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'''Cuba''' is an island located in the [[Caribbean Sea]], 90 miles south of Florida. It is the only [[Communist]] country in the [[western hemisphere]].

'''Cuba''' is an island located in the [[Caribbean Sea]], 90 miles south of [[Florida]]. It is the only [[Communist]] country in the Western Hemisphere.

==History==

==History==

In 1492, Cuba was [[Christopher Columbus]]'s first sight in his first and most famous voyage to the Americas. <ref>Gott, Richard, Cuba A New History. Yale University Press. 13</ref>

In 1492, Cuba was [[Christopher Columbus]]'s first sight in his first and most famous voyage to the Americas. <ref>Gott, Richard, Cuba A New History. Yale University Press. 13</ref>

For many years, Cuba was an [[United States]] territory. Cuba relied on [[slavery]] longer than all nations in the Western Hemisphere except [[Brazil]]. Cuba had a slave trade from 1521 to 1884. In 1868, a Creole farmer started a revolution for racial equality, freedom of speech and association. {{fact}}It was then a colony of Spain, which put down the insurgency after a ten-year struggle. In 1880, the Spanish Cortes approved the [[abolition]] law, which provided for an eight-year period of ''patronato'' (tutelage) for all slaves liberated according to the law. This only amounted to indentured servitude {{who says}} as slaves were required to spend those eight years working for their masters at no charge. On October 7, 1884, slavery was finally abolished in Cuba by a royal decree that also made the patronato illegal.

 

For many years, Cuba was an [[United States]] territory. Cuba relied on [[slavery]] longer than all nations in the Western Hemisphere except [[Brazil]]. Cuba had a slave trade from 1521 to 1884. In 1868, a Creole farmer started a revolution for racial equality, freedom of speech and association. {{fact}}It was then a colony of Spain, which put down the insurgency after a ten-year struggle. In 1880, the Spanish Cortes approved the [[abolition]] law, which provided for an eight-year period of ''patronato'' (tutelage) for all slaves liberated according to the law. This only amounted to indentured servitude {{who says}} as slaves were required to spend those eight years working for their masters at no charge. On October 7, 1884, slavery was finally abolished in Cuba by a Royal Decree that also made the patronato illegal.

<ref>[http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/slavery.htm  Abolition of Slavery - History of Cuba]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/slavery.htm  Abolition of Slavery - History of Cuba]</ref>

In 1962, the Soviet Union, placed missile in Cuba while the United States was under the rule of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. The high-pressure controvery that resulted quickly subsided when both sides withdrew.<ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm</ref>

1962, the Soviet Union, placed missile in Cuba while the United States was under the rule of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. The high-pressure controversy that resulted quickly subsided when both sides withdrew.<ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm</ref>

==Government==

==Government==

Relations between the United States and Cuba have been shaky at best since the revolution. In 1960, after officially declaring themselves communist, the US began a trade-embargo on Cuba that last to this day.  

Relations between the United States and Cuba have been shaky at best since the revolution. In 1960, after officially declaring themselves communist, the US began a trade-embargo on Cuba that last to this day.  

In part due to Cuba's Communist philosophy, many are not allowed to freely travel or move, thus, those who disagree with either one of the communist teachings or Fidel Castro, will risk their life to escape it - often attempting to reach [[Havana, Florida]].

Due to Cuba's Communist philosophy, many are not allowed to freely travel or move, thus, those who disagree with the Communist teachings or Fidel Castro, will risk their life to escape it - often attempting to reach [[Havana, Florida]]. Each year since Castro's oppressive regime was installed, tens of thousands have done so.

==Healthcare and education==

==Health-care and education==

 

 

Health care in Cuba follows the model of [[socialized medicine]]; all doctors are employees of the government, and the government does not charge citizens for health care, though the services provided are alarmingly inferior for anyone but the party elite. [[Fred Thompson]] wrote:

Health care in Cuba follows the model of [[socialized medicine]]; all doctors are employees of the government, and the government does not charge citizens for health care, though the services provided are alarmingly inferior for anyone but the party elite. [[Fred Thompson]] wrote:

:Castro won't allow observers in to monitor his nation's true state, but defectors tell us that many Cubans live with permanent malnutrition and long waits for even basic medical services. Many treatments we take for granted aren't available at all -- except to the Communist elite or foreigners with dollars. For them, Castro keeps "show" clinics equipped with the best medicines and technologies available. <ref>http://www.townhall.com/columnists/FredThompson/2007/05/03/the_myth_of_cuban_health_care&Comments=true</ref>

:Castro won't allow observers in to monitor his nation's true state, but defectors tell us that many Cubans live with permanent malnutrition and long waits for even basic medical services. Many treatments we take for granted aren't available at all -- except to the Communist elite or foreigners with dollars. For them, Castro keeps "show" clinics equipped with the best medicines and technologies available. <ref>http://www.townhall.com/columnists/FredThompson/2007/05/03/the_myth_of_cuban_health_care&Comments=true</ref>

The country's chief neurosurgeon publicly protested the government's role in the deterioration of the healthcare system (see Dr. [[Hilda Morina]]).  

The country's chief neurosurgeon publicly protested the government's role in the deterioration of the health care system (see Dr. [[Hilda Morina]]).  

The present government falsely claims it has achieved a 97% [[literacy]] (able to read a street map, bus schedules, and signs detailing hazards) rate on the island,<ref>https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cu.html</ref> though the school system as a whole continues to produce poor results.

The present government falsely claims it has achieved a 97% [[literacy]] (able to read a street map, bus schedules, and signs detailing hazards) rate on the island,<ref>https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cu.html</ref> though the school system as a whole continues to produce poor results.

== References ==

== References ==

<small><references/></small>

<small><references/></small>

[[Category:Caribbean Countries]]

[[Category:Caribbean Countries]]

[[Category:Islands]]

[[Category:Islands]]