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