The Antillean Confederation: Betances, Borinquen, and the Caribbean Unchained

The Antillean Confederation: Betances, Borinquen, and the Caribbean Unchained brings to life one of the most powerful yet overlooked visions in Caribbean history—the dream of a united Antilles, free from colonial rule. From the world of the Taíno to the fire of the Haitian Revolution, from the independence struggles of Cuba and Puerto Rico to the bold ideas of Ramón Emeterio Betances, this sweeping narrative traces how the Caribbean stood at the crossroads of empire, resistance, and liberation. Readers will encounter Anacaona, Hatuey, and Mabodomoca defying conquest; Dessalines defeating Napoleon's armies; Bolívar receiving refuge and arms from Haiti; Martí and Maceo carrying the struggle into Cuba; and Betances working tirelessly to unite the islands into a confederation strong enough to resist both Spain and the rising influence of the United States. This book explores: The erased histories of the Taíno and their resistance to colonization. Haiti's triumph against European powers and its pivotal role in aiding Bolívar. The wars of independence in Cuba and Puerto Rico, with their victories and tragedies. Betances's vision of an Antillean Confederation and the legacy of his dream for the modern Caribbean. How U.S. interventions in 1898 reshaped the region's destiny. More than a history, The Antillean Confederation is a story of survival, rebellion, and imagination. It shows how the Caribbean has always been more than "islands"—it has been a crucible where freedom was fought for, again and again, against impossible odds. For readers of Caribbean history, postcolonial studies, and anyone interested in the fight for sovereignty and justice, this book offers both a reckoning with the past and a vision for the future.