Misplaced Pages

#639360

54-665: During the U.S. Government's First Occupation of Cuba , the occupation government led by John R. Brooke and Leonard Wood oversaw the formation of a new constabulary . Amid the Spanish–American War and the withdrawal of the Spanish troops, the United States Military Government in Cuba sought to address ongoing criminal activity, with Santiago de Cuba being the most affected by banditry . As

108-464: A reorganization and was approved for an expansion from 1,500 to 3,800 officers. Cuban citizens aged 21-45, literate in Spanish, of good character, and physically fit (120-170 lbs, 5'4" or taller), and with no prior criminal convictions or dishonorable discharges were eligible for a requirement of a four-year enlistment. In Military Governor Wood's final 1902 report, he included that the Rural Guard

162-488: A certain level of protection of life, though the extent of this intrusion was not defined. Most significant, the amendment forced the Cuban Government to sign a treaty officially binding the amendment to law. The United States reasoning behind the amendment was based on the significant commercial interests held on the island. Spain had previously been unable to preserve U.S. interests and maintain law and order. At

216-560: A chief of the Rural Guard managed the organization in each province. In Holguín , on December 1, 1898, the Military Governor of Santiago de Cuba Col. Duncan Norbert Hood, son of John Bell Hood , established the province's Rural Guard to combat the bandits operating in the area. Upon the organization of the guard in the Puerto Príncipe district on January 1, 1899, Military Commander Louis H. Carpenter directed that

270-578: A guaranteed 22 percent share of the US sugar market that later was amended to a 49 percent share in 1949. The country continued to use the 1940 Constitution until the new constitution was promulgated in 1976 . After the Spanish–American War , Spain and the United States signed the 1898 Treaty of Paris , by which Spain ceded Puerto Rico , the Philippines , and Guam to the United States for

324-598: A joint U.S.-Latin American assault on Francoist Spain to overthrow its authoritarian regime. Batista adhered to the 1940 constitution's structures preventing his re-election. Ramón Grau San Martin was the winner of the next election, in 1944 . Grau further corroded the base of the already teetering legitimacy of the Cuban political system, in particular by undermining the deeply flawed, though not entirely ineffectual, Congress and Supreme Court . Carlos Prío Socarrás ,

378-472: A protégé of Grau, became president in 1948 . Before presidential election in 1952, Batista staged a coup . Back in power and receiving financial, military and logistical support from the United States government, Batista suspended the 1940 Constitution and revoked most political liberties, including the right to strike. He outlawed the Cuban Communist Party in 1952. He then aligned with

432-545: A reduction in the guardsmen under Maj. Gen. Alejandro Rodríguez to 3,600. The infantry brigade of the Permanent Army was expanded by transfers from the Rural Guard of Cuba. On July 11, 1908, The Cuban Shoemakers' League lodged a protest with Provisional Governor Charles Edward Magoon over the awarding of a $ 60,000 shoe contract for the Rural Guard to an American factory representative, despite Cubans offering lower prices. In 1909, additional U.S. intervention resulted in

486-935: A rural guard composed of 350 mounted troops of the Cuban army for the protection of the outlying areas of the city. By April 11, 1901, the Rural Guards of all provinces were reorganized and consolidated into the National Rural Guard by order of the Military Governor. A commission was appointed on May 7, 1901, with Major Rafael Rodríguez, Acting Inspector General of the Rural Guard, Captain Federico Rasco, formerly Captain and Adjutant in Santa Clara, and Captain Ramon Martin, Adjutant in Havana and Pinar del Rio. On May 20, 1901, Pablo García Menocal

540-500: A substitute to the Spanish Civil Guard in Cuba, the need arose to utilize the disbanded Cuban Liberation Army for local policing duties. In Santiago de Cuba Province on July 11, 1898, 20 men under Capt. Manuel A. Martínez were organized into a paramilitary composed of cavalry known as the "Rural Guard". The Rural Guard covered the four districts of Santiago de Cuba , Guantánamo , Manzanillo , and Holguin . By

