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Summary

In 1892, students at the University of Havana in Cuba staged a six-month strike to protest the suspension of doctoral degrees. The campaign used nonviolent methods including striking, public speeches, and letters. By September 1892, the university restored doctoral degrees, though many of the colonial secretary’s rules remained in place.

Tactics used

Tactics used

Background

In 1892, the University of Havana in Cuba was under the presidency of Joaquín Francisco Lastres y Juiz. Colonial Secretary Romero Robledo issued the Royal Decree (Robledo Decree) that cut government funding for universities, leading to salary cuts, employee firings, and the suspension of doctoral degree programs. Students sought to restore the doctoral degrees.

What happened

In March 1892, over three hundred undergraduate students began the first student strike in the university’s history, lasting seven weeks initially [source: nv-database]. Students stopped attending classes, and Juiz made a speech urging them to return, while faculty also encouraged students to end the strike [source: nv-database]. In response, students posted notes expressing their discontent on university walls [source: nv-database]. The strike continued for six months total, from March to September 1892 [source: nv-database]. In September 1892, the Foreign Minister called for repeal of the Robledo Decree, and the university reinstated doctoral degrees, leading students to return to school [source: nv-database]. The student campaign was part of the larger Popular Revolutionary Movement for National Liberation, influenced by José Martí’s newspaper El Periódico Patrio, which called for transforming higher education [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • José Martí
  • Camilo García de Polavieja
  • Joaquín Lastres y Juiz
  • Romero Robledo
  • University of Havana students

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The campaign achieved its primary goal of restoring doctoral degrees by September 1892, but many of Romero Robledo’s rules remained in effect, making the outcome partial. The campaign was part of a larger movement against Robledo and Spanish colonial rule, and it contributed to broader independence efforts. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Sustained nonviolent strikes can force institutional concessions even when broader political structures remain unchanged.
  • Linking a specific grievance to a larger national movement can amplify student activism.
  • Public displays of dissent (such as posted notes) can maintain momentum and express frustration when direct confrontation is limited.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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