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Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros | |
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| Born | Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros April 29, 1803 Puerto Príncipe (Camagüey), Cuba. |
| Died | December 7, 1866 La Habana, Cuba. |
| Nationality | Cuban-American |
Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros
[edit]Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros, more commonly known by his pseudonym, "El Lugareño" was a Cuban activist and journalist born into a wealthy and influential family. He lived from 1803 until 1866 and spent time in the United States, Cuba, and Europe. He is most known for advocating passiontalely for the annexation of Cuba to the United States. [1] Many historians consider him to be one of the most dedicated and effective men fighting for annexation. [2]
Biography
[edit]Betancourt was a man with education and power who despite having it all, worked hard for other Cubans and the success of his country. Although his actions were not drastic, his writing influenced the beings in power during that time and he contributed greatly to Cuban society.
Education
[edit]Betancourt did most of his schooling in Cuba, but in 1822, his parents sent him to the United States to complete his education and gain business experience. Many wealthy Cuban socialites often sent their children abroad for education. At the time, the University of Habana was run by preachers and the wealthy deemed themselves worthy only of an American education. He lived in Philadelphia and worked there in business administration for a number of years. In Philadelphia, Betancourt met Jose Antonio Saco, who became one of his closest friends and fellow activist. [1]
Exile
[edit]Due to his government critiques and activism, Betancourt was forced to leave Cuba in 1846 by Capitán General Leopoldo O’Donnell. He fled the country and found himself in New York, where his critiques and activism did not stop. In New York, he became the head of the Junta Cubana and started the newspaper La Verdad, that was very pro-annexation. [3]
Life Abroad
[edit]Betancourt, as a wealthy individual, spent quite a lot of time abroad. He lived everywhere from Cuba, Philadelphia, New York, Italy, and France. In 1822, he finished his education in Philadelphia and worked in business. In 1834, he returned to Cuba and began his life as an activist. As a result, in 1846, he was exiled and consequently fled to New York. In 1856, he began his life in Europe and spent time in Florence and Paris before returning to Cuba in 1861. [4]
Career
[edit]Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros heavily advocated for the annexation of Cuba to the United States and was a social activist.
Activism
[edit]In 1845, Betancourt began acting upon his revolutionary ideas and divided his land to be sold with low-interest rates. Furthermore, he believed in education and "supported new school initiatives, teaching methods, and examinations." Betancourt also helped with the construction of a railroad in 1837 that grew to be very beneficial to the town. He managed to get the people of Camagüey to work together and fund infrastructure. Betancourt was also a shareholder for the Sociedad Anonima Caja de Ahorros, that worked to have another railroad in town. He was often praised for all the social movements he was a part of and all he did for Cuban society's wellbeing. [5]
Annexation
[edit]Betancourt is praised for being the man who led the annexation movement. Although many others saw annexation as a way to gain wealth, he did not see it as such. Betancourt saw it as a way for Cuba to be accepted into the "American political system and the transformation of the island's economy." He believed that by annexing to the United States, Cuba would stop being impoverished and would take on American ideals. Having spent time living in America, Betancourt saw it as ideal and disagreed with those that believed only in annexing for slavery. [6] While many of Betancourt's friends believed in annexation to maintain strong Spanish ties, he "felt that the United States was the agent needed to modernize Cuba." [7]
Controversial Ideas
[edit]Betancourt and his colleagues, although revolutionary and social activists, had rather controversial ideas for what they wanted for Cuba. These men were very anti-African and seemed to think very little of Afro-Cubans. They wrote that their idea was to bring over white colonists to tend to fruit and other agricultural products with their technology. As such, they believed Afro-Cubans were no longer needed and wanted to do away with them for "patriotism and nationalism." [8] While Cisneros did free his slaves, he did so to "stimulate white colonization." [9]
Work
[edit]Camagüey
[edit]In 1837, Betancourt and his colleagues worked together to form a newspaper in Camagüey, Cuba. The newspaper was called Gaceta de Puerto Principe. In this Cuban newspaper, Betancourt often wrote opinion articles, letters to the editor, and drew sketches called "Escenas Cotidianas." He did this to show his political views and thoughts on the Cuban government and society at the time. Betancourt was also involved in the newspaper El Fanal in Camagüey. [10] His newspapers were attributed with "awakening the city from 'its intellectual slumber.'" [11]
Escenas Cotidianas
[edit]Betancourt was highly praised for these sketches as they were "costumbrista" drawings and showed everyday life for Cubans. These sketches were published in the newspaper Gaceta de Puerto Principe. The drawings led the path for a new style of art as they very closely related to Cuban society during the 1800s.
