| For such a little island nation, Cuba has | | | | government. Batista's reign was marked by |
| certainly played a big part in recent | | | | wide spread corruption. |
| history. Here are ten interesting things | | | | |
| about Cuba that you should know. | | | | 6. In 1959, young rebels led by Fidel Castro |
| | | | overthrew Batista. Che Guevara, an Argentine |
| The Caribbean is full of interesting and | | | | citizen, tried to convince new government to |
| beautiful islands. Cuba is one, but what | | | | pursue communism, but Castro resisted. |
| makes it stick out? Here are some hints. | | | | |
| | | | 7. In 1960, Cuba signed a trade agreement |
| 1. Cuba is an island located at the mouth of | | | | with the Soviet Union. This infuriated the |
| the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest island | | | | United States, who responded with a trade |
| of the Antilles with a total surface area is | | | | embargo. |
| 110,992 square meters. The population is over | | | | |
| eleven million people. | | | | 8. In 1961, the United States tried to |
| | | | overthrow Castro with the Bay of Pigs |
| 2. Cuba was claimed by Christopher Columbus | | | | invasion. It was a disaster and Fidel Castro |
| as a Spanish colony in 1492. In the 1800s, | | | | responded by officially declaring Cuba a |
| the British captured it for one year, but | | | | communist country. |
| lost it back to Spain the next year. The | | | | |
| United States tried to invade it multiple | | | | 9. In 1962, the Soviet Union placed nuclear |
| times from Florida. In 1848, the United | | | | missiles on Cuba and the resulting Cuban |
| States gave up and offered Spain $100 million | | | | Missile Crisis was arguably the closest the |
| dollars for Cuba. The offer was rejected. | | | | Soviet Union and United States came to global |
| | | | nuclear war. At the last minute, the Soviets |
| 3. In 1898, the Spanish-American war resulted | | | | backed down. |
| in Cuba becoming a US Trusteeship for 20 | | | | |
| years and the Spanish being expelled. In | | | | 10. Despite the tensions between Cuba and the |
| 1902, the US abandoned this position and | | | | United States, the US maintains a notorious |
| granted Cuba its independence. | | | | military base on the island at Guantánamo |
| | | | Bay. |
| 4. Cuba was an ally of the United States in | | | | |
| World War II. | | | | From a little island to the center of major |
| | | | world events, Cuba should amaze you. As Fidel |
| 5. In 1952, then president Sergeant Fulgencio | | | | Castro grows older and older, much of the |
| Batista lost a popular election and responded | | | | world waits to see what will happen with his |
| with a military coup to take control of the | | | | passing. |