Tomás Estrada Palma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tomás Estrada Palma
1st President of Cuba
In office 20 May 1902 – 28 September 1906
Vice President	Luis Estévez Romero and Domingo Méndez Capote
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	José Miguel Gómez
Personal details
Born	Tomás Estrada Palma c. (1832-07-06)July 6, 1832 Bayamo, Spanish Cuba
Died	November 4, 1908(1908-11-04) (aged 73) Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Political party	Cuban Revolutionary Party (1892–1902) Republican Party of Havana (1902–1906)
Spouse	Genoveva Guardiola Arbizú
Children	Jose M. Estrada-Palma Guardiola
Occupation	Attorney

Tomás Estrada Palma (born around July 6, 1832 – died November 4, 1908) was a Cuban politician. He became the first President of Cuba. He served as president from May 20, 1902, to September 28, 1906.

Before becoming president, he was a teacher and writer. He used his writing to gain support for Cuba's independence. He also worked to get the United States to help Cuba. During his time as president, he made many improvements to Cuba. These included better roads, communication systems, and public health.

However, he is also remembered for allowing the Platt Amendment to be part of Cuba's laws. This amendment gave the United States a lot of power over Cuba's politics and economy.

Early life and education

Tomás Estrada Palma was born in Bayamo, which was part of Spanish Cuba at the time. His exact birth date is not known, but it was around July 6, 1832. His parents were Dr. Andrés María Estrada y Oduardo and María Candelaria Palma Tamayo.

He went to a private school in Havana. Later, he studied at the University of Havana. He earned a degree in philosophy on July 19, 1854.

Early career

From 1857 to 1868, Estrada Palma returned to Bayamo. There, he worked as an administrator and a local teacher. He also taught in Honduras and Orange County, New York later in his life.

War for independence

Estrada Palma played an important role in Cuba's fight for independence. During the Ten Years' War, he became the President of the Cuban Republic in Arms. This was a government set up by the Cuban rebels.

Spanish troops captured Estrada Palma and sent him away from Cuba. He went to New York City. There, he worked with José Martí, another Cuban revolutionary leader. Together, they tried to get political support for Cuba's revolution.

After Martí's death, Estrada Palma became the new leader of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. He was the main person representing the party. This allowed him to talk with other countries, including the United States.

He went to Washington, D.C., as a diplomat for the Cuban rebels. He was quite successful. He even got help from an American banker who tried to buy Cuba from Spain for $150 million.

Newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst also helped Estrada Palma. They published articles that supported the Cuban revolutionaries. This helped the rebels get supplies, support, and become more popular.

Estrada Palma also convinced the U.S. Congress to pass a special resolution on April 19, 1898. This resolution said that the U.S. did not support Spain's control over Cuba. It also supported Cuba's independence. The resolution also made it clear that the U.S. did not plan to take over Cuba. This led to the Spanish–American War.

After the Spanish-American War, Estrada Palma made some changes. He gave more power to a group called the Assembly of Representatives. This group was made up of white city dwellers and people who wanted closer ties with the U.S. He aimed to attract U.S. help to rebuild Cuba.

First term as president

After a few years of U.S. military rule in Cuba, elections were held on December 31, 1901. Tomás Estrada Palma did not campaign much. He stayed in the United States, where he was a citizen.

His main opponent, General Bartolomé Masó, dropped out of the election. He protested that the U.S. government was favoring Estrada Palma. So, Estrada Palma became the only candidate. On December 31, 1901, he was elected president.

Estrada Palma wanted a country where all people were equal, regardless of their race. He promised to give public service jobs to Afro-Cubans. He also wanted to remove American rules that supported segregation in Cuba.

A very important event during his presidency was the signing of the Platt Amendment on March 2, 1901. This amendment allowed the United States to get involved in Cuba's internal affairs. It also allowed the U.S. to lease land in Cuba for naval bases.

American troops left Cuba after the Cuban government agreed to lower taxes on American products. Cuba also added the Platt Amendment to its constitution. Many American companies then came to do business in Cuba.

On February 16, 1903, Estrada Palma signed the Cuban-American Treaty of Relations. This agreement leased the Guantanamo Bay area to the United States forever. It was to be used as a naval base. Estrada Palma managed to reduce the number of naval bases the U.S. wanted from five to one. This showed his good diplomatic skills.

His policies also led to improvements in education, communication, and public health. These areas had suffered a lot during the war. For example, land prices went up between 1902 and 1905. He also built over 328 kilometers of roads in Cuba. In 1905, he formed a "Fighting Cabinet" made up of veterans from the Cuban Wars of Independence.

Second term and resignation

Estrada Palma was re-elected without opposition in the 1905 Cuban general election. His second term officially began on May 20, 1906. However, there was strong opposition from the Liberals. Both sides claimed that the election results were unfair.

The main issue in this election was fair representation for all Cuban provinces. Critics, like General Faustino Guerra Puente, said Estrada Palma was ignoring the constitution. Still, many politicians believed Estrada Palma was the only person who could lead Cuba.

To deal with the opposition, Estrada Palma used the police and rural guard. This allowed him to claim victory. Estrada Palma and his supporters asked the U.S. for help. In 1906, the U.S. began the Second Occupation of Cuba. This meant the U.S. took control of Cuba temporarily.

On September 28, 1906, Estrada Palma, who was 71 years old, resigned. He and his entire government stepped down. This left Cuba without a president. This action allowed the United States to take control under the Platt Amendment.

President Palma's resignation letter explained his reasons. He mentioned the public disorder and the U.S. Peace Commission in Cuba. He felt that the Cuban government had lost its authority. He also said he could not accept the conditions proposed by the U.S. Commission. He resigned as a patriotic act, hoping to bring peace back to the country.

Personal life

Tomás Estrada Palma was born in Bayamo, Cuba. On May 15, 1881, he married Genoveva Guardiola Arbizú (1854–1926). She was the daughter of General José Santos Guardiola, who was the President of Honduras. Tomás Estrada Palma and his wife had six children.

Estrada Palma, who was an attorney, died in Santiago de Cuba on November 4, 1908. He passed away from pneumonia.

Legacy

Tomás Estrada Palma is often remembered more for his connection to U.S. influence in Cuba than for his achievements. These achievements included improvements in education, his role in the revolution, and building new infrastructure. His decision to accept the Platt Amendment is a key part of his legacy.

Honors

In 1903, a statue of Estrada Palma was put up in Havana. It was located on the Avenida de los Presidentes (Avenue of the Presidents). However, Fidel Castro's revolutionaries later pulled down his statue. They blamed him for starting the trend of U.S. involvement in Cuba. Today, only the base of the statue, with a pair of shoes, remains.

Estrada Palma spent many years living in exile in Woodbury, New York. A road there is now named Estrada Road. He also ran a summer camp in the area. During his presidency, he even had a fund to buy prizes for students in Orange County who did well in school.

See also

In Spanish: Tomás Estrada Palma para niños