20 May - Cuba gains independence from the United States in 1902

 

On 20 May 1902, Cuba gained independence from the United States, marking the end of a period of American military occupation that began during the Spanish-American War of 1898. The United States had intervened in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain, which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Under this treaty, Spain ceded control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.

Following the end of the war, Cuba remained under American military administration until the Cuban Organic Act was passed in 1900, which established a provisional government and laid the groundwork for a transition to full independence. On 20 May 1902, the United States formally withdrew its troops from Cuba, and the Republic of Cuba was officially established with the inauguration of its first president, Tomás Estrada Palma.

The attainment of independence was a significant moment in Cuban history, symbolizing the end of foreign occupation and the beginning of self-governance. However, it is important to note that Cuba's relationship with the United States remained complex and often contentious in the years that followed, with the United States maintaining significant influence over Cuban affairs through economic and political means.