History of Cuba

History

Cuba has a very rich History, it would take too long to explain with an adequate degree of detail the complex events that have taken place in more than 5 centuries that, eventually, have shaped our history and idiosyncrasy. Our only intention is to give you a very generalized overview of our history in order to provide you with the elemental Knowledge on this matter. If you want to increase your historical information about Cuba, we can suggest you several books which are available in any specialized bookshop of the island. A Cuban history chronology.

1492- Columbus sights Cuba for the first time.

1508- Sebastián de Ocampo circumnavigates Cuba and define it as an Island.

1514- Diego Velázquez arrives to Cuba.

1514- Under Velázquez rule, are established the first seven villas, Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo, Puerto Principe -current Camaguey- Santic Spiritus, Trinidad and Havana (it was originally located to the south of its current location).

1515- Santiago de Cuba becomes capital

1519- Foundation of San Cristobal de la Habana at its present site. Havana is transformed into a supply base for the expeditions to Mexico and Florida.

1522- First African slaves are brought to Cuba to work in the mines and plantations (by the middle of the 16th century the aborigines were nearly extincted).

1555- French pirates sack Havana.

1556- Spanish captain-general moves to Havana.

1564- First treasury fleet depart from Havana.

1589- Havana and Santiago are fortified.

1607- Havana declared capital of Cuba.

1674- Construction of Havana city walls begins.

1700- Tobacco the main exports

1762- The British capture Havana during the Seven Years' War.

1763- The British trade Havana for Florida.

1790- Mass importation of African slaves.

1800- Sugar becomes the main staple of exportation.

1825- Most of Latin America has become independent.

1837- First railway line is built in Cuba (One of the first countries in the world, even first than the Spanish metropolis)

1848- USA attempts to buy Cuba from Spain.

1850- Narciso López rises Cuban Flag

1853- Jose Martí was born at Havana.

1865- Massive importation of African slaves ends.

1868-1878- War of the 10 years. First attempt of independence.

1878- Antonio Maceo lead the Protest of Baragua.

1879- Slavery is abolished.

1895- 1898- Second great war of Independence organized by Martí.

1895- Martí is killed at combat at Dos Rios.

1898- Americans land at Santiago de Cuba, Spanish rule ends.

1898-1902- USA military government rules Cuba.

1902- Cuba achieves independence although its sovereignty is very limited. Is erected the first Constitution of the new Republic of Cuba. Platt Amendment is imposed on Cuba

1903- USA takes Guantanamo naval base.

1906- Second US military intervention.

1917- Third US military intervention.

1925- Julio Antonio Mella and Carlos Baliño found the first Communist Party.

1933- Gerardo Machado's dictatorship is overthrown by the masses.

1940- Is proclaimed the second Constitution known as the 'Constitution of the 40'.

1952- Fulgencio Batista takes control of the government by a coup d'état.

1953- Fidel Castro attacks the Moncada Barracks.

1956- The Granma Yacht lands in Oriente.

1956-1958- War against Batista's regime in the Sierra Maestra.

1958- Che Guevara captures Santa Clara.

1959- Batista flees, rebels take control of the government. Castro enters in Havana, First agrarian reform

1960- USA cuts its imports of Cuban sugar, foreign companies are nationalized, US economic blockade begins.

1961- The Bay of Pig invasion is defeated.

1962- Cuban Missile crisis.

1965- The Communist Party is refounded.

1967- Che Guevara is killed in Bolivia.

1968- Small businesses are nationalized.

1972- Cuba joins Comecon trading block

1975- Cuba sends troops to Angola.

1976- Third constitution comes into force.

1980- Some 120 000 Cubans depart to USA through Mariel. Arnaldo Tamayo first and only Cuban and Latin-American cosmonaut.

1988- Cuban troops are withdrawn from Angola after the defeat of the Apartheid regime of South Africa in Cuito Cuanavale.

1991- The Soviet Union and the socialist block of East Europe collapses. Begins the so-called Período Especial (Special Period).

1993- Cubans are allowed to hold US dollars.

1994- Thousands of Cuban depart to US. (Crisis of the balseros)

1995- Direct foreign investment approved.

1996- US tightens blockade of Cuba.

1998- Pope John Paul II visits Cuba.

2000- The boy Elian Gonzales return to Cuba after several months of litigation between its family in Miami and his father in Cuba.