Cuba: 1492-1961, Colonialism to Castro

• Aimed at Talis, these notes detail Cuba’s history from 1492 to 1961, focusing on the selfish ambitions of Spain, Britain, and the U.S., and how Fidel Castro became a dictator despite initial good intentions.

1492 – Columbus Arrives in Cuba

• Christopher Columbus, working for Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, landed in Cuba in 1492.
• Columbus believed he had reached China or Japan when he arrived in Cuba.
• His goal was to discover a faster route to India for gold, silk, and spice trade.
• Columbus sailed with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María.
• Spain claimed Cuba, marking the beginning of the age of conquest.

1511 – Spanish Colonization

• Diego de Velázquez de Cuéllar led the Spanish colonization of Cuba.
• Spain sought gold, sugar, and land, needing a Caribbean base.
• Velázquez and his forces killed or enslaved the native Taíno population.
• Cuba became a Spanish colony, and Havana grew into a major city.

1526 – Beginning of Slavery

• The Spanish began importing enslaved people from West Africa (Angola, Congo, and Ghana).
• The Taíno population was decimated by disease and Spanish cruelty, necessitating new laborers.
• Enslaved people were transported across the Atlantic in horrific conditions.
• African traditions significantly influenced Cuban culture, including salsa, rumba, and Santería.

1762 – British Capture of Havana

• The British navy, under Admiral George Pocock and Lord Albemarle, captured Havana.
• Britain aimed to control Cuban sugar and weaken Spain.
• The British bombarded Havana for two months, leading to Spain’s surrender.
• Spain regained Havana in 1763 through the Treaty of Paris, ceding Florida to Britain.

1868-1878 – Ten Years’ War

• Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a Cuban landowner, initiated the rebellion by freeing his slaves.
• Cubans sought freedom from Spain and equal rights.
• They employed guerrilla warfare in the mountains but faced supply shortages.
• Spain promised reforms but did not deliver, maintaining control.

1886 – Abolition of Slavery

• International pressure and Cuban resistance led to the abolition of slavery in Cuba.
• Former enslaved people transitioned into roles as farmers, musicians, and soldiers.

1895-1898 – Second War of Independence

• José Martí, Cuba’s key revolutionary figure, spearheaded the fight for independence.
• Spain continued to deny Cuba independence.
• Martí died in battle, but his vision of a free Cuba lived on.

1898 – Spanish-American War

• The U.S. used the explosion of the USS Maine as justification to invade Cuba.
• Spain lost the war in four months, and Cuba was handed over to the U.S.
• The U.S. maintained control over Cuba, rather than granting full independence.

1902 – Nominal Independence

• The Platt Amendment allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs.
• Cuba was not genuinely independent due to U.S. intervention.

1933 – Batista's Rise to Power

• Fulgencio Batista, initially a soldier, seized control through a coup and became a dictator.
• Cuba became corrupt and heavily influenced by the mafia under his rule.

1953 – Failed Attack by Castro

• Fidel Castro attempted to overthrow Batista but was captured and exiled.
• He fled to Mexico to plan his return to Cuba.

1956 – Castro, Guevara, and Guerrilla Warfare

• Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 82 rebels landed in Cuba on El Yate Granma.
• They engaged in guerrilla warfare in the mountains for two years.

1959 – Cuban Revolution Success

• Batista fled as Castro’s forces entered Havana.
• Castro assumed power, initially promising democracy.

1960 – Castro's Shift to Communism

• Castro seized American businesses, causing the U.S. to sever ties.
• Cuba allied with the Soviet Union.

1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion Failure

• Cuban exiles, trained by the CIA, launched an invasion.
• They landed in Cuba but were defeated within three days.
• Castro’s power increased as a result of the failed invasion.