that have defined it for centuries. The ethos of monism, or the tendency to centralize power and to use it to represent pluralistic, divergent or dissenting impulses, was established early in Cubas colonial history. A small Spanish elite group used centralized power to rule for what they viewed as the common good. This common good usually coincided with their interest, and public office was often seen as both proprietary and legitimate source of private gain. Political monopolies were reinforced by economic ones, all of which served to limit accountability, social mobility, an expectation of fair play and economic development (Ellis, 2007). In Cuba, as elsewhere in Ibero-America four hundred years ago, rulers viewed society as an organic whose constituent part were united by the imperatives of order, harmony and uniformity. Experimentation, critical inquiry, and compromise were antithetical to the imperatives of monism. These forces and the limitations they place on human development have been increasingly challenged over the last century and a half by efforts to develop a more pluralistic society. Indeed, much of the modern history of Cuba is a tale of the conflict between the ethos of monism and the ethos of pluralism. This work traces the monistic impulse, efforts to change it, and its manifestation in contemporary Cuba. Throughout the colonial period, contraband trade long served as wayShow MoreRelatedCuba And The United States1307 Words   |  6 PagesCuba is a nation that formed from a history of colonial and imperial domination. Formal colonial status under Spain ended during the invasion by the United States in 1898, when military and corporate interests made the island a de facto colony of the United States. However, Cuba and the United States have had a long history of both political and military ties; both good and bad. Nevertheless, these ties have played a vital role in the current relationship the United States maintains with CubaRead MoreEssay on Cubas Struggle For Independence1443 Words   |  6 PagesCuba the â€Å"ever faithful isle†, to the oldest colonial power and on once strongest empire on Earth. Cuba was loyal to Spain to prevent the inevitable uprising of the people. Peace and slavery prevailed over insurrection and emancipation.† pg.2 Ada Ferrer presents the a tmosphere of a war that lasted 30 years only to end virtually back to the beginning under a new master. (U.S. Occupation) The struggle for independence was embedded in a deep vision of nationalism. Where race took a back seat to theRead MoreEssay on The Cause And Effect Of The Spanish American War953 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican imperialism in 1898 was not a sudden abandonment of anti-colonial tradition but was a logical extension of commercial expansion, something the US had been doing throughout its history (SparkNotes: The Spanish American War, 1898-1901,: Effects of the Treaty). President McKinley was not interested in wars of conquest or of territorial aggression. His interest in expansion was to make the United States first in international commerce and as a means to implement its humanitarian and democraticRead More Cuban Race Relations Essay2599 Words   |  11 PagesRetracing a History of Racial Scorn in Cuban Society: The study of race relations in contemporary Cuba indelibly requires an understanding of the dynamic history of race relations in this ethnically pervasive island of the Caribbean. 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The issue of racism developed since colonial times, where people of darker skin were the ones who have been oppressed by people of lighter skinRead MoreCulture, Nation And Social Cohesions : A Scrutiny Of Revolutionary Cuba1655 Words   |  7 Pagesand Social Cohesions: A Scrutiny of Revolutionary Cuba† by Kronenberg (2008), first talks about the development and character of Cuban national culture: Cuba’s original people. The author discusses the hist orical events that occurred in Cuba and how those historic events has shaped Cuba’s culture. He talks about the original tribes that were on Cuba’s land for decades, which were Taino and Siboney Amerindian tribes. They were originally one of the first groups to help shape the Cuban culture. AfterRead MoreCuban National Culture : Cubas Original People1719 Words   |  7 PagesThe article first talks about the development and character of Cuban national culture: Cuba’s original people. It discusses the historical events that occurred in Cuba and how those historic events have shaped Cuba’s culture. It talks about the original tribes that were on Cuba’s land for decades, which were Taino and Siboney Amerindian tribes. They were originally one of the first groups to help shape the Cuban culture. After a while, Spanish invaders came to Cuba and took over the land and putRead MoreCuba And The Cuban Missile Crisis1730 Words   |  7 Pagesmiles. The ne arness in the terrestrial location of Cuba relative to the US is perhaps one of the central reasons as to why the US has always remained interested in the affairs of Cuba. To this extent, we can deduce that for the greater part of the history between the two nations, US decision-makers have always considered Cuba to be a commonsensical extension of their nation; fundamentally because Cuba presents a geographical position that is of strategic political and economic importance. For manyRead More Free Cuba Essay2355 Words   |  10 PagesFree Cuba I. Introduction: Cuban history, like many other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean which have experienced colonial subjugation and imperial interference, is highlighted by tumultuous rebellions. Ever since the revolt of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in 1868, who took up arms with his slaves to liberate Cuba from Spain’s colonial grasp, the existence of insurrectionists and adamant government opposition in Cuba has flourished. Social revolution and a strong will