Bayamo,
the capital of Granma was
founded in 1513. It was the second village founded in Cuba an was
named San Salvador de Bayamo.
In the years 1538, 1555, and 1579 it was attacked by pirates and
privateers.
In the 19th century, the sugar-producing zones of the eastern region
of the island occupied vast zones, but its mills yielded little
sugar because, unlike those of west, they were technically obsolete.
In 1857, there was a capitalist economic crisis and the price of
sugar in the international market went down. Some eastern landowners
lost their lands, others remained indebted. For them the war for
independence was practically a need and to wage it, they were determined
to give their own
life, if necessary. The city of Bayamo had a key role in the beginning
of the Ten-Year War. The Bayamo lawyer Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
led the insurrection of the revolutionaries in Manzanillo. He set
his own slaves free and proclaimed the declaration of independence
of Cuba. Bayamo was declared capital of the Republic in Arms and,
before it could fall into the hands of the enemy, its inhabitants
set the city in fire on January 12th, 1869 and left only its ashes
behind.
It was in Bayamo where the National Hymn was first sung on October
20th,1868.
Many other historical events took place in the region since that.
Bayamo had a great participation in the war of 1895-1898.
Prestigious revolutionary leaders saw action in the plains of Granma.
Among them, Bartolomé Masó stands out.
In the times of the neocolonial republic, the Cauto plains witnessed
rebellious actions: the workers riots of 1925, 1935, 1930, and 1932.
The struggles for the rights of the countrymen were also frequent.
In 1948, the sugar union leader Jesús Menéndez was
murdered.
On July 26th,1953, simultaneously with the Moncada Garrison, is
attacked the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Garrison in Bayamo.
In this region operated the four guerrilla fronts of the eastern
region. To the south of Campechuela and Manzanillo, operated column
1 "José Martí", commanded by Commander in
Chief Fidel Castro himself.
was
founded in 1513. It was the second village founded in Cuba an was
named San Salvador de Bayamo.
own
life, if necessary. The city of Bayamo had a key role in the beginning
of the Ten-Year War. The Bayamo lawyer Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
led the insurrection of the revolutionaries in Manzanillo. He set
his own slaves free and proclaimed the declaration of independence
of Cuba. Bayamo was declared capital of the Republic in Arms and,
before it could fall into the hands of the enemy, its inhabitants
set the city in fire on January 12th, 1869 and left only its ashes
behind.
.
Prestigious revolutionary leaders saw action in the plains of Granma.
Among them, Bartolomé Masó stands out.
