Cespedes proclaimed independence and formed the Republic of Cuba on October 10, 1868. By 1869, Cespedes had written a constitution that abolished slavery and annexed the country to the United States.

In the past year, Cuba has been torn by a power struggle between its old-guard, Moscow-lining Communists ... who are obviously weary of pumping $1 million-a-day worth of aid into Cuba with little ...

Cuba's social problems were compounded by a violent, chaotic and corrupt political history. Since achieving independence in 1902, Cuba had suffered what simply could be called bad government.

There is also a monument to José Martí, Cuba's most famous writer who dedicated his life to fighting for independence in the ... to be drab in comparison to Old Havana's colorful plazas and ...