In 1902, Cuba peacefully gained independence from the United States. A few years earlier, the United States had helped Cuban rebels exorcise Spain from the colony. In 1898, after three years of fighting, Spain signed a peace treaty with the United States renouncing its hold on Cuba, but no Cuban delegates were present. However, the Teller Amendment (Article 4 of the joint resolution) confirmed that the United States would not remain in Cuba permanently. The Cubans pushed for rapid execution of the joint resolution. After much resistance in the United States, the Cuban Constitutional Convention convened in 1900. Then, in 1901, the Cuban Constitution was completed, including an appendix authorizing American intervention when necessary. Finally, in 1902, Tomás Estradas Palma was elected Cuba's first president, confirming Cuba's new status as a country. The Entente Cordiale was an agreement between France and Britain that settled multiple land disputes and helped the countries on the path to political cooperation. This allowed France to recognize British authority over Egypt and Britain officially recognized French jurisdiction over Morocco. Britain also ceded the Upper Gambia Valley and the Isles of Los to France, and formalized the perimeter of Nigeria in France's interests. In turn, France gave Britain access to some Newfoundland fisheries. France and Britain also defined their territory in Thailand. France received the eastern territories and Great Britain those in the west. Thus, previous tensions between the two countries were eased, which was very important with World War I on the horizon. World War I originated as a war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia due to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the heir of Austria-Hungary). throne of Hungary) by a Serb, who Austria-Hungary...... middle of paper ......ent Biography October 1967: n. page. Print.7. Pickover, Clifford A. “Silly Putty.” The physics book: from the Big Bang to quantum resurrection, 250 milestones in the history of physics. New York: Sterling Pub., 2011. 384. Print.8. Shippey, TAJRR Tolkien: Author of the century. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.9. “Stick or change?” Probability explained. » BBC News. BBC, September 11, 2013. Web. April 20, 2014.10. "Summary of the First World War." BBC News. BBC and Web. April 19, 2014.11. Tolkien, JRR, Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien. The letters of JRR Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Print.12. "Strange Science: The Accidental Invention of Silly Putty - KIDS DISCOVER." DISCOVER CHILDREN. Kids Discover, August 19, 2013. Web. April 20, 2014.13. Willett, Edward. JRR Tolkien: Master of imaginary worlds. Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Enslow, 2004. Print.