Cuba Independence Day

This day commemorates the Anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence. The “Dia de la Independencia” marks the start of Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain in 1868. At the start of the nineteenth century, the Peninsular Wars in Europe resulted in Napoleon’s brother Joseph becoming king of Spain. Feeling no loyalty to this new regime, this galvanised the independence movement in many Spanish colonies in South and Central America. Cuba remained loyal to Spain but as the century went on, so did the enthusiasm for independence and an increasing resentment against the Spanish administration that was felt to be corrupt and repressive. On 10th October 1868, a wealthy sugar mill owner, Carolos Manuel de Cespedes, and his followers proclaimed independence. This became known as the Grito de Yara and marked the start of the The Year’s War. Though this war ended with surrender to the Spanish in May 1878, in the longer term it proved a key event in the country’s struggle for independence, which finally came in December 1898.