594-547: The Guantánamo Bay naval base from Cuba. Following political purging and a corrupt and rigged election in 1906, the first president, Tomás Estrada Palma , faced an armed revolt by veterans of the war. As in the independence war, Afro-Cubans were overrepresented in the insurgent army of 1906. For them, the August Revolution revived hopes for a 'rightful share' in Cuba's government. On 16 August 1906, fearing

SECTION 10

#1732773114640

648-476: The Platt Amendment . The first Cuban Republic under the first elected Cuban president Tomás Estrada Palma inherited the Rural Guard in the form of a force commanded by Brig. Gen. Alejandro Rodriguez, consisting of 1,604 officers stationed at 247 posts across several provinces. In October 1902, U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Herbert G. Squiers reported the Rural Guard underwent

702-590: The Spanish Empire . This era included various changing governments and US military occupations, and ended with the outbreak of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. During this period, the United States exerted great influence on Cuban politics, notably through the Platt Amendment . The governments of Cuba between independence from Spain and the Revolution have been regarded as client state of

756-494: The Student Directory , which appointed Ramon Grau San Martin as provisional president and passed various reforms during the ensuing One Hundred Days Government . Grau resigned in 1934, after which Batista dominated Cuban politics for the next 25 years, at first through a series of puppet-presidents. The period from 1933 to 1937 was a time of "virtually unremitting social and political warfare". A new constitution

810-669: The United States . This period was also referred to as the First Occupation of Cuba , to distinguish it from a second occupation from 1906 to 1909. United States Army forces involved in the garrisoning of the island during this time were honored with the Army of Cuban Occupation Medal after its establishment in 1915. The Platt Amendment defined the terms by which the United States would cease its occupation of Cuba. The amendment, placed into an army appropriations bill

864-460: The United States . From 1902 to 1934 Cuban and United States law included the Platt Amendment , which guaranteed the US right to intervene in Cuba and placed restrictions on Cuban foreign relations. In 1934, Cuba and the United States signed the Treaty of Relations in which Cuba was obligated to give preferential treatment of its economy to the United States, in exchange the United States gave Cuba

918-713: The War of 1912 , the Partido Independiente de Color attempted to establish a separate black republic in Oriente Province , but was suppressed by the Cuban National Army under General Monteagudo , with considerable bloodshed. Sugar production played an important role in Cuban politics and economics. In the 1910s, during and after World War I , a shortage in the world sugar supply fueled an economic boom in Cuba, marked by prosperity and

972-573: The 4th highest number of TV channels out of any country. Cuba had close relations with the United States during this period. Cuba was involved in World War 1 committing 10,000 soldiers to be used in Europe along with declaring war being on the side of the Allied Powers . The most meaningful impact on Cuba that World War 1 had was on its sugar trade as much of the world's European supply

1026-639: The ABC. This campaign significantly weakened Machado's government and, backed with the threat of military intervention, set the stage for a regime change. A general strike (in which the Popular Socialist Party sided with Machado), uprisings among sugar workers, and an army revolt forced Machado into exile in August 1933. He was replaced by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada , son of Cuban patriot Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and former ambassador to

1080-466: The American Mafia, who controlled the drug, gambling, and prostitution businesses in Havana, and with large U.S.-based multinational companies who were awarded lucrative contracts. To quell the growing discontent amongst the populace—which was subsequently displayed through frequent student riots and demonstrations—Batista established tighter censorship of the media, while also using his Bureau for

1134-672: The Armed Forces of the Republic. The guard had three regiments covering Havana, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Oriente, and Camagüey. From 142 posts on September 30, 1906, it grew to 315 by the same date in 1907. In April 1908, the Provisional Government formed the Cuban Permanent Army with 2000 men and retained the Rural Guard, which had 5,180 officers and men in 380 units. A decree called for

SECTION 20

#1732773114640

1188-950: The Constitutional Army. With the collapse of the Batista regime the Rural Guard was disbanded, being replaced initially by the Revolutionary Militia and subsequently by the National Revolutionary Police Force plus the Border Troops and the Interior Special Forces. The Rural Guard wore khaki cotton uniforms, Mills-pattern cartridge belts, and russet leather shoes and leggings. Their hats resembled U.S. army campaign hats with leather bands, and they carried waterproof coats. Each hat displayed their number and

