The movement for reform (reformismo) in Cuba, began in the early 19th century, received new impetus by mid-century. The drive for annexation was faltering and a feeling of nationalism developing. But violent opposition to Spanish rule had failed and the idea of independence was still nascent. The reformers sought numerous political and economic concessions from …
Trading company with Cuban and Spanish shareholders, created December 18, 1740, to ensure that Cuban tobacco would be exported exclusively to Spain. The company received a monopoly of the transatlantic trade, not only in tobacco but of sugar, too, plus the right to import consumer goods free of duty. It could also import slaves – …
Founded in Old Havana in 1773 by Bishop José de Hechavarría, as the Real and Consular Seminario, to prepare sons of the white aristocracy for careers in the church, it was housed in the former Jesuits’ school and annexed to the moribund Seminario de San Ambrosio. San Carlos had a tremendous impact on intellectual developments …
Institution founded in Old Havana in 1818 as an art and craftsmanship school by the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, at the recommendation of Intendant Alejandro Ramírez. Its first director was Jean Baptiste Vermay, a Bonapartist exile who had opened an art school in Havana the year before. It did not prosper financially and …
Spanish institution brought to the New World to deal with the Indians, groups of whom would be assigned to an encomendero entrusted with Christianizing them, with the right to their labor in return. Such Indians remained legally free and no land title accompanied the grant. The Crown used the encomienda to consolidate its control over …
Name given to the Slave conspiracy of 1843-1844, a climax to successive waves of slave revolts throughout Cuba in the early 1840s. Despite Spain’s 1821 commitment to end the African slave trade, large scale illegal importation of slaves continued, till by 1841 Blacks made up over half the population. With Cuban and British abolitionists on …
One of early 19th century Cuba’s most important secret societies, it was founded in 1821 by Cuban Creole leader José Francisco Lemus (who had fought in Colombia under Bolivar), Colombian revolutionary José Fernández Madrid, Haitian revolutionary Sévère Courtois, and the poet José María Heredia. Its name derived from its cellular organization. Each new recruit (women …
A government agency for promoting economic development. The consulado originated in medieval Spain as a guild of merchants in a port city to administer commercial law, particularly in regard to overseas trade. As Spanish administration was centralized in the late 15th century, the crown took control of appointing its officers. The consulado of Seville came …
Two individuals in the late eighteen century were instrumental in shaping the intellectual climate of the island, Captain-General Don Luis de las Casas and Bishop Díaz de Espada. A truly enlightened ruler in both cultural and economic matters, las Casas was sent to Cuba as captain-general in 1790. After he acquired a sugar mill, his …
A town council (cabildo secular), and by extension a town hall and the area of the council’s jurisdiction – the municipio – which, since it included the surrounding rural area was administratively closer to county in English-speaking countries, although in practice, cabildos tended to concentrate their cares on the cabecera (usually a villa or ciudad), …
