The Spanish were in search of gold and although Cuba did not have as much as other Latin American countries, it did have some. The Spaniards used a type of labor called encomienda to mine the gold. Encomienda was a tribute institution where the Spaniards received Indians as an entrustment, to protect and Christianize, but in return could demand tribute including labor ( ). The Indians offered little resistance to the Spanish and by the end of the 16th century only small groups remained in the mountainous areas of the island.

For the first 200 years of Spanish rule,

Cuba was primarily a transit station for the expeditions and fleets between Europe and the New World. Havana, the capital of Cuba, was a key port and was taken over by the British for less than two years in 1762. Although Britain’s occupation was short, it opened the city to free trade with all nations and fostered the importation of goods and slaves at low prices ( ). In 1764, Cuba became an intendancy, where royal officials with extensive judicial, administrative, and financial powers were used to increase the king’s revenues and bring an end to numerous bureaucratic abuses. In 1783, the independence of the United States opened new consumer markets for Cuban products.

Another export that turned out to be more profitable than tobacco was sugar. Haiti was a major producer of sugar up until its devastating war for independence, which caused the collapse of their sugar production between 1799 and 1801. This war opened the door for Cuba and its sugar production. Many French planters fled the slave revolt in Haiti and settled in Cuba, bringing with them advanced sugar technology and managerial skills. “By the end of the eighteenth century, Cuba had been transformed into an economically viable Spanish possession with "king sugar" as the major booster of the island's development” (Rudolph online).

It has been over 500 years since Columbus discovered the New World. Cuba has survived several changes throughout its history. The question now is, “How long will Castro survive?” Although he has brought education, employment, economy, and health care to Cuba, he has also put all citizens on the same economic plane and taken away their freedom of choice. Communism has both helped and hurt Cuba and Castro has sat center stage in the world several times since he took control. While Cuba continues to search for its identity it will influence the world with its not democratic, not communist, but revolutionary form of government.

During the revolution, Castro was considered a hero even though he never had any intentions of sharing his power. He spoke of the changes that needed to take place in Cuba, and in 1959, he began to act. At that time the average yearly income was $590.75 and most poor had to pay for their own medical expenses. Of the poor people nine out of ten homes had no running water and depended on kerosene lamps for light (Fox, 53). There weren’t enough jobs and of those who had gone to school, 88% had not gone beyond the third grade.

Cuban culture is sprinkled with music, dance, literature, and sports. They are natural musicians who love to sing, dance, and play. Their music has Spanish and African roots and a

Some topics in this essay:
Congo Rule, World Havana, Burkholder Johnson, President Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Latin American, Nicolas Guillen, Fulgencio Bautista, Castro United, José Martí, education free, 1 percent, cuba morrison, columbus discovered, sugar production, cuba’s independence, elected president, havana capital, buckman 111, war independence,