1242-501: The Guard insignia, which was also worn on their collars. Their saddles and tack were also russet leather. First Occupation of Cuba The Military Government of Cuba ( Spanish : Gobierno Militar de Cuba ) was a provisional military government in Cuba that was established in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War in 1898 when Spain ceded Cuba to

1296-547: The Repression of Communist Activities secret police to carry out wide-scale violence, torture and public executions. These murders mounted in 1957, as socialism became more influential. Many people were killed, with estimates ranging from hundreds to about 20,000 people killed. Cuba had Latin America's highest per capita consumption rates of meat, vegetables, cereals, automobiles, telephones and radios, though about one third of

1350-494: The Republic without a government and forcing the United States to take control of the island. Roosevelt immediately proclaimed that the USA had been compelled to intervene in Cuba and that their only purpose was to create the necessary conditions for a peaceful election. In 1909, home-rule government was restored when José Miguel Gómez was inaugurated as Cuba's second president, while the U.S. continued intervening in Cuban affairs. In

1404-575: The Rural Guard being placed under U.S. control. From 1909 to 1912, Frank Parker of the U.S. Army rendered services as a military instructor of the cavalry in the Rural Guard of Cuba. In 1915 legislation was passed to merge the Guardia Rural and the Permanent Army into the Ejercito Nacional numbering 13,628 men. The Guardia Rural however retained its constabulary role, organised in separate detachments distributed throughout each of

1458-538: The US . In September 1933, the Sergeants' Revolt , led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista , overthrew Céspedes. General Alberto Herrera served briefly as president ( 12–13 August) followed by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada from 13 August until 5 September 1933. A five-member executive committee (the Pentarchy of 1933 ) was chosen to head a provisional government. They were ousted by a student-led organization,

1512-463: The cattle ranches, 90% of mines and 80% of the utilities were owned by American firms. In 1958, Cuba was a relatively well-advanced country by Latin American standards, and in some cases by world standards. On the other hand, Cuba was affected by perhaps the largest labor union privileges in Latin America, including bans on dismissals and mechanization. They were obtained in large measure "at

1566-559: The conversion of more and more farmland to sugar cultivation. Prices peaked and then crashed in 1920, ruining the country financially and allowing foreign investors to gain more power than they already had. This economic turbulence was called "the Dance of the Millions". In 1924, Gerardo Machado was elected president. During his administration, tourism increased markedly, and American-owned hotels and restaurants were built to accommodate

1620-445: The cost of the unemployed and the peasants", leading to disparities. Between 1933 and 1958, Cuba extended economic regulations enormously, causing economic problems. Unemployment became a problem as graduates entering the workforce could not find jobs. The middle class, which was comparable to that of the United States, became increasingly dissatisfied with unemployment and political persecution. The labor unions supported Batista until

1674-411: The country and had been for centuries. Cuba in 1950 was the first country in Latin America to broadcast television. Eight years later the first color television broadcasting was done and it was one of the first countries in the world to do color broadcasts. Television in Cuba grew dramatically in the 1950s and by the late 1950s it had the 9th highest number of TV sets out of any country in the world and

Cuban Rural Guard - Misplaced Pages Continue

1728-615: The country forced U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt to take charge of Cuba. In the Second Occupation of Cuba , American officials sought to expand the Cuban Rural Guard for stability, enlisting prominent Cuban veterans to form militia companies. An act of Cuban Congress on September 15, 1906, approved a force of 5,305 men and consolidated the Artillery Corps with the Cuban Rural Guard, all being designated

1782-561: The eight Military Areas. The Guardia totalled 38 squadrons, still generally horse-mounted as late as 1940. By this date the regular army totalled 8,000, against 6,000 Rural Guards. The latter were expected to provide ad hoc Tercios to support the army if required. In 1952 measures were taken to firmly separate the Rural Guard from the National Army. The Guardia Rural was confirmed as a static gendarmerie style force with law enforcement and internal security responsibilities outside

