Cuba’s Initial Attempt at Democracy, 1790-1820: Its Long- Term Consequences

Why did Cuba fail to become independent early in the nineteenth century, at the same time as most countries in Latin America? We will argue that economic and political incentives led the same segments of society that fought for independence elsewhere to prefer remaining a colony in Cuba. We show that economic conditions, slavery and a special relation with Spain TOGETHER led to the delay of independence. Perhaps more importantly, slavery and its consequences substantially diminished possibilities of democratic evolution. They created an unresolved cleavage between the political rights and civil liberties of various groups that undermined the legitimacy of all subsequent political systems.