Cuban ImmigrationOverview•mostly 3rd wave immigration (1920- present)•1960s- largest immigration•spanish colony for over 400 years•late 19th century- spain's colonial power was weak- the only ones left was cuba, puerto rico, and guam1890s U.S. Involvement•1890s- U.S. was struggling with questions about becoming an imperial power•An extension of Manifest Destiny- global trade opportunities - strategic military bases•U.S. politicians had wanted Cuba since the early 1800s- only 90 miles away- naval base- compete with other colonial powersLocation•1831- Key West, first settlement. about 50 cubans came to work in a Cigar factory•New York, Philadelphia, Boston•Post-1885-- Ybor City cigar factories, sort of ethnic enclave in tampa•Cubans organized Florida's first labor unionCuban Revolt of 1895•Ten Year's War (1868- 1878)- Cubans wanted independence from Spain•cuban immigrants supported the independence movement•Jose Marti- started the Cuban Revolutionary Party in the U.S.- Poet, Philosopher, and revolutionary leader- planned the Cuban War of 1895- died in a battle (the first battle)- became a national hero in CubaFactors Leading to War•Yellow journalism•publication of the Enrique Dupuy de Lome letter- feb. 9, 1898- Spanish delegate basically trashed the U.S. president at the time (President William McKinley.)•used sensationalism to gain awareness for the cuban revolt•U.S.S Maine exploded- feb. 15, 1898•William Hertz from the herald and Pulitzer from the world newspaperSpanish American War•April 25, 1898- U.S. declared war on Spain•Spanish military appeared strong but was not•Spanish Empire had financial problems•Treaty of Paris- Dec. 1898- Spain ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S.- Cuba was to be independent, but became a U.S. protectorate•this war made the U.S. a world powerCuba as U.S. Protectorate•1902-1959•The Platt Amendment (1903)- gave the U.S. the right to intervene militarily- leased Guantanamo Bay to the U.S.- gave up some political control•But U.S. also gained economic and political control•Treaty of Relations (1934)Cuban Revolution•Series of repressive dictators•1950s-- Fulgencio Batista•1959s-- Cuban Revolution•Fidel Castro- wanted to get rid of American economic involvement- Marxist- single-party socialist state- communist party of Cuba formed in 1965- Leader of Cuba from 1959- 2008Political Refugees•1959- wealthy elites who had done well under Batista•1961- upper and middle class- teachers, doctors, professionals- light complexions•Miami- Cuban Refugee Emergency Center•Cuban Refugee Program - Part of U.S. opposition to communism•1965- 1973-- working class- relatives in the U.S. helped with settlementNumbers•1950- about 30,000 Cubans in the U.S.•1959-1962- 150,000 Cubans immigrated•1965-1973- 250,000 Cubans immigrated•since 1960s- about 50% of Cuban Americans concentrated in MiamiStereotypes•overly emotional and irrational•Since 1980s-- Criminals/ drug trafficking•Since 1960s-- anti-Castro radicals•Rich/ successful•wealth and poverty are sort of relative terms•media has a part in the stereotype were criminalsThe Mariel Immigrants•the Mariel boat-lift- Cuban immigration in 1980•125,000 Cubans•Cuban gov. sent some considered "undesirable"-- mentally ill and criminals (of course not true. there were very few but a majority are working class)•Mostly working class•40% had darker skin tones stereotyped as criminals•Scarface the movie had a part in stereotypesSummary•largest immigration-- 1960s•U.S. wanted to be involved in Cuba-- trade and military base•Cuban revolution (1959)-- Castro-- Communism•later immigrants (1980) were stereotyped as
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