Originally inhabited by the Ciboneyes, Guanahatabeyes, and the Tainos tribes. Christopher Columbus...
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Transcript of Originally inhabited by the Ciboneyes, Guanahatabeyes, and the Tainos tribes. Christopher Columbus...
CUBACreated by Noah
LOCATION
A Summarized History
Originally inhabited by the Ciboneyes, Guanahatabeyes, and the Tainos tribes.
Christopher Columbus discovers Cuba in 1492 and Spain begins to colonize.
Official government established in 1607 with Havana as the capitol
Spain tightens her grip on by taking control of all trade and increases military presense
October 10, 1868: Cuban’s begin fighting for independence in the Ten Year’s War
Ends when rebels except Spanish promises for reforms Economy collapses shortly after, allowing American
investors to buy large amounts of Cuban land
History Continued…
In 1895, Cuba declares a second War of Independence America begins lending aid after declaring war on Spain in
1898 Spain surrenders and the new Independent Cuba becomes a
US territory America interferes with Cuban government well into the
1950’s March 10, 1952: a US supported coup lead by Fulgencio
Batista overthrows the government and eliminates the Cuban Congress
July 26, 1953: Fidel Castro leads 160 rebels on a raid of the Moncada Barracks. Ends with almost everyone dead or captured.
Castro, seen as a hero of the people, is exiled into Mexico begins training a new army
History Part III
Castro's Return CIA begins anti-revolutionary operations April 17, 1961. 2 AM: 1,500 US-trained counter
revolutionists land in the Bay of Pigs and are hacked down within 72 hours by Soviet-supplied personal under Castro himself
Cuba allies itself with the Soviet Union Nuclear war comes close to breaking out when
Castro has Soviet Nuclear Warheads imported into his country in 1962
US and Cuba have been on shaky grounds since
Geography
44,200 sq miles (smaller than PA)
Terrain is mostly flat with hilly plains
Southeast is mountainous
Tropical climate
The People
Population: 11,087,330 (as of July, 2011)
75% lives in urban areas
74th largest population Religions: 85% Roman
Catholic (before Castro) Official language:
Spanish Capital is Havana
The Government
Totalitarian Communist state
under the Cuban Communist Party (PCC)
Triumph of the revolution: January 1, 1959
Current head of state is General Raul Castro (as of Feb. 24, 2008)
Economy Limited due to
Government fighting for political control
83% of the workforce employed by state
Less than 15% are private/self employed
VERY Low standard of living
Major exports: sugar, coffee, medical supplies, and tobacco
Huge trading partner with Venezuela (medical supplies for oil)
The Military
Consists of: Revolutionary Army Revolutionary Navy Revolutionary Air and Air
Defense Force Youth Labor Army
Crippled after the Soviet Union collapsed
Manpower estimated 50-55 thousand
Regular drills for possible US aggression
One of the most formidable in Latin America
Current US-Cuban Relations
Uneasy since the 1959 revolution Official US policy is Economical
embargo and diplomatic isolation Minimum communication Under the Obama
administration, agricultural exports to Cuba has increased (#1 exporter to Cuba)
Cuba is offended by being on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism due to there disapproval of the War on Terrorism
Current Events
The first of the Cuban Five was released after 13 years in a Florida Prison. Rene Gonzalez, along with 4 others, was a Cuban intelligent officer who managed to infiltrate US Army bases in search of anti-Castro exiles back in the 90’s. Gonzalez and his four comrades were put on trial for possible terrorism even though they were never found with weapons. The other 4 are still in prison still with a possible 15 year-life sentence.
During the 6th Congress of the PCC, President Raul Castro announced to set a limit on political terms. With his way, politicians will be limited to 2 five-year terms. There is a lot of criticism about this due to the fact that this is towards the end of the Castro regiem.
References
http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/cite/cuba1956.htm http://rt.com/usa/news/cuban-gonzalez-five-prison-315/ http://library.thinkquest.org/18355/the_cuban_revolutio
n_-_1959.html
http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/havana/early.htm
http://www.cfr.org/cuba/us-cuba-relations/p11113#p2 http://www.rcgfrfi.easynet.co.uk/ratb/cuba/cuba_rev.ht
m http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/count
riesandterritories/cuba/index.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factb
ook/geos/cu.html
The Revolution
November 25, 1956: Castro and his 82 man army set sail for Cuba on the yacht Granma
Immediately strafed by planes coming up the beachhead
12 partisans, including Fidel and his brother Raul, regrouped in the Sierra Maesestra mountain range
Began a two year Gorilla War against Batista’s US-armed troops
Gained much support from the people, and castors ranks grew in the hundreds
August of 1958: Fidel begins a “total war” against Batista’s forces with a two column strike ending in Havana
January 1, 1959: Batista fleas, and the Revolution takes control of the Government