Island of Cuba "was discovered" at the time of the first voyage of Christophe Colomb in 1492.

1492 to 1898, Cuba was a Spanish possession.

There were two wars of independence, the first of 1868 to 1878 failed, the second (since 1895) was completed by the entry in war of the United States against Spain in 1898. Martí is one of the most known hero of this second war.

February 15, 1898, a vessel of the American navy which was in the port of Havana, exploded in circontances still not cleared up. The United States decided to intervene in the conflict and to attack the Spaniards in Cuba, at this time, the Cubains revolutionists were close to the victory. Spain had sent a million men, but only 200 000 turned over to Europe (death by disease, died with the combat, better living conditions in Cuba, etc). The American troops thus occupied the island between 1898 and 1902. The Treaty of Paris will put an end to the conflict: Spain yields Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines in the United States.

Four years later, May 20, 1902, the Americans granted independence to Cuba. However, they made insert the Platt amendment in the constititution. This provision made it possible to the American soldiers to intervene in Cuba, each time that they judged it nécéssaire for the stability of the island.

Cuba will continue since to be under the dependence of Washington until the revolution of Castro, and the dictators will receive on several occasions the support of the United States. The American troops will leave the island on January 28, 1909, but the Americans will keep the control of Guantanamo (always occupied by the United States in 2003).

In 1933 a revolution burst, Ramón Grau San Martín became president during a few times. The sergeant Fulgencio Batista who had taken part in the coup d'etat of 1933 became officially, after a certain time the Head of the State. He gained the elections of 1940, that many people considèrérent as faked. Ramón Grau San Martín gained the presidential elections of 1944.

Carlos Prio Socarras was elected president, in 1948.

March 10, 1952, Fulgencio Batista carried out a new coup d'etat. It proclaimed president and suspended the constitution. Its mandate was renewed in 1954 at the end of faked elections. It reinforced its dictatorship.

In 1959, Fidel Castro carried out a revolution and managed to eliminate the dictator Fulgencio Batista. Since 1959, Castro remains with the report heading (2003).

Between the 17 and on April 21, 1961, 1500 Cubans taken refuge in the United States, involved and paid by the CIA tried to invade the island without success while unloading with Bay of the pigs.

Since 1962, Cuba is under embargo of the USA (2003).