Guáimaro Constitution facts for kids
The Guáimaro Constitution was an important rulebook for a group of Cubans fighting for freedom from Spain. It was created by a group with "liberal" ideas, meaning they wanted more freedom and less strict government. They made sure this rulebook was used, even by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, who had more "conservative" ideas (meaning he preferred a stronger leader). This constitution was used from 1869 to 1878 during the Ten Years' War. This war was the first big fight that eventually led to Cuba becoming independent in 1898.
Contents
Why Was the Guáimaro Constitution Created?
On October 10, 1868, a man named Carlos Manuel de Céspedes started a fight for Cuba's freedom from Spain. He was a sugar planter and led a group in Oriente Province. This event began the Ten Years' War. Céspedes called himself "captain general" and acted like a Spanish governor in the areas he controlled.
However, another group of rebels disagreed with Céspedes. These were students from Havana, from important families. They thought Céspedes was too traditional and that he started the fight too quickly just to be in charge. This second group met in Camagüey Province in December.
Who Were the Key Leaders?
This second group was led by Ignacio Agramonte, a young lawyer with very "liberal" ideas. Liberal means he believed in more freedom and less control by one person. He said that people in Camagüey did not want to be ruled by a dictator. They wanted power to be limited by the rights of the people. They worried about military leaders becoming dictators, like in other Latin American countries.
How Did the Constitution Come About?
In January 1869, Céspedes lost control of his territory in a military defeat. In March, a third rebel group joined the Camagüeyans. To keep his leadership, Céspedes agreed to a compromise. He gave up his military power. He accepted the role of president of the new republic. He also agreed that a constitution would define the president's powers.
What Happened at the Assembly of Guáimaro?
The Camagüeyans and other rebels who shared their liberal ideas met on April 10, 1869. They gathered in Guáimaro. In just one day, they wrote and approved their new rulebook, the Guáimaro Constitution. The main people who wrote it were Agramonte and Antonio Zambrana.
What Were the Main Ideas of the Constitution?
The constitution did not include Céspedes' ideas. Its most important feature was a single House of Representatives. This House was a legislature, which means a group that makes laws. This House chose the president and the military leader. Both the president and the military leader served only as long as the House wanted them to.
Why Was the Constitution Hard to Follow?
In reality, the House of Representatives never fully trusted President Céspedes. He often gave military orders without listening to the military leaders chosen by the House. It was hard for the House to control Céspedes because the war was very difficult. Sometimes, the House could not even meet.
The war also meant that local military leaders had to act almost like dictators. One historian explained that these leaders made the rules in their areas. They held the real power. Because of this, the ideas of the Guáimaro Constitution became hard to follow. The central government it created became like a dream, not a reality. The geography and the harsh war made it very difficult to make the constitution work.
The Guáimaro Constitution was used until March 15, 1878.
A Look Back: The 1940 Constitution
On July 1, 1940, people writing a new Cuban Constitution met in Guáimaro. They had finished their work on June 8 in Havana. They signed their new document at the same schoolhouse where the Guáimaro Constitution was adopted in 1869. They even used the same table!
See also
In Spanish: Asamblea de Guáimaro para niños
