Spaniards and the politics of memory in Cuba, 1898-1934

Abstract

This dissertation examines how Spanish residents in Cuba used patriotic histories and national symbols during the three decades following the end of Spanish colonial rule in 1898. Spanish war monuments, flag displays, and other patriotic initiatives helped unite the Spanish organized community. In addition, these activities often served to counter U.S. and Cuban commemorations of the island’s past that depicted Spaniards in a negative light. History provided a key source for political legitimation in Cuba after 1898. Conflicting interpretations of the Cuban independence process increased tensions between U.S. officials and Cuban nationalists. Competing claims of past patriotic achievement also heightened friction between Cuban social groups and political factions. This thesis argues that the island’s powerful Spanish community played a major role in these debates.