History+and+Events

Cuban History & Events The earliest Cuban people were Guanajatabey they numbered about 100,000 and had been their since before 1000 BCE. They were hunters, gatherers, and farmers. Many of these people grew tabacco. Archeologists believe that they originated in South America, although some of their extinct civilizations have been found in the West Indis. When Christopher Columbus found the island in 1492 he believed it to be an Asian peninsula. On later voyages, it was realized that they were not. In 1493, the Pope commanded the Spanish to capture Cuba and convert the pagan inhabitants to Catholicism. The Spanish began to make settlements and anywhere they met resistance, they would succesivly kill the cheifs until resistance ended. Many of the people were killed or captured and forced onto reservations. The Spanish set up their capital in Hispaniola. The Spanish made tobacco and sugar Cuba's main crops. Due to the trade regulations set in place, the Spanish-Caribbean did not prosper until the 1760s. When its borders were opened for international trade a sugar boom occured that lasted until the 1880s. Although they were entirely dedicated to the growth of sugar by the1860s. Because of Cuba's economic success even through the laws Spain had placed, they were the targets of many raidings and attacks. Even though they had recently fortified themselves it was still clear they could not hold off an attack. As Britain, Spain, and France began to clash, Cuba was often put in harms way. During the Seven Years War, Havana, was under seige. The British then took over about half of Cuba. Later after treaties were signed, theSpanish got Cuba back. During the 1800s and 1900s there were many political movements to break free and become a country. By the year Cuba and PuertoRico were the only imperialized areas. During Cuba's rebelions, they decided to free all black slaves in 1817. As tensions started to grow between Cuba and Spain, the US traded with Cuba so much that their economy depended on us. A war broke out between Cuba and Spain for independece and as the US watched they were reminded of their own revolutionary war. The US began to support Cuba and in 1898 thSpanish left Cuba. The US then occupied Cuba and began setting up a fair government. By 1902 most of Cuba's economy was lterally owned by the US. But in that same year they handed over conrol to the Cuban government. WWI then erupted in which Cuba declared war on Germany. After the war ended the current president was replaced with another, Batista. Batista quickly improved all of Cuba's living standards to world highs. Fidel Castro decided to make a movement against Batista which failed although it had killed many soldiers. Castro was sentenced to 15 years of prison but was let out early which was when he fled to Mexico. Batista's government began to fail and the US urged him to leave the country. When Batista left, Castro took over. Castro quickly became a socialist and many Cubans fled to America and Spain. The relationship between Cuba and the US quickly deteriorated. Eventually the US embargoed Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis did not help matters in the least.

Puerto Rican History & Events The earliest people in Puerto Rico were the Ortiotiod people then the Saladiod andArkwak people moved in. They hunted, fished, and gathered plants. Christopher Columbus returned after an experimental trip and set up the first settlement. The indigenous people revolted in 1511 and killed some Spaniard to see if they were imortal but the revolt was put down. In 1513, African Slaves were brought in to help work. Seeing political opurtunity, many European counries tried to take Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican culture started to solidify. In 1815, Puerto Rico was allowed to trade with countries other than Spain. Around the same time Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion.