Colonial Oppression and Despotism

Where it surfaces

• To Cuba and Back

  Early hints of Spanish colonial rule and its impact on Cuban society are noted.

• IV

  The Spanish flag, military presence, and strict entry procedures illustrate colonial control.

• VI

  The chain gang, with its iron bands and forced labor, exemplifies the oppressive colonial system in Cuba.

• X

  The execution of Placido by Spanish authorities and the discouragement of foreign influence in Matanzas reflect colonial control and repression.

• First Day on a Sugar Estate

  The plantation system is presented as a form of despotism where one man 'is enthroned in the labor of another race,' reflecting colonial power structures.

• XIII

  The presence of a penitentiary on the plantation and the strict bell schedule underscore the coercive control over enslaved laborers.

• XVI

  The narrator details the complete lack of self-government for Cubans, with laws made abroad and administered by Spanish officials.

• XVII

  The Maestri trial is seen by Creoles as evidence of the unlimited centralized power of the Captain-General, illustrating colonial despotism.

• XVIII

  The chain gang laboring on Sunday and the conscription of young Spanish soldiers sent to die in Cuba's tropical climate highlight the oppressive colonial system.

• XIX

  The prison system exemplifies despotism, with no rehabilitation, corruption, and punishment based on wealth.

• XX

  The bullfight serves as a metaphor for the cruelty and impotence of colonial society, where spectators cheer violence but fail to act for liberty.

• Habits of the Cubans, Visit to the Bishop, and the Coolie Mart

  The Bishop's admission of the prison's faults and the government's reluctance to reform highlights systemic oppression under colonial rule.

• XXII

  The lottery system exploits slaves' hopes for freedom, and the government's military response to the Lopez expedition demonstrates colonial control.

• XXIII

  The narrator describes a despotic civil government, compulsory religious uniformity, and the concentration of power in the Captain-General.

• Political Condition

  The chapter describes Cuba as being under an 'unmixed despotism of one nation over another,' with the Captain-General wielding absolute power and the population disarmed and disfranchised.

• Religion

  The government's control over the church, including appointment of clergy and confiscation of property, illustrates the oppressive colonial system that subjugates religious authority to civil power.

• Slavery

  The Spanish colonial government's laws and enforcement are examined, showing a conflict of interests between the slaveholding Creoles and Spanish authorities.

• Material Resources—Education

  Cuba's condition as a royal province is compared unfavorably to republican states, yet it is seen as relatively stable under Spanish rule.

• The Cahawba — Her arrival — Last night in Havana — Leave-takings — On board the Cahawba — Getting underway — Last views of Cuba — Night at sea

  The permit system, conscription fears, and the prison profaning a grand site highlight the oppressive nature of Spanish colonial rule.