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Cuba
Quick Overview:
Cuba is an island that assaults the senses. Surprisingly for one of the last remaining communist countries, the visitor is greeted with strains of exotic rhythms - the salsa or rhumba - emanating from every corner. An aquamarine sea laps the white, palm-fringed beaches of Varadero and offshore Cayos Largo and Coco. Here you can try your hand at blue marlin or barracuda fishing, just as Hemingway depicted in his novel The Old Man and the Sea, or dive to the coral reef and search for shipwrecks. The little-visited Zapata Peninsula or the Bahia de Naranjo Nature Park offer the chance to swim with the dolphins. Inland, only the roar of 1950s American cars disturbs deserted roads. The tobacco-growing area of Vinales with its intriguing limestone mogotes (outcrops), contrasts dramatically with the rugged tree-covered mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Cuba's rich history as a Spanish colony is evident in the wealth of colonial architecture in major towns such as Havana and Santiago de Cuba. A tourism revolution is transforming this once isolated country with an ever-increasing range of flights and hotels opening up previously inaccessible corners. Once faded and crumbling houses with ornate wrought iron balconies, and central courtyards are now being lovingly restored, while weathered campesinos sucking on titanic cigars watch contentedly as visitors discover this intoxicating island.
Geography:
October 27, 1492 - Christopher Columbus discovers Cuba and claims the island for Spain. October 10, 1868 - Cuba's First War of Independence, known as The Ten Years War, begins when plantation owner Carlos Manuel de Cespedes frees and arms his slaves and, accompanied by 37 other planters, proclaims the independence of Cuba. Two days later the group is joined by two free blacks, the brothers Antonio and Jose Maceo, and some Dominican exiles including Maximo Gomez who help train the rebels. April 10, 1869 - As the rebels continue their fighting against Spain, they call a Constituent Assembly in Guaimaro where they prepare the first Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and elect Carlos Manuel Cespedes as their first president. September 26, 1872 - Colombian Foreign Minister Don Gil Columje proposes a plan to achieve Cuban independence and the abolition of slavery. The plan, which would be carried out under the leadership of the United States, calls for the reimbursement to Spain for the loss of its colony with money raised from the other Latin American Republics. The Latin American governments agree but U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant does not accept the proposal. March 22, 1873 - Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, president of the Republic in rebellion against Spain, asks the United States to support Columbia's plan. The U.S. government withholds its support and does not offer its cooperation when the plan is revitalized the following year. November 1875 - As domestic pressure grows, U.S. Secretary of State Hamilton Fish proposes that the European countries pressure Spain to end the fighting in Cuba. February 8, 1878 - A peace agreement is proposed by Spanish General Arsenio Martinez Campos which is accepted by the majority of the House of Representatives, the official body of the Spanish ruled Republic of Cuba in Arms. February 10, 1878 - The Zanjon Treaty formalizes the agreement and is signed against the opposition of rebel leaders, including General Antonio Maceo, because it neither provides independence nor abolishes slavery. March 15, 1878 - General Maceo and General Martinez meet at Mangos de Baragua where Maceo explains the rebels opposition to the Treaty. This meeting becomes known as the Protest at Baragua. March 23, 1878 - After an eight-day truce between General Maceo and General Martinez, fighting resumes. May 1878 - The remaining rebel forces surrender marking the official end to The Ten Years War. October 7, 1886 - Slavery is abolished in Cuba by Royal Decree because economic conditions make it more profitable to free the slaves and hire them for work by day, thus avoiding the expense of year round support. 1892 - Jose Marti, a Cuban writer, in exile for his support of Cuban independence, spends two years organizing Cubans, both inside and outside the island, to work for Cuba's independence through his newly formed Cuban Revolutionary Party. February 24, 1895 - The Cuban Revolutionary Party declares the beginning of The Second War of Cuban Independence. March 31, 1895 - Antonio and Jose Maceo land in eastern Cuba from Santo Domingo. April 11, 1895 - Jose Marti and Maximo Gomez land in eastern Cuba from Costa Rica. May 19, 1895 - Jose Marti is killed in battle at Dos Rios in eastern Cuba. July 5, 1896 - Jose Maceo is killed at the battle of Loma del Gato. December 7, 1896 - Antonio Maceo is killed at the battle of Punta Brava in western Cuba. November 1897 - Spain's queen regent offers autonomy to Cuba, but the offer is rejected by both the rebels and the Cuban loyalists. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt urges President William McKinley to intervene. December 1897 - As the rebels are declaring success, President McKinley refuses to recognize Cuban independence. January 1898 - After several violent pro-Spanish demonstrations have occurred in Havana, the United States citing increased danger to U.S. citizens living in Cuba, sends the battleship Maine on a "friendly" visit to Cuba. February 15, 1898 - The battleship Maine blows up in Havana Harbor killing 260 officers and crew. The United States media led by "yellow journalist" William Randolph Hearst blame Spain and establish the cry "Remember the Maine." April 10, 1898 - Spain, not wanting a conflict with the United States, orders a unilateral suspension of hostilities and sends a message to Washington stating that Cuba will be granted autonomy, the U.S. can indicate the terms of an armistice and the matter of the Maine will be submitted to arbitration. April 11, 1898 - President McKinley sends a message to Congress asking for authority to intervene militarily in Cuba. The message states that , "The only hope of relief and repose from a condition that can no longer be endured is the enforced pacification of Cuba." April 20, 1898 - Congress passes the "Teller Amendment" affirming that the United States has no "intentions to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said Island except for the pacification thereof." Five days later the U.S. declares war on Spain and the Spanish American War begins. August 12, 1898 - Spain and the United States sign an armistice agreement marking the end of the four month war. December 10, 1898 - the United States and Spain sign the "Treaty of Paris" ending Spain's four centuries of domination over the Cuban people. Although no representative of Cuba is present at the treaty signing, the treaty officially grants Cuba its independence and declares the country to be a free and independent nation. January 1, 1899 - The United States installs a military government in Cuba under General John R. Brooke who becomes the first U.S. military governor. December 23, 1899 - General Leonard Wood, veteran of U.S. campaigns against Native Americans, replaces General Brooke as military governor. November, 1900 - A Cuban constitutional convention is called and a constitution is drawn up modeled after the U.S. Constitution
Related Links:
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News news of Cuba |
Offical Sites government of Cuba |
Country Guides travelling to Cuba |
Education university of Havanna/Cuba |