Negro Rebellion

The Negro Rebellion was a series of revolts and uprisings in Eastern Cuba, it began around 20th May and ended in July of 1912. The Government crushed the rebellion. The rebellion was crushed and both of the leaders were killed in the time of the war. This rebellion saw the formation of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. With help from William H. Taft and the United States the rebellion was crushed.
The Americans came in to protect American Companies in Cuba but still saw combat there. Over 3,000 Afro-Cuban rebels were killed during the war, some estimates put that at 6,000 deaths. The government claims only 12 men were killed during the war. Some sources claim that 2,000 men were killed such according to Guillermo Lara, but some North American estimates put it at 5,000-6,000.
Background
Slavery
After the discovery of America, slavery was shortly introduced and over 800,000 people were enslaved in Cuba, as Cuba was the largest Slave Hub, primarily Tainon and Guanahatabey peoples who mixed with the slaves from Africa thus making Afro-Cubans. There was also a genocide against the Tainon by the Spanish. Evaristo Estenoz made the Partido Independiente de Color which was a party that wanted equality for Afro-Cubans in the sugarcane industry as many of them were employed there. When the PID was first made, many Afro-Cubans supported the movement since it pushed for equality and better working conditions.
Banana Wars
The Banana Wars were a series of wars, conflicts, rebellions and occupation by the United States betweeen the end of the Spanish-American war (1898) and 1934. The United States Army would usually fight there and the United States Navy would sometimes provide support, They took place in Central America and the Caribbean, these countries included:
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Cuba
Mexico
Nicaragua
But in August 1st, 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt pulled out all the U.S soldiers in occupied territories. There was also a manual of what to do in the wars "Small Wars Manual" which was written by experienced soldiers of the United States Marine Corps, the manual was also used in the War in Iraq by the 1st Infantry Division.
American marines in Cuba
In 1895, the PID started the War of 1895 which was unsuccessful, but the PID regrouped in 1912 and it also caused some unrest, as a response The United states sent 688 police officers and marines to the Naval Base at Guantanamo base under Major George C. Thorpe. They garrisoned the Naval base and secured it in case of any further unrest. During the time they were there, the PID was arming themselves and getting ready for a rebellion.
Even though they didn't have much guns they still had several hundred men, mostly peasants and were lead by Evaristo Estenoz, later the rebellion had several thousand men later on in the rebellion. But before the uprising, Jose Miguel Gomez, the president of Cuba ordered that the party to be disbanded under the Morua law.
Rebellion
Start
During 20th of May, Estenoz and his rebellion fought the Cuban National Army. The fighting took place in Oriente Province where most Afro-Cubans were. But there was also some fighting in the West, Las Villas Province. At first, the Rebels were winning against the Cuban National Army. The army was being pushed back, On 23rd May, the president, Jose Miguel Gomez requested help from William H. Taft, the president of the United States.
On the 28th of May, the first United States Marines landed in Deer Point, Guantanamo Bay under Colonel Lincoln Karmany. The 1st Provisional Regiment of Marines, it had about 809 men. Once they landed they were ordered to meet up with Major Thorpe's battalion which was also in Guantanamo Bay's Naval Base.
Cuban Response
The Cuban government and news talked terrible about the rebels and started rumors and propaganda, the President, Jose Miguel Gomez ordered that his people to fight for "Civilization", and fight against "ferocious savagery" and he also showed a picture of a "raped teacher" which was confirmed to be fake news and Cuban government propaganda by "El Dia" a conservative news paper.
And "El Dia" also wanted Cuba to copy the Jim Crow laws from the United States, these laws segregated blacks and mistreated them and had less rights than a white man. And they also argued that "dominated races do submit". But Afro-Cuban politicians were against this and became worried from the racism and anger that the rebellion caused. The reputation of Juan Gualberto Gomez, an Afro-Cuban was also damaged because he wrote a manifesto against the racism.
American Intervention
On June 7th, The 2nd Provisional Regiment had 1,292 men and officers under Colonel James E. Mahoney landed on Guantanamo bay, the 1st battalion landed in Havana, Cuba, on June 10th. The USS Mississippi also sent a detachment in El Cuero on June 19th. For men that landed in Guantanamo, only one battalion was commanded and the rest were under Colonel Karmany who took command of all the unassigned troops and organized the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade.
In total, there was about 2,789 American men and officers in total who were in Cuba, half of them were sent to occupy towns and cities and the other half was kept in Guantanamo. The Marines also guarded American sugarcane plantations, copper mines, railroads and trains that were owned by American companies. The Afro-Cubans attacked the Marines only one time, at El Cuero but they lost the battle and both sides suffered 0 casualties.
Supression
During June of 1912, Estenoz started to loose a lot of land tot he Cuban National Army, his rebels became less organized and many died. Before June there was about 3,000 men, but then it went to about 1,800 men. But some sources say that over 6,000 were killed. President Jose Miguel Gomez offered peace to any rebels who would surrender by 22 June, but Estenoz rejected and continued to fight with a couple hundred men, but most of the rebels surrendered.
Estenoz was killed on 27th of June, he was shot in the back of the head by the Cuban National Army. After he died, the rebels became smaller factions, the most important faction of the rebels were under Pedro Ivonnet who escaped to the mountains and started to use guerrilla warfare.
But he was pushed out of the mountains and he surrendered in July 18th. But he was killed when he tried to "escape" but it is not confirmed. The war at that time was over.
But after Estenoz died, President Jose Miguel Gomez announced that the Marines were no longer needed and they were starting to withdraw from Cuba. They went from Guantanamo Naval Base then to bases in the United States. The last Marines to leave Cuba left in August 2nd on the USS Prairie. Between 2,000 and 6,000 men were killed and the Partido Independiente de Color was dissolved.
Other Names
The Negro Rebellion had also other than The Negro Rebellion, these names were by the Government, people, rebels and the press. These were:
Levantamiento Armado de los Independientes de Color
Armed Uprising of the Independents of Color
Little Race War
War of 1912
War of 1912 In Cuba
The Twelve
Massacre of the Colored Independents
Black Rebellion
Aftermath
After the Rebellion was over and the United States Marines left Cuba, there were between 2,000 and 6,000 people died, including civilians and combatants, but the Cuban National Army said that they only lost 12 men. The PID was also dissolved because there was nobody to lead it, the Cubans were victorious and the entire rebellion was put down, those who didn't surrender would be killed or go home.
By the end of the war, 1200 Afro-Cuban rebels surrendered but about 500 of them made it home. The bodies of both of the leaders, Ivonnet and Estenoz's bodies are put in public to humiliate them. They were also buried in normal and common graves to not signify them or make them a public figure.
Related pages
Spanish-American War
Colonialism
Cuba
References
20th century in Cuba
1910s conflicts
1912