| The island of Cuba has been inhabited for more than | | | | hero. |
| several thousand years by Amerindian peoples known | | | | The Spanish-American War resulted when the U.S. |
| as the TaÃno and Ciboney. The TaÃno were | | | | battleship Maine was mysteriously blown up in Havana |
| known to be mostly farmers while the Ciboney were | | | | harbor, killing 266 men. The U.S. accused Spain, even |
| hunter-gatherers. The name Cuba in fact is derived | | | | though they had no motive, and quickly passed a |
| from the TaÃno word cubanacán, which | | | | resolution calling for intervention. The war started when |
| means "a central place". Christopher Columbus sighted | | | | U.S. forces landed in Cuba in June 1898 and quickly |
| the island during his first voyage of discovery on 24 | | | | overcame Spanish resistance. In August a peace |
| October 1492, and immediately claimed it for Spain. | | | | treaty was signed under which Spain agreed to |
| Spain possessed the island of Cuba for 388 years, | | | | withdraw from Cuba. |
| ruled by the governor of Havana. It had an economic | | | | Some advocates in the U.S. supported Cuban |
| base of plantation agriculture and main exports of | | | | independence, while others argued for outright |
| sugar, coffee and tobacco to Europe and later to | | | | annexation. As a compromise, the McKinley |
| North America. British seized the island in 1762, but | | | | administration placed Cuba under a 20-year U.S. |
| returned it to Spain the following year. Like most of the | | | | trusteeship. The Cuban independence movement |
| Spanish Empire, a small land-owning elite of settlers | | | | bitterly opposed this arrangement, but unlike the |
| held all the social and economic power. They were | | | | Philippines, where events had followed a similar course, |
| served by a population of small farmers, laborers and | | | | there was no outbreak of armed resistance. |
| slaves. | | | | Theodore Roosevelt, who had fought in the |
| Many architectural masterpieces constructed during | | | | Spanish-American War and had some sympathies |
| Spanish rule still stand today. An excellent example is | | | | with the independence movement, succeeded |
| the Catedral de San Cristóbal, Havana. During the | | | | McKinley as President of the United States in 1901 and |
| 1820s, when the rest of Spain's empire in South | | | | abandoned the 20-year trusteeship proposal. Instead, |
| America rebelled and seceeded, Cuba remained loyal, | | | | the Republic of Cuba gained formal independence on |
| although some campaigned for independence. Partly | | | | 20 May 1902, with the independence leader |
| because fears of a slave rebellion (as had happened | | | | Tomás Estrada Palma becoming the country's first |
| in Haiti) if the Spanish withdrew, partly because the | | | | president. Under the new Cuban constitution, however, |
| prosperity of Cuban settlers depended on their export | | | | the U.S. retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs |
| trade to Europe, and partly because Cuba feared the | | | | and to supervise its finances and foreign relations. |
| rising power of the United States more than they | | | | Under the Platt Amendment, Cuba also agreed to |
| disliked Spanish colonial rule. | | | | lease to the U.S. the naval base at Guantánamo |
| Due to the fact that Cuba is a mere 90 miles from the | | | | Bay. |
| United States has had a profound influence on the | | | | Independent Cuba soon ran into difficulties as a result |
| countries development. Politicians in the south plotted | | | | of factional disputes and corruption among the small |
| the island's annexation as a means of bolstering the | | | | educated elite and the failure of the government to |
| pro-slavery forces in the U.S. throughout the early | | | | deal with the deep social problems left behind by the |
| 1900's. In 1848 a pro-annexationist uprising was | | | | Spanish. In 1906, following disputed elections to choose |
| defeated after several failed invasion atemps from | | | | Estrada Palma's successor, an armed revolt broke out |
| Florida proved fruitless. After that the United States | | | | and the U.S. exercised its right of intervention. The |
| tried to buy Cuba from Spain but was always turned | | | | country was placed under U.S. occupation and a U.S. |
| down. | | | | governor took charge for three years. In 1908 |
| Rural poverty in Spain led to a substantial Spanish | | | | self-government was restored when José Miguel |
| emigration to Cuba. Among those arriving were the | | | | Gómez was elected President, but the U.S. |
| parents of Fidel Castro. During the 1890s | | | | retained its supervision of Cuban affairs. Despite |
| pro-independence agitation revived, fueled by | | | | frequent outbreaks of disorder, however, constitutional |
| resentment of the restrictions imposed on Cuban trade | | | | government was maintained until 1925, when Gerardo |
| by Spain and hostility to Spain's increasingly oppressive | | | | Machado y Morales, having been elected President, |
| and incompetent administration of Cuba. On 15 July | | | | suspended the constitution. |
| 1895 rebellion broke out and the independence party, | | | | This brief article can't possibly address the vast history |
| led by Tomás Estrada Palma and the poet | | | | that is Cuba. I have listed several excellent books at |
| José MartÃ, proclaimed Cuba an | | | | the end of this article. You can find them all at |
| independent republic. Martà was killed shortly | | | | Amazon or your local bookstore. |
| thereafter and has become Cuba's undisputed national | | | | |