he USS MAINE was on maneuvers when it exploded in the Havana harbor. This infuriated President McKinley, which led Congress to declare war on Spain. The Spaniards did not stand a chance against the U.S. and granted Cuba independence in December of 1898.Cuba had now gained its independence from Spain, but would remain under the control of the United States government. The United States built roads, sewer systems, and schools so Cubans could be "civilized". "The U.S. government leaders saw nothing contradictory in their presiding over Cuba's emergence as an independent nation."(Smith p.265) The United States decided that Cuba could not govern itself just yet, so the U.S. felt it necessary to incorporate the "Platt Amendment." This gave the U.S. the right to literally run the economy, veto international commitments, and intervene in domestic politics of Cuba. Cuba's first president Tomas Estrada Palma, was like the sidekick to the United States because he wanted Cuba to be annexed by the U.S. The Nationalist did not approve of Yankee dominance and kept Jose Marti's dream alive. Palma won a second term by election fraud. The election fraud led to a revolt, which forced the U.S. military to occupy the island for three years. Bad BatistaDuring the 1920's and 1930's Cuba experienced the most fraudulent and vile government ever. Gerardo Machado won the election in 1925 and tried to take the presidential powers indefinitely. While he remained in office, the global depression hit sending the price of Cuba world-renowned sugar to the bottom. The students, politicians, and middle-class reformers hated the workings of Machado and would do literally anything to drive him out of office. In August of 1933, Cubans pushed the army into ridding the Machado of his presidential duties, to which they were a success. Sergeant Fulgencio Batista led his men and young radicals to take over the Cuban government. Ramon Grau San Martin would act as...
