<P> During the years 1869 -- 1888 of the so - called `` Rewarding Truce '' , lasting for 17 years from the end of the Ten Years ' War in 1878 , there were fundamental social changes in Cuban society . With the abolition of slavery in October 1886 , freedmen joined the ranks of farmers and the urban working class . The economy could no longer sustain itself with the shift and changes ; therefore , many wealthy Cubans lost their property , and joined the urban middle class . The number of sugar mills dropped and efficiency increased : only companies , and the most powerful plantation owners , remained in business followed by the Central Board of Artisans in 1879 , and many more across the island . After his second deportation to Spain in 1878 , José Martí moved to the United States in 1881 . There he mobilized the support of the Cuban exile community , especially in Ybor City ( Tampa area ) and Key West , Florida . His goal was revolution in order to achieve independence from Spain . Martí lobbied against the U.S. annexation of Cuba , which was desired by some politicians in both the U.S. and Cuba . </P>
the cuban revolt against spain was led by
José Martí