Spanish-Cuban War: Causes and Impact of the 1898 Crisis

Item 11

The Colonial War and the Crisis of 1898

I. Introduction

In the late nineteenth century, Spain experienced a deep crisis, detonated by the colonial war for independence in Cuba and the conflict in the Philippines. This crisis was based on the inadequate colonial policies of the dynastic parties of the Restoration era and the growing U.S. interests in Cuba. Cuba, a major global exporter of sugar, was exploited by Spain through a colonial monopoly that benefited Spain and went against the interests of the islanders, fostering a strong sense of independence among Cuban planters.

II. The Crisis of '98

1. Cuba: The Pearl of the Antilles

In 1868, at the beginning of this period, a revolutionary movement emerged with autonomist aspirations. The popular uprising led by Manuel Céspedes, known as the Grito de Yara, initiated the Ten Years' War (1868-1878). This conflict concluded with the Peace of Zanjón in 1878, negotiated by General Martínez Campos, who committed to addressing some of the Cubans' claims. After the Peace of Zanjón, the Spanish government, anticipating natural reforms, granted Cuba a series of decrees. Sagasta, leader of the Liberal Party, deemed it productive to implement improvements on the island. However, through successive mandates, the only significant reform achieved was the abolition of slavery.

In 1893, José Martí founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party, aiming for the attainment of independence. This initiative immediately gained significant support abroad, especially in the United States. In 1891, the Spanish government raised tariffs on imported products to the island, a measure not reciprocated by the peninsula, its main client. The primary economic partner for Cuba was the United States.

2. The Great Insurrection

In 1879, there was a new outbreak of insurrection against the Spanish presence on the island, which led to the Little War. A few years later, the Grito de Baire in 1895 marked the beginning of a general uprising across Cuba. The Spanish head of government sent an army under General Martínez Campos, but he could not control the rebellion. He was subsequently replaced by Valeriano Weyler, who proposed changing pacification methods and initiating strong repression. Weyler aimed to prevent insurgent peasants from organizing concentrations and to treat rebels harshly, applying the maximum penalty to many of them. The military plan was not favorable to the Spanish soldiers, as the war developed fully into the jungle. Poor provisioning, lack of supplies, and tropical diseases caused great mortality among the troops. After the assassination of Cánovas in 1897 and acknowledging the failure of the repressive approach fostered by Weyler, the new Liberal government removed him from office and entrusted command to General Blanco. Blanco also initiated a strategy of conciliation, including new decrees for Cuba's economy.