The Cuban Identity: truly their own? Essay -- US Foreign Policy

The Cuban Identity truly their own? The join States became involved with Cubas independence struggle with Spain because they had a sagacious interest in extending their power into offshore colonies. Cubas sugar trade was a valuable commodity and served as another interest for the United States intervention in the war against Spain in 1898. Although the war had started three years prior to the United States declaration of war on Spain, they began to exert their influence and power over the settlement by infusing a government structured by appointees of President William McKinley. These authorities created the interim Cuban government as a subset of the United States and the politics and societal structures of which resembled the United States rather than focusing on a Cuban specific structure. They created a government based on democracy which then drew from the sociable structure of Cubans of different color voting for positions within this government. Their structure of the Cuban system was strikingly similar to changes that were being undertaken in Louisiana at the eon and Cuba was a secondary location to exert similar practices. McKinley appointed General John Brooke to be the first military governor in 1899 and Brooke had been known for defend the liberties of black voters in the United States (Scott 155). As Brooke was a foreigner, a few of his policies went under fire from local politicians because he should not have the authority to rewrite rulings about cultural aspects. His debacle with the determination of acquired property possession during the war included a wishy-washy stance that some Cubans felt was a flagellum to the social order (181). This caused concern and unrest amongst the Cubans because it se... ...worth for the United States because the military governments attempted to create another US rather than adopting their strategies for a completely different shade and lifestyle. The political structure was initially st ressed by Brooke and later Wood would develop a class system that did not suit the Cubans culture. These governors were vessels to impart the United States methods for politics and social status and as it became harder to do, the US slowly backed out of supporting the cause for colonization. Although the States were not successful creating either a US or Cuban national structure, their support during wartime allowed the Cubans to eventually enjoy their new freedom from Spain and create their independent culture.Works CitedScott, Rebecca J. Degrees of Freedom Louisiana and Cuba after Slavery. Cambridge, Mass. Belknap of Harvard UP, 2005. Print.