Little War (Cuba)
Encyclopedia
The Little War or Small War , (1879–1880) was the second of three conflicts in the Cuban War of Independence
. It followed the Ten Years' War
of 1868–1878 and preceded the War of '95, itself sometimes called the Cuban War of Independence, which bled into the Spanish-American War
, ultimately resulting in Cuba
n independence.
It started on August 26, 1879, and after some minor successes, the war ended in rebel defeat by September 1880.
, and in many ways it was a continuation of it. Following his release after the Pact of Zanjón
, Calixto Garcia
travelled to New York
and organized the Cuban Revolutionary Committee with other revolutionaries. In 1878, he issued a manifesto against Spanish
rule of Cuba. This met with approval amongst other revolutionary leaders, and war began on August 26, 1879.
, having been one of the few revolutionary leaders who did not sign the Pact of Zanjón. Among the other prominent leaders were Jose Maceo (the brother of Antonio Maceo
), Guillermo Moncada
, Emilo Nuñez. The revolutionaries faced many problems which were difficult to overcome. They lacked experienced leaders other than García, and they had a dire shortage of weapons and ammunition. Further, they had no foreign allies to help them, and the population was both exhausted from the Ten Years' War and lacked faith in the possibility of victory, desiring peace instead. In the west of the island, most of the revolutionary leaders were arrested. The rest of the leaders were forced to capitulate throughout 1879 and 1880, and by September 1880, the rebels had been completely defeated.
, the Spanish parliament, in practise the representatives were among the most conservative in Cuba, and thus little was changed.
The lack of any true reform resulted in another uprising 15 years later, the Cuban War of Independence
, which came to be known as the War of '95. The experience gained by the revolutionary generals in the Little War was a great help to them, and following the War of '95 and the linked Spanish-American War
, Cuba gained independence from Spain.
Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...
. It followed the Ten Years' War
Ten Years' War
The Ten Years' War , also known as the Great War and the War of '68, began on October 10, 1868 when sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain...
of 1868–1878 and preceded the War of '95, itself sometimes called the Cuban War of Independence, which bled into the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, ultimately resulting in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n independence.
It started on August 26, 1879, and after some minor successes, the war ended in rebel defeat by September 1880.
Origins
The war had the same origins as the Ten Years' WarTen Years' War
The Ten Years' War , also known as the Great War and the War of '68, began on October 10, 1868 when sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain...
, and in many ways it was a continuation of it. Following his release after the Pact of Zanjón
Pact of Zanjón
The Pact of Zanjón was the treaty that ended the Cuban Ten Years' War. Slaves who had fought against Spain were given freedom. The Maceo brothers refused to sign the treaty and kept on fighting until they took to exile to return later. Calixto Garcia was released from Spanish prison....
, Calixto Garcia
Calixto García
Calixto García e Iñiguez was a general in three Cuban uprisings, part of the Cuban War for Independence: Ten Years' War, the Little War and the War of 1895, itself sometimes called the Cuban War for Independence, which bled into the Spanish-American War, ultimately resulting in national...
travelled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and organized the Cuban Revolutionary Committee with other revolutionaries. In 1878, he issued a manifesto against Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
rule of Cuba. This met with approval amongst other revolutionary leaders, and war began on August 26, 1879.
The war
The revolution was led by Calixto GarciaCalixto García
Calixto García e Iñiguez was a general in three Cuban uprisings, part of the Cuban War for Independence: Ten Years' War, the Little War and the War of 1895, itself sometimes called the Cuban War for Independence, which bled into the Spanish-American War, ultimately resulting in national...
, having been one of the few revolutionary leaders who did not sign the Pact of Zanjón. Among the other prominent leaders were Jose Maceo (the brother of Antonio Maceo
Antonio Maceo Grajales
Lt. General José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo y Grajales was second-in-command of the Cuban Army of Independence....
), Guillermo Moncada
Guillermo Moncada
Born in Santiago on June 25, 1841, Guillermo Moncada was one of 29 Cuban generals in the Cuban War of Independence....
, Emilo Nuñez. The revolutionaries faced many problems which were difficult to overcome. They lacked experienced leaders other than García, and they had a dire shortage of weapons and ammunition. Further, they had no foreign allies to help them, and the population was both exhausted from the Ten Years' War and lacked faith in the possibility of victory, desiring peace instead. In the west of the island, most of the revolutionary leaders were arrested. The rest of the leaders were forced to capitulate throughout 1879 and 1880, and by September 1880, the rebels had been completely defeated.
Aftermath
Although the Spanish had made promises of reform, they were ineffective. The Spanish Constitution of 1876 was applied to Cuba in 1881, but this changed little. Although Cuba was able to send representatives to the Cortes GeneralesCortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
, the Spanish parliament, in practise the representatives were among the most conservative in Cuba, and thus little was changed.
The lack of any true reform resulted in another uprising 15 years later, the Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...
, which came to be known as the War of '95. The experience gained by the revolutionary generals in the Little War was a great help to them, and following the War of '95 and the linked Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Cuba gained independence from Spain.
See also
- Ten Years' WarTen Years' WarThe Ten Years' War , also known as the Great War and the War of '68, began on October 10, 1868 when sugar mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed Cuba's independence from Spain...
- Cuban War of IndependenceCuban War of IndependenceCuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...
- José Semidei RodríguezJosé Semidei RodríguezBrigadier General José Semidei Rodríguez . Before becoming a Brigadier General in the Cuban National Army,...
- Francisco Gonzalo MarínFrancisco Gonzalo MarinLieutenant Francisco Gonzalo Marín, also known as Pachín Marín , considered by many as the designer of the Puerto Rican Flag was a poet and journalist who fought alongside José Martí as a member of the Cuban Liberation Army....
- Juan Ríus RiveraJuan Rius RiveraGeneral Juan Ríus Rivera , was the General of the Cuban Liberation Army of the West upon the death of General Antonio Maceo.-Early years:...