Habana
[edit]While working on the two newspapers in Camagüey, Betancourt was also working on a newspaper called El Siglo in Habana. [10]
New York
[edit]Once he fled Cuba in 1846, he started a newspaper in New York called La Verdad. In La Verdad, Betancourt discussed ideas of independence and the future of Cuba, including the idea of annexing to the United States. The publication of this newspaper was only possible with the help of a few donors that agreed with Betancourt. He had the approval of The New York Sun editor and his daughter. The editor was a very important and influential man, so having him support Betancourt really credited him. [12] He also wrote a vast amount of letters to his friends and colleagues [10]
Betancourt also wrote pamphlets about annexation and what American help would mean to Cuba. [13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b De Paz Sanchez, Manuel (2004). ""Un Reformador Social Cubano Del XIX : Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros, El Lugareño."". Anuario De Estudios Atlánticos. 50 (2): 1035–1067.
- ^ Rojas, Israel (2016). ""Para Mirar al Futuro."". BNICM. 1 (1): 175–180.
- ^ De Paz Sanchez, Manuel (2004). ""Un Reformador Social Cubano Del XIX: Gaspar Betancourt Cisneros, El Lugareño."". Anuario De Estudios Atlánticos. 50 (2): 1035–1067.
- ^ De Paz Sanchez, Manuel (1998). ""El Lugareño" Contra La Esclavocracia: Las Cartas De Gaspar Betancourt y Cisneros, 1803-1866."". Revista De Indias. 58 (214): 617–636.
- ^ Quiroz, Alfonso W. (2011). ""Free Association and Civil Society in Cuba, 1787—1895."". Journal of Latin American Studies. 43 (1): 33–64. JSTOR 23030583.
- ^ Opantry, Josef (1994). ""José Antonio Saco's Path Toward the Idea of 'Cubanidad.'"". Cuban Studies. 24: 39–56. JSTOR 24485769.
- ^ Cruz-Taura, Graciella (1998). ""Annexation and National Identity: Cuba's Mid-Nineteenth -Century Debate."". Cuban Studies. 27: 90–109. JSTOR http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=89813075011. 24487818 http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=89813075011.
{{cite journal}}: Check|jstor=value (help); External link in|jstor= - ^ Cortés Zavala, Maria Teresa (2009). "Prácticas Políticas y Cultura Criolla en el Caribe Hispano. El Fenómeno Nacional en el Siglo XIX.". Tzintzun: Revista de Estudios Históricos. 49: 223–229.
- ^ Ureña, Camila Henriquez (1952). ""The Hispanic American Historical Review."". The Hispanic American Historical Review. 32 (1): 113–115. JSTOR 2508926.
- ^ a b c De Paz Sanchez, Manuel (1998). ""El Lugareño" Contra La Esclavocracia: Las Cartas De Gaspar Betancourt y Cisneros, 1803-1866."". Revista De Indias. 58 (214): 617–636.
- ^ Quiroz, Alfonso W. (2011). ""Free Association and Civil Society in Cuba, 1787—1895."". Journal of Latin American Studies. 43 (1): 33–64. JSTOR 23030583.
- ^ Luis-Brown, D. (2009). ""An 1848 for the Americas: The Black Atlantic, "El negro mártir," and Cuban Exile Anticolonialism in New York City."". American Literary History. 21 (3): 431–463.
- ^ Trelles, Carlos M. (1992). ""Study of Cuban Bibliography Relative to the Monroe Doctrine [Translation]."". The Hispanic American Historical Review. 5 (1): 107–115. JSTOR 2505989.