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Cuba information - Cuban history
Cuban history - The beginning
Material remains prove that the area was inhabited even in 3500 BC. Arawak, Taino and Siboney Indians moved to Cuba from Eastern territories at around 1250. Tainos were farmers while members of the Siboney tribe used to hunt and collect food. Name of the country comes from their language as ‘cubanacan’ in Taino means central place. 28 October 1492, the day when Christopher Columbus reached Cuba and landed on the island. After this time most of the residents died from diseases brought by sailors and settlers.
Cuban history - Spanish times
By 1511, Spaniards under Diego Velazquez discovered and conquered the island. Soon after they established the first settlements: the very first city was Nuestra Asuncion de Baracoa in 1511, then they established Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo, Puerto Principe and in 1514, Havana. It was named after San Cristobal de Habana, a local leader.
Number of the residents under Spanish domination decreased significantly. Therefore African slaves were imported who then influenced the cultural development of the country. Number of European inhabitants was growing thanks to the Spanish immigrants.
Despite frequent raids by buccaneers restrictions imposed by the Spanish authorities on commercial activities, the island prospered throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Havana's superb harbour made it a common transit point on the way to / from Spain and it became one of the most important cities in the area. Population of Cuba in 1602 was 20.000 from that 13.000 lived in Havana. In 1607 Havana became the capital of the country.
Cuban history - Colonialism
War between big empires started for the colonies. The first big war in 1588 was Spain’s campaign against England in which the famous, unbeatable Spanish armada was destroyed. This time started the conquest of the British Empire that finally also reached Cuba. In 1762 England declared war on Spain and occupied the capital and commercial centre of the island, Havana.
Cuba itself still remained Spanish colony, capital was moved to Santiago. After a year and after French - English - Spanish talks these countries signed the peace. According to the peace pact Spain got back Havana and gave up Florida.
In 1776 a theatre was built in Havana. In 1777 Cuba got its own colonial government under the supremacy of the Spanish crown. In 1784 Spain prohibited Cuba to merchandise with any other country. In 1790 first Cuban newspaper was published and the profit of it was donated to a school. In 1793 limited trade with the USA was permitted.
In the 1800s sugarcane production bloomed in Cuba and this required the importation of more black slaves from Africa. After smaller riots between 1867 and 1878 finally slavery was abolished in 1886.
Cuban history - War of independence
In 1895 Jose Marti, the famous poet led the troops in the war that ended Spanish rule in Cuba. The United States helped this fight and sunk Maine warship in the harbour of Havana in 1898.
According to the peace act, signed in Paris in 1898, Cuba got the protectorate of the USA. The country was a separate republic but according to its constitution the US had the right to encroach and control Cuba’s finance and foreign affairs.
Cuban history - Sovereignty
The independent Cuba was established in 1902, its capital was Havana. First president of the country was Tomas Estrada Palma. The Platt Amendment of 1901 allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuba's affairs to secure its sovereignty and stability. Cuba terminated the amendment and won sovereignty in 1934.
In 1912 revolution broke out against racial discrimination. The government made a scroll with the help of American soldiers. In 1925 General Gerardo Machado Morales took over power and drown out movements of the trade unions but also allowed some very important economic development investments.
In 1933 Fulgencio Batista took over power with a military coup. In 1940 he won elections as a candidate of a big party coalition (Cuban Communist Party was also in this coalition), he was very popular in Cuba.
Presidency of Ramon Grau and Carlos Prío Socarrás (won democratic elections in 1948) can be characterized by two words: incapacity and corruption. Influence of American gangsters and criminals increased. After the first round of the election in 1952 Fulgencio Batista committed another coup and became president again. He refused to establish a constitutional government and thanks to this decision resistant groups were established. Fidel Castro was the leader of one of these movements.
Cuban history - Cuban revolution
Fidel Castro started the revolution from his camp in Sierra Maestra Mountain in 1956. His generals were his brother, Raul Castro and an Argentinean doctor, Ernesto (CHE) Guevara. Rebels were supported by many land-owners who objected to Batista’s policy. In 1958 the USA ended military support so Batista had to flee on 1 January, 1959. This time Fidel Castro took over power.
Cuban history - Fidel Castro breaks the ties with the United States
The USA welcomed the democratic Cuba - but it only looked like a democratic country. Within a few months, Fidel Castro established military tribunals for political opponents and jailed hundreds of them. He disavowed Cuba's military pact (from 1952) with the USA, confiscated U.S. assets, and established collective farms according to the Soviet-style. America broke relations with Cuba on 3vJanuary 1961, that time Fidel Castro established his alliance with the Soviet Union. Afterwards thousands of Cubans fled the country.
