Cuba - one of the most controversial countries in history holds secrets inside itself that are often overlooked because of political issues. Cuba is a Spanish-speaking island country located in the Caribbean about ninety miles south the United States. The capital is Havana, which is located in the western part of the country. It is a diverse and interesting country with a bright future, which many people have yet to recognize. The following paragraphs will explore the history, the government, the life of Fidel Castro, the economy, and the people of Cuba.
History - Cuba has a rich history dating back to 3500 B.C. In 1200 A.D. the Taino Indians arrived and began to settle the land. They lived off the land until 1511 when the Spanish began to establish settlements in Cuba and kill the Taino. The Spanish rounded up the Taino and used them to find gold, for other manual labor, and as slaves.
Fidel Castro becomes the leader of Cuba as a resul...
Fidel Castro, president of Cuba, at a meeting of t...
English: Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos, Havan...However, because there was not much gold in Cuba, the Spanish left and took what was left of the Taino with them. Some Spanish settlers did stay and the population began to expand and eventually Cuba became an important island in the Caribbean for ships to stop and replenish their supplies. Cuba continued to remain under Spanish rule until the late 1880's when the United States secretly tried to buy Cuba from Spain. The Spanish continually said no to the United States. In 1898, the USS Maine was blown up in the Havana harbor. Immediately, the United States declared war against the Spanish in Cuba and led the Cubans to get rid of Spain as its government. Though some Cubans were happy the Spanish were gone, many thought that it was just like trading one bad thing for another. The United States troops...