1836-576: The end of military occupation, the amendment served as the primary method of ensuring a permanent presence. Due to the previously enacted Teller Amendment, the United States was forced to grant Cuba its independence after Spanish rule ended. Since the Platt Amendment was successfully incorporated into the constitution in Cuba, influence was maintained without direct U.S. involvement in the country. Republic of Cuba (1902%E2%80%931959) The Republic of Cuba , covering

1890-441: The end of the month, the guard had expanded to 40 guardsmen , tasked with law enforcement, dismantling bandits, and safeguarding landowners' rural properties. Once the Rural Guard was formed in the province of Santiago de Cuba, similar companies were organized for police supervision of the rural districts in each province. It was later established in the provinces of Puerto Príncipe, Santa Clara, Pinar del Rio, and La Habana, where

1944-700: The forces be provided with Remington carbines and Mauser ammunition from the Liberation Army which had been placed at his disposal in November 1898. Lt. Col. Braulio Peña , holding the rank of Colonel in the Cuban Army's Cavalry, was designated as the Chief of the Rural Guard for Puerto Príncipe Province. Roughly 160 men, drawn from former Liberation Army soldiers and veterans of the War of Independence , were divided into 9 squadrons distributed throughout

1998-471: The government ready to smash the plot, former Liberation Army general Pino Guerra raised the banner of revolt. Immediately, Palma arrested every Liberal politician within reach; the remainder went underground. In an effort to avert intervention, Roosevelt sent two emissaries to Havana to seek a compromise between government and opposition. Regarding such neutrality as a censure of his government, Estrada Palma resigned and made his entire cabinet resign too, leaving

2052-475: The historical period in Cuban history between 1902 and 1959, was an island country comprised the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud (since 1925) and several minor archipelagos. It was located where the northern Caribbean Sea , Gulf of Mexico , and Atlantic Ocean meet. The period began in 1902 following the end of its first U.S. military occupation years after Cuba declared independence in 1898 from

2106-400: The influx of tourists. The tourist boom led to increases in gambling and prostitution in Cuba . Machado initially enjoyed support from much of the public and from all the country's major political parties. However, his popularity declined steadily. In 1928 he held an election which was to give him another term, this one of six years, despite his promise to serve only for one term; Machado was

2160-479: The leisure and tourist industries, a modus operandi outlined at the infamous Havana Conference of 1946. By the mid-1950s Havana became one of the main markets and the favourite route for the narcotics trade to the United States. Despite this, tourist numbers grew steadily at a rate of 8% a year and Havana became known as "the Latin Las Vegas ". The sugar industry was one of the largest industries in

2214-410: The major urban districts. Mechanised and mounted Guardia cavalry, plus infantry units provided provincial garrisons, as well as augmenting the concentration of regular army troops at Havana. During the civil war of September 1957 to January 1959 the 44 Rural Guard squadrons still nominally in existence played a generally passive garrison role, leaving field action to the anti-guerrilla battalions of

Cuban Rural Guard - Misplaced Pages Continue

2268-628: The only candidate. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 led to precipitous drops in the price of sugar, political unrest, and repression. Protesting students, known as the Generation of 1930 , and a clandestine terrorist organization known as the ABC , turned to violence in opposition to the increasingly unpopular Machado. US ambassador Sumner Welles arrived in May 1933 and began a diplomatic campaign which involved "mediation" with opposition groups in including

2322-522: The population was considered poor and enjoyed relatively little of this consumption. While Cuba had the highest ratio of hospital beds to population in Latin America, around 80% of these beds were located in the city of Havana , there was only one rural hospital and it was equipped with only 10 beds. In 1951 the World Bank reported that between 80 and 90% of children in rural areas suffered from some form of intestinal parasites , in 1956 about 13% of

2376-713: The province to conduct cavalry patrols and maintain public order. The Rural Guards of the Santa Clara Province were established in a headquarters on April 7, 1899, by order of Gen. John C. Bates who was the military commander of the province. The forces were placed under the command of Col. José de J. Monteagudo acting as the Chief of the Rural Guard of the Province of Santa Clara. In December 1899, Leonard Wood met with Pablo García Menocal in La Habana Province and began arrangements to organize

