Cuba is an island full of bold art, lively music and cities that still possess colonial charm. The largest island in the Caribbean makes up this country with smaller, lesser islands located off the coast of the main island, such as La Isla de Juventud, which is also part of Cuban soil. Cuba is a long and narrow island. It stretches 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from east to west, but is only 60 miles (100 kilometers) wide in most places. Cuba's physical geography is mostly flat or hilly, with steep hills and mountain ranges such as La Sierra Maestra, La Cordillera Guaniguanico, and La Sierra de Escambray. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay The country as a whole has an area of ​​44,200 miles, making it a slightly smaller total area than the Pennsylvania. Before centuries of foreign occupation by colonial powers, the island was inhabited by the Arawak people. The different groups of tribes that encompassed the island carried out the traditional activities of fishermen and hunters in addition to introducing agriculture to the island. Their staples included peanuts, yucca, squash, corn, beans, and tobacco. Tobacco was also used for medicinal, ceremonial, and recreational activities among the Guanahatabey, Taíno, and Ciboney. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the island with three ships and a crew of remarkable size. Columbus was on a voyage to discover the “New World”. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, then serving in the Spanish monarchy, had agreed to sponsor his trip. The indigenous population was called Indians because Columbus believed he had landed in India. The indigenous population was also considered savage due to their lack of clothing, hunting and gathering techniques, and the lack of progress that was present on the European continent at that time. As contact between the Arawak and Europeans showed, disease began to spread and the majority of the native population perished due to diseases imported from Europe. The spread of the disease was not one-sided, however: many members of the Columbus crew contracted diseases such as syphilis. Over time, the influence of Spanish power continued to expand not only on the island but also throughout America. The conquistadors were even responsible for atrocities committed in the Mayan, Inca and Aztec civilizations. As Spanish conquest and colonization became more widespread, the Spanish imported tobacco to other countries to diversify and monetize the crop. Soon, Cuba became the island of tobacco worldwide, as this crop had become the main tobacco export. Since the overwhelming majority of the indigenous Arawak population had died due to the introduction of European diseases to which they had little or no immunity, the Spanish were left with a small number of slaves on which to exploit their workforce. As a result, the Spanish sought free labor in Africa. Approximately 12.5 million slaves were herded onto slave ships over several years and brought to Cuba to be exploited by Spanish authorities to continue the booming tobacco industry. Towards the end of the 18th century, on the neighboring island of Hispaniola, a revolution took place among slaves and their masters. In the French colony of Saint-Domingue, the number of slaves significantly exceeded the number of white French people.Through this contrast, the slaves were able to successfully launch a revolution to free themselves from the chains of slavery alongside the persisters. French domination in what is today the country of Haiti. Previously, these slaves worked in appalling conditions in the sugar industry. Due to the new freedom of slaves, the sugar industry collapsed, leaving Cuba to gain the upper hand in producing this crop on its tropical arable land. It is for this reason that Cuba has become the new sugar capital of the Caribbean. As other Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas began to rebel against Spain's empirical colonization, and with knowledge of the slave revolutions occurring in the United States and Haiti, many slave owners feared a possible uprising of slaves in the country. With a combination of slavery and high sugar taxation imposed by the Spanish, many sugar planters, especially those in eastern Cuba, grew weary of Spanish occupation. One of the most prominent and wise planters and landowners was Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Céspedes and his group of collaborators were determined to overthrow corrupt and excessive Spanish legislative control over Cuba. Learning that their conspiratorial activities had been discovered by the Spanish authorities, they were forced to act. On October 10, 1868, Céspedes voiced the historic Grito de Yara from his plantation, La Demajagua, proclaiming Cuba's independence. He soon freed his slaves and incorporated them into his disorganized and poorly armed forces and issued a manifesto explaining the reasons for the revolt. Céspedes then continues to increase his numbers by allowing other slaves to join his movement, provided that these slaves have been granted permission to fight by their masters. This revolution led by Céspedes was