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History
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The history of Cuba began with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Following his discovery, the Spanish invaded the island. The groups that had initially inhabited the island were soon eliminated or died due to diseases. Therefore, the impact of indigenous groups on Cuban society today is limited. Spanish culture, institutions, language, and religion prevailed in Cuba. Colonial society developed gradually, with agriculture serving as the basis of the economy. For the first three centuries after the conquest, the island remained only as a stopping point for the Spanish fleet that visted the New World.
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Cuba was revived in the nineteenth century. The growth of the U.S. as an independent nation, the collapse of Haiti as a colony, Spanish protective policies, and the ingenuity of Cuba's Creole business class all merged to produce a sugar revolution on the island. Cuba was transformed from an unimportant island into the major sugar producer in the world. Slaves arrived in increasing numbers. Prosperity replaced poverty. Spain became more interested in the island than it had been before. However, this delayed a move toward independence in the early nineteenth century. While most of Latin America was breaking ties with Spain, Cuba remained "the ever-faithful island."<br>Toward the end of the century, however, all this began to change. Creole rivalry with Spaniards for the governing of the island, increased Spanish despotism and taxation, and the growth of Cuban nationalism all produced a prolonged and bloody war. By 1898, the U.S., concerned about its economic interests on the island and its strategic interest in the future Panama Canal, aroused the "yellow" press, which focused all eyes on Cuba. The U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War in 1898, which ensured the expulsion of Spain and U.S. supremacy Cuban affairs. Gradually, Cuba became very reliant on the U.S.
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The 1930s saw a major attempt at revolution. Promted by a cruel dictatorship, the economic hardships of the world depression, and the growing control of their economy by Spaniards and North Americans, a group of Cubans led by students and intellectuals sought radical reforms and a transformation of Cuban society. In January 1934, after the overthrow of Gerardo Machado (1925-33) and the ephemeral presidency of Ramon Grau San Martín (1933-34, 1944-48), they were catapulted into power. Their revolution failed, however. Fulgencio Batista, see left, (1940-44, 1952-59) <!-- you can use this to put a photo in your page -->
<IMG SRC="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDbatista.JPG" WIDTH="155" HEIGHT="250" BORDER="0" ALIGN="left">and the military emerged as the arbiters of Cuba's politics.<br>The end of WWII and the end of this early Batista era brought to power the inheritors of the 1933 revolution. With the election in 1944 of Grau San Martín, and then later, Carlos Prío Socarrás (1948-52), an era of democratic government, respect for human rights, and prosperity ensued. Yet political violence and corruption increased.
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Batista's coup d'êtat on March 10, 1952, had a profound effect. It began a brutal dictatorship that resulted in the polarization of society, civil war, destruction of the military, and the rise of a long totalitarian system, which was led by the charismatic, anti-U.S. revolutionary, Fidel Castro Ruz (1976-) (see below). <IMG SRC="http://www.martinoticias.com/media/graphics/Fidel%20Castro%20headshot.jpg" ALIGN="right">Castro seized power on January 1, 1959, after using guerrilla tactics against the Batista regime.<br>In Power for more than four decades, Castro converted Cuba into a Marxist-Leninist society with no individual freedoms or private property and with a Soviet-style economy run by a vast bureaucracy that has stifled innovation, productivity, and efficiency. Despire massive Soviet aid, Cuba sank into unprecedented levels of proverty, aggravated further by the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.<br><P>
The collapse of communism in the early 1990s had a signifcant impact on Cuba. Without Soviet support, internationalism decreased significantly, and Cuba found itself in a major economic crisis. Liberalized foreign investment laws and the opening of private, but regulated small businesses and agricultural stands were introduced. Yet the regime continues to cling to an outdated Marxist system, refusing to change the political process or the economy.
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