Negro Rebellion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Negro Rebellion |
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| Part of the Banana Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Cuba United States |
Cuban PIC |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
José Miguel Gómez Lincoln Karmany |
Evaristo Estenoz † Pedro Ivonnet † |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 3,000–6,000 killed | ||||||
The War of 1912, also known as the Armed Uprising of the Independents of Color (Spanish: Levantamiento Armado de los Independientes de Color), was a conflict in Cuba in 1912. It involved Afro-Cuban rebels fighting against the armed forces of Cuba and the United States. This uprising is also sometimes called the Negro Rebellion or the Little Race War.
The fighting mostly happened in eastern Cuba. This was where many Afro-Cubans lived and worked. The rebellion ended quickly after the Cuban Army used strong force. The U.S. military also got involved. The leaders of the Afro-Cuban rebels, Evaristo Estenoz and Pedro Ivonnet, were killed. Their political group, the Independent Party of Color, was later dissolved.
Contents
Why the Uprising Happened
Life for Afro-Cubans
Life was very difficult for black Cubans at this time. Most of them worked in the sugarcane industry. They often faced poor conditions and unfair treatment.
Evaristo Estenoz started a movement to improve these conditions. This movement began in 1895 during Cuba's war for independence from Spain. Many veterans of that war, especially officers, joined together. They formed the Independent Party of Color in 1908.
The Independent Party of Color
Under Estenoz's leadership, the party quickly gained support. Many Afro-Cubans joined because they were unhappy with Cuban President José Miguel Gómez. President Gómez ordered the party to be shut down. He used a law called the Morúa law, which made political parties based on race illegal.
By 1912, the Independent Party of Color had secretly reorganized. They planned another uprising to fight for their rights.
U.S. Marines Arrive
In early 1912, the United States government sent soldiers to Cuba. A group of 688 U.S. Marines arrived at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. This happened while Estenoz and his followers were getting ready for their rebellion.
The rebels were not heavily armed. They were mostly peasants, but there were several hundred of them.
The Conflict Begins
First Clashes
On May 20, 1912, Estenoz and his men faced the Cuban Army. Most of the fighting took place in Oriente Province. This was the area where most African Cubans lived. There were also smaller outbreaks of violence in western Cuba.
At first, the rebels had some success against the Cuban forces. These forces included both soldiers and local militia.
U.S. Sends More Troops
On May 23, President Gómez asked for help from U.S. President William Howard Taft. President Taft sent more Marines to Cuba. The first group of U.S. reinforcements arrived on May 28. They landed at Guantanamo Bay.
Colonel Lincoln Karmany led this new force. It was called the 1st Provisional Regiment of Marines. It had 32 officers and 777 enlisted men.
More U.S. Forces Arrive
The 2nd Provisional Regiment of Marines also came to Cuba. This group had 1,292 officers and men. Most of them arrived at Guantanamo Bay on June 7. One part of this group landed in Havana on June 10.
Overall, the American forces in Cuba totaled 2,789 officers and men. They formed the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. About half of these troops were sent to occupy towns in eastern Cuba. The rest stayed at the naval base.
Rebel Forces Decline
In June, Estenoz quickly started losing control of his territory. The Cuban military was breaking up large groups of rebels. Rebel forces had once numbered at least 3,000 men. By June, only about 1,800 were estimated to be left alive. Some reports suggest that up to 6,000 people were killed.
End of the Rebellion
Protecting U.S. Interests
The U.S. Marines were given the job of protecting American-owned sugarcane plantations. They also protected copper mines, railroads, and trains. The Afro-Cubans attacked the Marines only once. This happened at El Cuero, but no one was hurt on either side.
President Gómez offered forgiveness to any rebels who surrendered by June 22. Most of the rebels gave up. However, Estenoz continued to fight with a few hundred men. By the end of June, most rebels had returned home.
Leaders Killed
Evaristo Estenoz was killed by government forces on June 27. He was shot at Miraca. Estenoz's death caused the rebel army to break into smaller groups. These groups were soon defeated.
The most important remaining group was led by Pedro Ivonnet. He took his forces into the mountains to fight a guerrilla war. But he was driven out by mid-July. Ivonnet surrendered on July 18, 1912. He was also killed, reportedly while "trying to escape."
Aftermath
After Ivonnet's surrender, President Gómez announced that the American Marines were no longer needed. The Marines began to leave Cuba. They first went back to the naval base at Guantanamo. Then they returned to the United States. The last Marines left Cuba on August 2.
The Afro-Cubans suffered many losses, estimated between 3,000 and 6,000 people killed. These included both fighters and non-fighters. The results of the rebellion were very bad for them. The Independent Party of Color was dissolved. Conditions for Afro-Cubans in Cuba remained largely unchanged.
See also
In Spanish: Levantamiento Armado de los Independientes de Color para niños
