Cuba: 20th Century Developments

Cuba entered the twentieth century as a nominally independent republic still shaped by American influence. Following the Spanish-American War of 1898, the island came under a U.S. protectorate arrangement, and Tomas Estrada Palma became its first president in 1902. A reciprocal trade treaty tied Cuban sugar exports closely to the American market, bringing prosperity to some sectors of society while leaving deep inequalities largely unaddressed.

By mid-century, Cuba ranked among Latin America's more economically developed nations, yet political life remained volatile. Fulgencio Batista, who had earlier presided over a period of constitutional government, seized power again in 1952 through a coup, establishing a dictatorship marked by corruption and repression. Opposition movements grew during this period, including a resurgent Communist Party that drew support from widespread poverty and inequality.

Discontent with the Batista government culminated in the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, which overthrew his regime in January 1959. Castro's government subsequently transformed Cuba's political and economic system, aligning the island with the Soviet bloc and reshaping its role in the hemisphere for decades to come.