CUBA The Great Journey in Economic Development on the...

CUBA: The Great Journey in Economic Development on the United State’s Doorstep Introduction A discussion of Cuba and the occurrences within the country over the last century is often surrounded by probing analysis as to the extent to which the Revolution of 1959 actually served as a change from past regimes. It is ignorant to evaluate the revolution in a vacuum, because past events that created the climate where such a change could take place. Yet it is also immature to state that 1959 was purely a product of history and previous revolutions. The story of the Cuban revolution and events since does not begin with the revolution itself. Rather, it starts from the political, economic, and social situations which evolved†¦show more content†¦Geography Cuba is located approximately 90 miles from the coast of the United States. (Wriston 5) The largest island in the Caribbean, or Greater Antilles Islands, it has an area of 69,000 square miles (Rabkin 9) Cuba is known for its tropical climate, mineral resources, and land suitable to agriculture. Important about Cuban geography is it’s location relative to North America. It serves as a possible stop for goods headed towards the United States, Mexico, and other areas of Latin America before entering the vast waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Simply speaking, Cuba was not a place that was recognized for its potential military and economic position in the developing world as countries became increasingly linked. Political History Cuba was first discovered by the western world during the Age of Discovery by Christopher Columbus in October of 1492. (Rabkin 9) The European attitude perpetuated during this time period would have lasting implications on Cuba. Upon arrival Columbus, who never discovered that Cuba was, in fact, an island encountered a native population of Indocubans who practiced a subsistence lifestyle involving fishing, agriculture, and hunting. (Bloch) The Sixteenth Century was a time in which the conquistadors, or conquerors, were moving forth from the