Cuban history - Disaster in the Bay of Pigs
On 17 April 1961 a group of Cuban exiles invaded Cuba. The invasion that was planned during the Eisenhower administration - was given the go-ahead by John Kennedy. The landing at the Bay of Pigs was a fiasco. The invaders did not receive enough support neither from America nor from the locals, therefor they were easily repulsed by the Cuban military.
Cuban history - Cuban missile crisis
A Soviet attempt to install medium-range missiles in Cuba - capable of striking targets in the United States with nuclear warheads - led to a crisis in 1962. When the American military intelligence became aware of this, President Kennedy settled marine and trade blockade. Six days later Nikita Khrushchev ordered the missile sites unset and sent back to the USSR in return for a U.S. promise not to attack Cuba.
Cuban history - Years of dissatisfaction
The U.S. established limited diplomatic ties with Cuba on 1 September 1977, to make it easier for Cuban Americans to visit the country. Contact with the more affluent Cuban Americans caused dissatisfaction in Cuba. As a reaction, Castro opened the port of Mariel to the boats of the 'freedom flotilla' from the USA. With this step he allowed 125.000 Cubans to flee to Miami. After the refugees arrived, they discovered that their ranks were similar to those at the bottom of the social class.
Cuban history - Cuba in the 90's
In 1990 Russian aid, which had supported Cuba's weak economy, ended when Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe. Cuba's foreign trade also fell, producing a serious economic crisis. In 1993 Castro permitted limited private enterprise, allowed Cubans to possess convertible currencies, and encouraged foreign investment in the tourist industry. In March of 1996, the U.S. tightened its embargo with the Helms-Burton Act.
In 1997 Christmas became an official holiday and the visit of Pope John Paul II’s in Cuba raised hopes for greater religious freedom.
Cuban history - Since 2000
In June 2000 under the Clinton administration happened that refugee Elian Gonzalez (the Cuban boy who was found clinging to an inner tube near Miami) was to send back to Cuba. The US’s Cuban community had demanded that the boy remain in Miami rather than be returned to his father in Cuba.
In 2004 Bush administration tightened its embargo allowing Cubans to visit home only once every 3 year (they could return once a year earlier) and limited the amount of cash that could be sent to Cuba to 50 dollars a day.
In July 2006 Fidel Castro (hospitalized because of his illness) temporarily turned over power to his younger brother, Raul Castro. In October it was revealed that Fidel Castro would not return to power.
Cuban history - Fidel Castro announces his retirement because of indisposition
17 months after his surgery the 81-year-old Fidel Castro announced his withdrawal from upcoming parliamentary elections as he didn’t feel healthy enough to campaign.
During the elections in January 2008, both Fidel and Raul Castro were re-elected to the National Assembly as well as 614 unopposed candidates.
After 49 years of governance Fidel Castro announced his final retirement in February 2008. The leader of Cuba since 1959 said he would not accept another term as president. His brother, Raul Castro became the 21st president of Cuba on 24 February 2008.
Cuban history - Cuban’s small victories on the way to freedom
In February 2008 Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Covenants ensure citizens' political and civil freedom and guarantees the right to work, fair wages, social security, education and high standards of physical and mental health. Roque also announced that in 2009 the United Nations' Human Rights Council will be allowed to examine Cuba at will.
In March 2008 the Cuban government abolished restrictions on purchasing computers and other consumer electronics (DVDs and microwaves), which can be bid fair in tolerance of internet use in the future.
In June 2008 the European Union lifted diplomatic sanctions that were imposed on Cuba in 2003 when plans were announced to abandon salary equality.
In July 2008 the government relaxed land restrictions for private farmers to boost the country's poor food production and reduce food imports.
In January 2009, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, the Cuban government approved a law delaying the retirement age by five years.
Cuban history - Cuba nowadays
One of his first arrangements after coming into power Barack Obama (President of the USA) was to close American navy base in Guantanamo, Cuba. The new administration cancelled the aggravations of Bush government so now it’s possible for the Cuban Americans to return to Cuba unlimited. Daily limit of U.S. cash sent to the country was cancelled and the category ‘family’ was extended to aunts and uncles. Regulation of export of medication and food was also relaxed.