Cuba was originally occupied by the Ciboney and Guanahatabey people they were also hunters, fishers, and farmers (1 & 3). Years later from Venezuela, the Taino people took over the land and displaced the even earlier settlers (1 & 2). In 1942 Christopher Columbus landed and claimed the land for Spain (2). Columbus originally named the land Isla Juana, but later it would be called Cuba, which comes from the local Native American term "coabana."(3)
Many Taino were forced into slavery by the Spaniards (1). In most cases, overwork and diseases brought by Europeans killed most of them (1). Cuba then imported hundreds of thousands of African slaves, mainly for the purpose of planting and harvest (1). In 1898 American troops helped drive Spanish out of Cuba (1). After that the US gained control with the Treaty of Paris and made the island became independent (3). The US had a very great influence over the island (1).
In 1952, Fulgencio Batista, a former Cuben president, Took power and declared himself dictator (3). This action angered many Cubans (3). Fidel Castro, who is a rebel leader organized a revolution to take down Batista (3). By 1959, Castro overthrew Batista's government (3). Fidel Castro ruled for 50 years before giving his power to his younger brother, Raul (3).
Citations: (1) 2 (3) background-image
