History of Cuba

Study Notes

Cuba is a country located in the northern Caribbean, known as the Pearl of the Antilles.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, Cuba was inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Taino, Arawak, Guana Watabe, and Sebone people.
Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for the Kingdom of Spain in 1492 and named it Isla Juana.
The indigenous people suffered greatly under the Spanish colonial rule and were virtually wiped out due to diseases and harsh conditions.
Cuba became a Spanish settlement in 1511, and the encomienda system was introduced, forcing the native people to work under harsh conditions.
The Seven Years' War in the mid-18th century brought conflict between Spain and Britain, leading to a British expedition to capture Cuba. Cuba became a British colony briefly before being returned to Spain.
The British importation of goods and slaves from West Africa transformed Cuban society, particularly in the sugar plantations.
In 1868, a rebellion led by Carlos Manuel de Cespedes aimed for full independence from Spain, marking the beginning of the Ten Years' War.
After the Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Paris in 1898, Cuba became a protectorate of the United States but gained formal independence in 1902.
The United States retained certain rights over Cuba's affairs and supervised its finances and foreign relations.
Political unrest, economic problems, and repression characterized Cuba during the mid-20th century, with figures like Gerardo Machado and Fulgencio Batista ruling the country.
Fidel Castro and his July 26 Movement emerged as a revolutionary group in the late 1950s, leading to the overthrow of Batista's government.
The relationship between the US and Cuba worsened, leading to sanctions and a total ban on trade between the countries.
Cuba adopted a communist system, aligned with the USSR, and faced economic challenges following the withdrawal of Soviet subsidies in the 1990s.
Fidel Castro resigned as president in 2008, and his brother Raul Castro took over. Raul promised some relaxation of restrictions on freedom in Cuba.
Cuba has been politically and economically isolated by the United States but has gradually gained access to foreign commerce and travel as efforts to normalize diplomatic relations have progressed.