2. José Martí, the United States and frustrated independence

José Martí, the United States and frustrated independence




This week we will pick up the story in the latter half of the 19th Century. How was the struggle for Cuban independence thwarted by the United States? Who was José Martí and how does his legacy impact Cuban self-identity today? This lecture explores the late 19th and early 20th Century struggle for independence and the neocolonial influence of the United States.

Here are some resources to extend your knowledge and deepen your understanding.


2.1 US Imperialism


This short film explains the reasons for the expopansion of the UNted States in the late 19th Century:

US Imperialism

2.2  Cuba in the 19th Century

In this illustrated talk, Cartoon Ed, explains how the US became so interest in the Cuban economy in the 19th Century.



2.3 José Martí and Cuban Independence

IN this article scholar Jaime Suchliki epxlains the Political ideas of José Martí

The Political Ideology of José Martí

And this short film explains who was and why he is important to Cubans, but note that his postion on Martí is that Castro betrayed him:


And here is a talk about the way in which José Martí lived in Florida and raised money there to finance the second War of Independence 1895-8


2.4 Marti's Last letter

In this letter, shortly before he died fighting in 1895, Martí warned a friend of the danger to Latin America of the United States annexing Cuba and making it a base from which dominate the whole of Latin America.


2.5 The Platt Amendment

The Platt Amendment to the Army Appropriations Bill insisted that the United States forced the new Cuban republic to accept seven conditions before they would obtain independence in 1902. They amounted to allowing the US the right to intervene in Cuba whenever it felt its interests threatened.






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