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37-512: The Partido Auténtico had its origins in the nationalist Revolution of 1933 . It was made up in February 1934 by many of the same individuals who had brought about the downfall of Gerardo Machado in the previous year to defend the changes caused by the Revolution of 1933. In the 1939 Constitutional Assembly election the party was part of the victorious Opposition Front, and it emerged as

74-534: A few hours then surrendered. This defeat, and the ABC's confused explanation of its motives for the revolt, dealt a permanent blow to the group's credibility. The ABC continued as a political party but saw its influence steadily dwindle. The group took part in the Constitutional Assembly of 1940, along with other several parties of the time. It disbanded in 1952, after a new coup by Batista. In 1934

111-595: A general strike in Havana , Welles succeeded in pressuring Machado to resign, the ABC requested four cabinet positions in the new government of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada . It got two: Martínez Saenz as Secretary of the Treasury, and Carlos Saladrigas y Zayas as Secretary of Justice. The Céspedes government was displaced by the Sergeants' Revolt of 4 September 1933. One of the plotters, Fulgencio Batista ,

148-650: A last-minute change of cemetery. In early 1932 the government created a secret police force called the Porra, which acted against the opposition with no less violence. This repression further weakened the Machado government and enhanced the ABC's standing. The ABC maintained close contact with Cuba's radical student group, the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario . Student leader Eduardo Chibás wrote that students sometimes carried out

185-429: Is no first sergeant, or if he refuses to take command, the senior sergeant must do so. If there is no sergeant, a corporal. If there is no willing corporal, then a soldier, and if not, then a recruit. The units must have someone in command and he must be an enlisted man. Thus the sergeants took uncontested control of Columbia barracks and soon established communications with sympathetic officers in other cities. Members of

222-464: The Directorio Estudiantil Universitario (Student Directory) and workers, as well by US Ambassador Sumner Welles , forced Machado to resign. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada led a provisional government that included members of the opposition group ABC in its cabinet. Other groups from the Machado opposition were unsatisfied with the provisional government, which to them represented an unacceptable compromise with US interventionism. On August 24,

259-515: The Jewish star was intended to connote persecution. By early 1933 the ABC had reached its peak popularity, and its green flag was reportedly flown widely. Apparently contrary to its stance against American interventionism, the ABC accepted a seat at the table in negotiations with American ambassador Sumner Welles , prompting the creation of a more rigidly anti-interventionist splinter group called ABC Radical. ABC's participation gave credibility to

296-673: The Liberal Party was formed for the 1950 mid-term election , and this alliance too won. However, the Partido Auténtico lost the 1954 general election to Fulgencio Batista's National Progressive Coalition. The Partido Auténtico was the most nationalistic of the major parties that existed between the Revolution of 1933 and the 1959 Cuban Revolution . It had as its slogan Cuba para los cubanos ("Cuba for Cubans"). Its electoral program contained corporatist elements. For instance, it supported numerous efforts to strengthen

333-588: The Sergeants' Revolt , was a coup d'etat that occurred in Cuba in September 1933. It began as a revolt of sergeants and enlisted men in the military, who soon allied with student activists in the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario . The coup deposed Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada as president, installing a new government led by a five-man coalition, known as the Pentarchy of 1933 . After only five days,

370-687: The Pentarchy gave way to the presidency of Ramón Grau , whose term is known as the One Hundred Days Government . The leader of the revolt, Sergeant Fulgencio Batista , became the head of the armed forces and began a long period of influence on Cuban politics. The authoritarian policies of Gerardo Machado and the Great Depression beginning in 1929 plunged Cuba into an economic and social crisis, amidst which opposition groups proliferated. Pressure and demonstrations by

407-490: The Student Directory issued a Manifesto-Program that denounced the ABC and made various demands, including the formation of a new government. After the fall of Machado, the military perceived its situation as precarious. Opposition forces controlled Havana , and took their revenge on supporters of the Machado regime, including police and some soldiers. The military was reluctant to intervene in this situation lest

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444-566: The Student Directory—beginning with José Leyva, Ramiro Valdés Daussá, Juan António Rubio Padilla, Carlos Prío Socarrás , Rubén de León, and Justo Carrillo—came to the barracks and joined forces with the army. While President Céspedes was away from Havana to survey hurricane damage, the rebels forced the remaining government officers in Havana to leave their posts. They then issued a proclamation announcing that they were in control of

