Cuban Institutions and Groups

The movement for reform (reformismo) in Cuba, began in the early 19th century, received new impetus by mid-century.  The drive for annexation was faltering and a feeling of nationalism developing.  […]

Trading company with Cuban and Spanish shareholders, created December 18, 1740, to ensure that Cuban tobacco would be exported exclusively to Spain.  The company received a monopoly of the transatlantic

Founded in Old Havana in 1773 by Bishop José de Hechavarría, as the Real and Consular Seminario, to prepare sons of the white aristocracy for careers in the church, it

Institution founded in Old Havana in 1818 as an art and craftsmanship school by the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País, at the recommendation of Intendant Alejandro Ramírez.  Its first

Spanish institution brought to the New World to deal with the Indians, groups of whom would be assigned to an encomendero entrusted with Christianizing them, with the right to their

Name given to the Slave conspiracy of 1843-1844, a climax to successive waves of slave revolts throughout Cuba in the early 1840s. Despite Spain’s 1821 commitment to end the African

One of early 19th century Cuba’s most important secret societies, it was founded in 1821 by Cuban Creole leader José Francisco Lemus (who had fought in Colombia under  Bolivar), Colombian

A government agency for promoting economic development. The consulado originated in medieval Spain as a guild of merchants in a port city to administer commercial law, particularly in regard to

Two individuals in the late eighteen century were instrumental in shaping the intellectual climate of the island, Captain-General Don Luis de las Casas and Bishop Díaz de Espada.  A truly

A town council (cabildo secular), and by extension a town hall and the area of the council’s jurisdiction – the municipio – which, since it included the surrounding rural area