Cuba was visited by Colombus in 1492. The indigenous indians died out after Spanish conquest in 1511. Cuba remained Spanish until 1898, when it was captured by the Americans in the short-lived Spanish-American war. Limited independence was gained in 1902, with a president as head of government. In 1952, former president Fulgencio Batista took control and established an increasingly corrupt dictatorship. Fidel Castro, together with Che Guevara, organized guerrilla activities from 1956. Castro seized power in February 1959. A series of reforms followed, including the limiting of land-ownership and the nationalization of banks and industries, many of which were US-owned. Relations with the US became worse leading to a US-imposed trade embargo, and the failed attempt to invade and overthrow the regime in 1961 (Bay of Pigs). Cuba was forced to turn to the Soviet Union as a trading partner, which also provided financial and military assistance to Cuba. Cuba gradually became more and more isolated within Latin America.
Since 1976, Castro, as well as being the leader of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and Communist Part chairman, is also president.
Legislative power lies with the National Assembly, with 500 members.
Cuba is divided into 14 provinces and 169 municipal assemblies.