481-469: The aims of the revolution; it briefly described a program which included economic restructuring, punishment of wrongdoers, recognition of public debts, creation of courts, political reorganization, and any other actions necessary to construct a new Cuba based on justice and democracy. Both Grau and Batista visited Welles on September 5 to seek support from the US and ascertain its position. Only five days after

518-568: The apparatus of the state. Student activist Justo Carrillo On September 3 and 4 some of the lower-ranking officers at Columbia barracks directly raised issues of back pay and promotions with the senior officers. On September 4, Captain Mario Torres Menier appeared at a meeting of the enlisted men at Camp Columbia. Batista allowed him to enter. The soldiers made their complaints with mounting enthusiasm; Torres Menier withdrew to consult with other superior officers. Another meeting

555-399: The bombing missions, with the ABC providing funding and equipment, and also taking credit. In 1932, the ABC issued a Program Manifesto, written predominantly by Martínez Saenz, Mañach, and Ichaso. The Manifesto called for a range of reforms, including women's suffrage, worker's rights (unions, eight-hour day, right to strike, pensions), the elimination of latifundios through taxation, and

592-403: The civilian world. In August the group of sergeants created a manifesto calling for dignity, respect, and benefits for soldiers, and declaring the duty of soldiers to rebel. Batista asked the ABC, to which he belonged, to publicize the manifesto. The ABC, which had established itself as part of the status quo government, refused, and Batista and others left the group. Other factions within

629-541: The country, and set up a Pentarchy modeled on the then-current government of Uruguay . After President Céspedes returned on September 5, members of the junta arrived at his office and informed him that they were to receive the government from him. Swayed by their claim to command the allegiance of the military rank and file, Céspedes vacated the Presidential Palace . The junta of officers and students proclaimed that it had taken power in order to fulfill

666-482: The coup, Batista and the Student Directory promoted Ramón Grau , one of the members of the Pentarchy, to the role of President , replacing the Pentarchy. The coup displaced 900 officers from command. Of these, 200 rejoined the armed forces under Batista; 300 went into retirement, exile, or prison; and 400 gathered at the Hotel Nacional , to await a return to power. The sergeants consolidated their power over

703-422: The coup. We had gained a great deal of confidence; we were on the point of overthrowing Céspedes; and this movement at Camp Columbia might be the vehicle for that overthrow. These circumstances prompted us to get moving. We set out for Columbia to see what was going on, to figure out what we should do, and to see what we could accomplish. When we left for Columbia, we did not even remotely consider — in spite of

740-591: The creation of cooperatives. It also called for the creation of a Cuban National Bank . Though wide-ranging, the ABC's program has been described as more pragmatic or realistic than those of other opposition groups at the time. The ABC was sometimes criticized (especially by the Communist Party of Cuba ) as fascist, elitist, or crypto-imperialist. The British Ambassador John J. Broderick related his "surprise to hear university professors and lawyers and doctors of education and intelligence attempt to justify

777-446: The first digit used in the next cell; the cell led by A3 would have members B31, B32, B33, etc. The organization took credit for numerous terrorist attacks like assassinations and bombings. They targeted police officers and soldiers, and also made several high-profile killings, including Senate President Clemente Vázquez Bello . The ABC reportedly orchestrated a plan to kill Machado by bombing Vazequez Bello's funeral, but failed due to

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814-448: The group's leader, and Jaime Mariné . A funeral for Sergeant Miguel Ángel Hernández y Rodríguez, captured and killed by the Machado government in May 1933, took place on 19 August 1933. This gave Batista the opportunity to do a passionate oration which brought him attention as a future leader. At the funeral he met with journalist Sergio Carbó , who acted as an important contact for him in

851-540: The invitation of US Ambassador Sumner Welles to participate in a new government, only to be forced out of power in less than a month, becoming again an opposition group during the One Hundred Days Government . The ABC was founded in October 1931 by a group that had been meeting for a year in the office of Dr. Juan Andrés Lliteras . The most prominent member was Joaquín Martínez Saenz . Jorge Mañach and Francisco Ichaso were soon invited to join. The group's membership

888-537: The largest party in the Assembly. The 1940 Constitution of Cuba was heavily influenced by the nationalist ideas at the heart of the party's program. Although the party also held the most seats in the Chamber of Representatives after the 1940 general election , its candidate, Ramón Grau , lost the presidential election. In the 1942 parliamentary election it finished third, winning only 10 seats. Grau went on to win

