After many years of peacefully trying to obtain some voice in the local government of the colony of Cuba, after the reign of many despotic Captain Generals appointed from Spain, after broken promises, asphyxiating taxes and ruthless punishment for "disloyalty," the revolutionary movement known as the Ten Year War exploded on the 10th of October, 1868. Although agreed to by many conspirators in different parts of the eastern part of the island, it was launched a bit prematurely by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes when he learned that the Spaniards were getting wind of the movement. Ten years of war, oppression, incarcerations, executions, exile and seizure of property ensued, followed by a 17-year period of uneasy peace. Thousands of men and women who lived in this period of time demostrated the highest level of altruism, self-sacrifice and love of country.