2430-509: The rural population had a history of typhoid and 14% at one point had tuberculosis . A study conducted in 1959 by public health authorities found that throughout the country around 72% of the population was afflicted with parasitism and in the rural areas this percentage was as high as 86.54%. Only 11% of farm worker families drank milk, and rural infant mortality stood at 100 per 1000 live births. Only 1 in 4 peasants were able to afford regularly eating meat, eggs and fish and chronic unemployment

2484-407: The sum of $ 20   million (equivalent to $ 730   million in 2023). With the end of United States Military Government (USMG) jurisdiction, Cuba gained formal independence on 20 May 1902, as the Republic of Cuba. Under Cuba's new constitution, the U.S. retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances and foreign relations. Under the Platt Amendment , the U.S. leased

2538-552: The two dominant industries of sugar and tobacco. Cuban drinks such as the daiquiri and mojito became common in the United States during this time, after Prohibition was repealed. A combination of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the end of prohibition, and World War II severely dampened Cuba's tourist industry, and it wasn't until the 1950s that numbers began to return to the island in any significant force. During this period, American organized crime came to dominate

2592-637: The very end. Batista stayed in power until he was forced into exile in December 1958 during the Cuban Revolution . Between 1915 and 1930, Havana hosted more tourists than any other location in the Caribbean. The influx was due in large part to Cuba's proximity to the United States , where restrictive prohibition on alcohol and other pastimes stood in stark contrast to the island's traditionally relaxed attitude to leisure pursuits. Such tourism became Cuba's third largest source of foreign currency, behind

2646-465: The wealthiest landowners who owned the largest sugar plantations, and presided over a stagnating economy that widened the gap between rich and poor Cubans. Eventually it reached the point where most of the sugar industry was in U.S. hands, and foreigners owned 70% of the arable land. As such, Batista's repressive government then began to systematically profit from the exploitation of Cuba's commercial interests, by negotiating lucrative relationships with both

2700-601: Was adopted in 1940, which engineered radical progressive ideas, including the right to labor and health care. Batista was elected president in the same year, holding the post until 1944. He is so far the only non-white Cuban to win the nation's highest political office. His government carried out major social reforms. Several members of the Cuban Communist Party held office under his administration. Cuban armed forces were not greatly involved in combat during World War II, although president Batista suggested

2754-525: Was appointed by the Military Governor of Cuba Leonard Wood as Major and Quartermaster of the Rural Guard of the Island of Cuba and Lt. Col. José de J. Monteagudo as Inspector General of the Rural Guard with the rank of Colonel . The first U.S. occupation of Cuba ended on May 19, 1902, when the Republic of Cuba was established. The U.S. ceded control the next day while keeping intervention rights under

SECTION 50

#1732773114640

2808-459: Was at 25%. Cuba was a very unequal society with a mere 8% of landowners owning approximately 75% of the land, and while one-fifth of the population took in 58% of the national income, the bottom fifth got 2% of it, the lowest rates for the bottom 20% in the world then and even now. Cuba was also under a lot of influence from the United States to the point where the US controlled 80% of Cuba's trade. In 1959 around 40% of Cuban sugar land, almost all

2862-423: Was designed to give back control of Cuba to the Cuban people. It had eight conditions to which the Cuban Government needed to adhere before full sovereignty would be transferred. The main conditions of the amendment prohibited Cuba from signing any treaty allowing foreign powers to use the island for military purposes. The United States also maintained the right to interfere with Cuban independence in order to maintain

2916-553: Was found sufficient to enforce respect for law in the rural districts of Cuba. In 1904, with the guard totalling 3,020, President Tomás Estrada Palma suggested a 1,000-man increase in April 1904. The Cuban President, on August 20, 1906, issued an increase of 2,186 officers and men and the merger of the Cuban Artillery Corps with the Rural Guard. In September 1906, persistent economic challenges and political unrest in

#639360