925-601: The military at the Battle of the Hotel Nacional , in which the higher-ranking officers were eliminated. Batista, having pushed Rodríguez out of power, emerged as the foremost leader. The ensuing One Hundred Days Government issued a number of reformist declarations but never gained diplomatic recognition from the US; it was overthrown in January 1934 under pressure from Batista and the US. ABC (Cuba) The ABC

962-535: The military were also plotting against the Céspedes government, and some spoke openly against it. As the movement grew, the plotters met in larger venues, including the masonic Gran Logia de Cuba and a military hospital. These preparations became somewhat obvious, but meetings continued to occur on the pretext of planning projects to improve quality of life for enlisted men. The action mostly took place in Havana, with some outreach to Matanzas Province soon before

999-418: The negotiations, and by twice threatening to withdraw the organization was able to effect release of its imprisoned members, thanks to pressure by Welles on Machado. Welles wrote of the ABC in a telegram to Washington on 1 July 1933, "the representatives of that organization are both intelligent and well-disposed and I am hopeful that for some weeks at least the organization can be kept in line." When, amidst

1036-555: The nightly bombings in the capital and its surroundings, on the grounds that they serve to keep alive amongst the people a spirit of uneasiness and revolt until comprehensive plans have been prepared for a series of systematic direct attacks on the machinery of the Government." The ABC itself declared its opposition to both communism and fascism. Its green banner contrasted notably with the gray, black, and blue colors of contemporary European right-wing groups, and its logo inspired by

1073-420: The power of the labor unions, some of the party's biggest supporters. Also, some of its members supported the management of the economy through tripartite commissions with businessmen, labor leaders and government bureaucrats, as well as a second chamber (River Plate) with labor and business groups. Sergeants%27 Revolt The Cuban Revolution of 1933 ( Spanish : Revolución cubana de 1933 ), also called

1110-555: The presidency at the 1944 general election , which also saw the Partido Auténtico win the most seats in the Chamber. The party also won the 1946 mid-term election with 30 seats. For the 1948 general election the party formed an alliance with the Republican Party , helping Carlos Prío Socarrás win the presidency, and also winning both the Chamber and Senate. A different alliance with the Democratic Party and

1147-465: The psychological determinism that will soon become evident — that the sergeants would constitute the ultimate solution to the military conflict Machado had left behind. Perhaps — we felt more or less subconsciously — this might be an opportunity to bring down the Plattist regime Ambassador Welles had imposed and, after a very brief intermediate step, we might achieve an easy formula of happy adjustment to

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1184-454: The public perceive it as an agent of the old regime. Arrest of 50 soldiers and 21 officers did not satisfy demands for reform. Critics of the Céspedes government, including within the military, charged that it was not taking sufficient action against Machado's backers within the military, and that it had failed to reinstate officers who had opposed Machado. This situation exacerbated longstanding tension (related to age, class, and race) between

1221-645: The ranks of officers. A group of sergeants began meeting at the Columbia barracks, forming the Columbia Military Union. Their ambition to improve conditions in the army quickly expanded to a plan for regime change. This group, later called the Junta of the Eight (despite uncertainty about numbers) included Batista and other members of his ABC cell, as well as Pablo Rodríguez, whom some perceived to be

1258-400: Was a Cuban political organization founded in 1931 in opposition to the government of Gerardo Machado . It used a hierarchy of clandestine cells , in which each member would oversee a cell on the next level. The first cell was labeled A; the next tier B; then C, and so forth. The ABC gained prominence quickly through dissemination of propaganda and through acts of terrorism. The group accepted

1295-455: Was an ABC member, but had not secured the help of his comrades in the government. In November 1933 the ABC participated in an unsuccessful revolt against the One Hundred Days Government headed by Ramon Grau . Despite the chaos of the times, many groups including ABC Radical, the Communist Party , and eventually the armed forces under Batista fought on the side of the government. The rebels retreated to Atarés Castle , where they held out for

1332-487: Was predominantly middle class, including students and professionals. Cells had about seven members, each of whom could lead a cell on the tier below. Members of the organization knew only their leader and the cell below them. The system of alphabetical lettering of cells from tier to tier gave the organization its name. A sequence of numbers along with the letter identified each individual member. The members of cell A were numbered A1, A2, A3, etc. They gave their number as

1369-489: Was scheduled for 8PM. In the interim, leaders of the coup rallied their supporters. Batista contacted Carbó and secured the support of Juan Blas Hernández , a rebel who opposed Machado for two years. The meeting that evening took place in a theater. The senior officers had been excluded. Batista spoke from onstage, declaring: From this moment forward, do not obey anyone's orders but mine. First sergeants must immediately take control of their respective military units. If there

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