Changes

Under Spanish rule,  Cuba relied on [[slavery]] longer than all nations in the Western Hemisphere except [[Brazil]]. Cuba had a slave trade from 1521 to 1886. In 1880, the Spanish Cortes approved the [[abolition]] law, which provided for an eight-year period of ''patronato'' (tutelage) for all slaves liberated according to the law. This only amounted to indentured servitude {{who says}} as slaves were required to spend those eight years working for their masters at no charge. On October 7, 1884, slavery was finally abolished in Cuba by a Royal Decree that also made the patronato illegal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/slavery.htm  Abolition of Slavery - History of Cuba|author=J.A. Sierra|title=Abolition of Slavery in Cuba|accessdate=2007-08-14|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> In 1893, Cuba granted equal rights to all.

Under Spanish rule,  Cuba relied on [[slavery]] longer than all nations in the Western Hemisphere except [[Brazil]]. Cuba had a slave trade from 1521 to 1886. In 1880, the Spanish Cortes approved the [[abolition]] law, which provided for an eight-year period of ''patronato'' (tutelage) for all slaves liberated according to the law. This only amounted to indentured servitude {{who says}} as slaves were required to spend those eight years working for their masters at no charge. On October 7, 1884, slavery was finally abolished in Cuba by a Royal Decree that also made the patronato illegal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/slavery.htm  Abolition of Slavery - History of Cuba|author=J.A. Sierra|title=Abolition of Slavery in Cuba|accessdate=2007-08-14|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> In 1893, Cuba granted equal rights to all.

===Transition (as US colony)===

===Treaty of Paris===

Cuban natives revolted against Spanish rule fighting for 10 years from 1868 to 1878.  Discontent again came to a head when on February 23rd, 1895 constitutional guarantees were suspended.  Open revolt ensued which led to stringent, but unsuccesful measures taken by the Spanish to stop the rebellion.  The Spanish had 200,000 men on the island to keep order.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979, Pg 908</ref>  After initial Spanish efforts to stop the fighting by fencing in the insurgent areas with barbed wire and entrenchments didn't work, General Valeriano Weyler established what are now known as concentration camps, where noncombatants were swept up from their homes and confinded under abominable conditions.  Americans were shocked to hear of the loss of life at these camps through disease or starvation.  America demanded that Weyler be recalled.  Spain acquiesced in October 1897, but tensions between the two countries still ran high.  When the USS Maine blew up while docked in Havana Harbor in Cuba on February 15, 1898, Spain was blamed and the United States declared the war.  President McKinley approved this Resolution of Congress:  

Cuban natives revolted against Spanish rule fighting for 10 years from 1868 to 1878.  Discontent again came to a head when on February 23rd, 1895 constitutional guarantees were suspended.  Open revolt ensued which led to stringent, but unsuccesful measures taken by the Spanish to stop the rebellion.  The Spanish had 200,000 men on the island to keep order.<ref>Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979, Pg 908</ref>  After initial Spanish efforts to stop the fighting by fencing in the insurgent areas with barbed wire and entrenchments didn't work, General Valeriano Weyler established what are now known as concentration camps, where noncombatants were swept up from their homes and confinded under abominable conditions.  Americans were shocked to hear of the loss of life at these camps through disease or starvation.  America demanded that Weyler be recalled.  Spain acquiesced in October 1897, but tensions between the two countries still ran high.  When the USS Maine blew up while docked in Havana Harbor in Cuba on February 15, 1898, Spain was blamed and the United States declared the war.  President McKinley approved this Resolution of Congress: