1901-1935 

March 1901 - The Platt Amendment is presented to the delegates of Cuba's constitutional convention who are angered by the terms of the Amendment stating that Cuba's long sought independence would be threatened by U.S. demands that would withhold Cuba's sovereignty. The protests and objections ultimately succumbed to Cuba's desire to end the U.S. military presence on the island and the delegates conceded to include the Platt Amendment as an appendix to Cuba's 1901 Constitution. 


1901 Elections - General Leonard Wood oversees the democratic election for national offices in Cuba, however some classes of Cubans are excluded from voting including AfroCubans, women and those having less than $250. Tomas Estrada Palma is elected Cuba's first elected president. 


May 20, 1902 - President-elect Tomas Estrada Palma is sworn in as Cuba's first president and the three year U.S. military presence ends. 


May 23, 1902 - The Platt Amendment is incorporated into the "Permanent Treaty" signed by the United States and Cuba. ( The Platt Amendment was abrogated in 1934 after Colonel Fulgencio Batista emerged as the strongman controlling Cuba's government ). 


From its earliest days of independence the Cuban people have been plagued with corrupt government leaders. Using the strength of military power these men have subverted and manipulated the democratic process to install themselves as president or to become the strongman behind the appointment of a president. 


1906 to 1917 - Cuba elects three presidents and during this same period on three separate occasions the United States, under the provisions of the Platt amendment, sent troops and ships to Cuba to quell internal uprisings led by groups attempting to overthrow the government accusing their leaders of corruption and ruthless practices. 


1921 to 1932 - Cuba elects two new presidents. During these thirteen years insurrections continue led by various Cuban groups opposed to the ongoing corruption practices of government officials. 


August 12, 1933 - With the country on the verge of revolution, Cuban president Machado, facing the threat of a general strike and defection of his military, resigns from office. With the approval of the United States a new president, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, is appointed. 


September 5, 1933 - The "Sergeants' Revolt," led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, overthrows the new Cuban president and a five man junta takes over power. The United States fearing the group has "communistic" ideas threatens military intervention and a new president is appointed on September 10. The U. S. does not officially recognize the new government. 


January 15, 1934 - Batista, now a colonel, overthrows the president and within three days systematically appoints and replaces three presidents with the last president receiving U.S. approval. 


May 29, 1934 - With Colonel Batista firmly in charge of the government, Cuba and the United States sign the "Treaty on Relations", which abrogates the "Permanent Treaty" of 1903 and the Platt Amendment. The new treaty continues to permit the United States to lease the site of their naval base at Guantanamo.