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