Spain Vs. Cuba

Before the colonization of Cuba it was inhabited by the Ciboney. A Spanish solider,Diego Velázquez, started the town of Baracoa in the year 1511. For the expeditions to Florida and Mexico, the Spanish turned Cuba into a supply base. However, because of the mistreatment, misconduct, and near extinction of the natives, the Spanish started to depend on imported black slaves to work the mines and plantations. Even though there were many raids by pirates and naval ships of enemy countries the colony of Cuba survived . There were many laws and restrictions by the Spanish government on natives of Cuba that some had to resorted to illegal trade with other colonies and pirates. However, after English took Havana, the Spanish government abandoned its laws on colonization, expansion of commerce, and development of farming in the country which produced a population increase of 161,000 to more than 550,000 from 1774 to 1817.
On Decemeber 10, 1898 Spanish gave up sovereignty of Cuba, and American military goverment took control until May 20 1902, when the Cuban republic was officially started with former PostMaster General Tomas Estrada Palma.