the first of three wars of independence led by Cuba against Spain. Céspedes' actions agitated Spanish authorities in Cuba and Spain. In response to Céspedes' call for war, the Spanish government sent thousands of soldiers to the Caribbean island to help defeat the poorly armed opposition movement, with several of Céspedes' men carrying only machetes . With the arrival of additional troops from the western part of Cuba and Spain, the Spanish authorities divided the island laterally while keeping the war in the eastern half of the island, leaving the capital and financial center unscathed. As fighting and bloodshed began in the eastern part of the island, the population of the invaded communities often supported rebel causes for liberation. Those accused of aiding Spanish authorities were often executed on the spot immediately, without a proper trial by the liberation forces. Céspedes ultimately lost his life in the bloodbath of the struggle for Cuban independence. After his death, Céspedes' followers lacked valuable leadership skills. This lack of prior authority caused the opposition to split into several small guerrilla groups who unfortunately began to lose their strongholds in the rural countryside of eastern Cuba, ultimately costing them the war. This loss left independence seekers crushed by the idea of ​​Cuba as an independent identity being shattered. In response to the Spanish victory in the war in Cuba, the Spanish government initiated a series of reforms and peace agreements in order to suppress any further potential uprisings and conflicts. Many people believed that these agreements and reforms were insufficient and jeopardized any future liberation efforts. One of these people was José Martí. Martí was aCuban political and literary figure and became famous for his advocacy of Cuban independence in the 19th century as well as his talent in journalism and poetry. His strong nature and anti-Spanish colonization beliefs even resulted in him being sentenced to months of forced labor by the Spanish government. Martí was also a cultured and well-traveled man. During his career, he was recognized for his diplomatic work, his teaching methods as well as for the publication of countless articles. While in the United States, Martí, along with other Cuban exiles, saved money to return to their country and fight for an end to the Spanish occupation. Back in Cuba, Martí's physical prowess began to be questioned. Martí's genius as a planner and communicator was undeniable, but he did not have the physique or the combative and belligerent character of a soldier. Shortly after his arrival in Cuba, he was assassinated by the Spanish on the battlefield without realizing his dream of a “Patria Libre”. After Martí's death, the war still raged. Spain sent Valeriano Weyler, a high-ranking Spanish general, to the island to help extinguish anti-Spanish sentiment throughout the country. To do this, Weyler implemented its famous re-concentration policy. The goal of this policy was to bring people together in the cities so that they could not clandestinely aid the rebellion in rural areas in the same way that rebel fighters were aided during the Ten Year War led by Céspedes. When cities became overcrowded due to the large numbers of people forced to move, Weyler implemented the construction of concentration camps. The conditions in these concentration camps were horrible and unsanitary. More than 400,000 people died due to inhumane conditions in the camps. Despite the fact that myriad people lost their lives, General Weyler's atrocities in Cuba were massively publicized and sensationalized in American newspapers. This journalistic practice was known as “yellow journalism.” This type of journalism showed the guerrillas fighting for Cuban independence in favor of both sides involved. This type of journalism also attracted the attention of many Americans and the idea of ​​possible American intervention was born. Initially, American President McKinley did not want to get drawn into a war. He demanded that Cuba be freed from the bonds of Spanish imperialism. McKinley also said that if the Spanish government did not comply with his request, he would sell weapons to the guerrillas. On January 1, 1898, the USS Maine arrived in Havana Harbor to protect American assets, interests, and citizens in the event of an emergency. Three weeks later, the ship exploded, killing more than 260 sailors and crew on board. Early reports blamed the Spanish for this tragedy while other sources blamed the Cubans who wanted to rid Spain of the territory. It was believed that the sinking of the USS Maine would lead to American intervention, which would ultimately eliminate the effects of imperialism on the island. The loss of countless lives outraged Americans from coast to coast and soon after, a declaration of war was declared against Spain. The declaration also stated that after the war, Cuba would not be annexed to the United States but rather would be recognized as its own sovereign nation. After the United States declared war, Spain sent increased military force to its island territory. The United States also sent more troops to fight. THE.