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The [[Spanish American War]] began on April 25, 1898.  Spain's defeat led to Spain relinquishing Cuba to United States jurisdiction on December 10, 1898 at the Treaty of Paris.<ref>"...the island is, upon its evacuation by Spain, to be occupied by the United States" [http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/18_treaty.html]</ref>

The [[Spanish American War]] began on April 25, 1898.  Spain's defeat led to Spain relinquishing Cuba to United States jurisdiction on December 10, 1898 at the Treaty of Paris.<ref>"...the island is, upon its evacuation by Spain, to be occupied by the United States" [http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/spanish_am/18_treaty.html]</ref>

 

[[Theodore Roosevelt]], who succeeded McKinley, abandoned the 20 year deal and Cuba became an independent nation in 1901, on the condition that the United States would keep [[Guantanamo Bay]].

[[Theodore Roosevelt]], who succeeded McKinley, let Cuba became an independent nation in 1901, on the condition that the United States would keep [[Guantanamo Bay]].

====Batista's coup====

===Batista's coup===

In 1940 after a series of rulers, [[Fulgencio Batista]] ran for presidency and won. A year later, Batista's administration formally took Cuba into World War II as a U.S. ally, declaring war on Japan on December 9, 1941, then on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941. At the end of his term in 1944,  Batista stepped down and Ramón Grau was elected to succeed him.

In 1940 after a series of rulers, [[Fulgencio Batista]] ran for presidency and won. A year later, Batista's administration formally took Cuba into World War II as a U.S. ally, declaring war on Japan on December 9, 1941, then on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941. At the end of his term in 1944,  Batista stepped down and Ramón Grau was elected to succeed him.

In 1952, Batista again ran for office, when it became apparent to Batista that he could not win, he staged a [[coup]], whereby he again took office. In 1954, due to United States pressure, Batista agreed to hold elections, however ex-President Grau,  withdrew from the race amid allegations that Batista was rigging the elections. In April 1956, Batista gave orders for Ramon Barquin to become General and Chief of the Army, however Barquin had already planned another coup to overthrow Batista. The coup was overthrown, and the officers were sentenced to the maximum terms allowed by Cuban Martial Law. Barquin was sentenced to solitary confinement for 8 years.

In 1952, Batista again ran for office, when it became apparent to Batista that he could not win, he staged a [[coup]], whereby he again took office. In 1954, due to United States pressure, Batista agreed to hold elections, however ex-President Grau,  withdrew from the race amid allegations that Batista was rigging the elections. In April 1956, Batista gave orders for Ramon Barquin to become General and Chief of the Army, however Barquin had already planned another coup to overthrow Batista. The coup was overthrown, and the officers were sentenced to the maximum terms allowed by Cuban Martial Law. Barquin was sentenced to solitary confinement for 8 years.

====Revolution====

===Communist Revolution===

In 1956, a party of rebels led by [[Fidel Castro]], landed in a yacht from [[Mexico]] and tried to start an armed resistance movement. In Mexico, the army was strengthened by the cooperation of [[Ernesto Che Guevara]], who later became one of the most important people in the Cuban revolution. Throughout 1957 and 1958, opposition to Batista grew. In response to Batista's plea to purchase better arms from the U.S. in order to root out the insurgents in the mountains, the United States government imposed an arms embargo on the Cuban government on March 14, 1958. Later in 1958, the rebels achieve significant victories, and Batista fled the country. Castro’s rebel forces entered the capital on January 8, 1959. Short after Dr. Manuel Leo Urrutia assumed power, to be followed by the February election of Castro to Prime Minister. Later in April, seeking to end the embargo as the new government had taken over, Castro, then a staunch United States supporter, flew to the United States to meet with President Eisenhower, however rather than meet with Castro, Eisenhower decided to play in a golf match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/plas/publications/Essays/castro.html|title=Dr. Castro's Princeton Visit, April 20-21, 1959|author=Thomas E. Bogenschild|accessdate=2007-08-14|format=HTML|language=English|work=Princeton|date=1998}}</ref> The action marked the beginning of deteriorating relations between the two countries. In 1960, Castro officially declared Cuba communist.

In 1956, a party of rebels led by [[Fidel Castro]], landed in a yacht from [[Mexico]] and tried to start an armed resistance movement. In Mexico, the army was strengthened by the cooperation of [[Ernesto Che Guevara]], who later became one of the most important people in the Cuban revolution. Throughout 1957 and 1958, opposition to Batista grew. In response to Batista's plea to purchase better arms from the U.S. in order to root out the insurgents in the mountains, the United States government imposed an arms embargo on the Cuban government on March 14, 1958. Later in 1958, the rebels achieve significant victories, and Batista fled the country. Castro’s rebel forces entered the capital on January 8, 1959. Short after Dr. Manuel Leo Urrutia assumed power, to be followed by the February election of Castro to Prime Minister. Later in April, seeking to end the embargo as the new government had taken over, Castro, then a staunch United States supporter, flew to the United States to meet with President Eisenhower, however rather than meet with Castro, Eisenhower decided to play in a golf match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/plas/publications/Essays/castro.html|title=Dr. Castro's Princeton Visit, April 20-21, 1959|author=Thomas E. Bogenschild|accessdate=2007-08-14|format=HTML|language=English|work=Princeton|date=1998}}</ref> The action marked the beginning of deteriorating relations between the two countries. In 1960, Castro officially declared Cuba communist.

during the administration of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. They argued that the missiles were fair ground due to the United States having placed missiles in Turkey in a previous year. The high-pressure controversy that resulted quickly subsided when both sides withdrew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm|work=The National Security Archive - George Washington University|title=Anatomy of a Controversey|author=Jim Hershberg|date=Spring 1995|language=English|format=HTML|accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>

during the administration of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. They argued that the missiles were fair ground due to the United States having placed missiles in Turkey in a previous year. The high-pressure controversy that resulted quickly subsided when both sides withdrew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm|work=The National Security Archive - George Washington University|title=Anatomy of a Controversey|author=Jim Hershberg|date=Spring 1995|language=English|format=HTML|accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>