Cuban Embargo History

The country of Cuba is located south of Florida. The Republic of Cuba is made up of more than 4,000 islands and cays (Cuba Facts, Cuba Flag). It has a population of 11,275,000 people and a total area of 42,803 square miles. It was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus and he claimed Cuba for Spain (Cuban Profile-Timeline). Spain declared war for independence in 1868 to 1878 before abolishing slavery. Another war was declared and the United States was involved before Cuba became independent in 1902 (Cuban Profile-Timeline). The current leader is Raúl Castro. He became leader after his brother Fidel Castro step down from power in 2008. Fidel Castro resigned from power due to his failing health. He will, however, still remain active in politics

However, Cuba also has a large agriculture economy, including sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, and livestock (Cuba Facts, Cuba Flag). Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the aid, it provided, Cuba has limped along economically, relying on tourism to gain any money possible (James Mckinley). The United States has a trade embargo on Cuba, meaning the U.S. does not trade with the country of Cuba, but this has not stopped Cuba from trading with Canada and Mexico. Cuba is ruled a totalitarian communist state, meaning the government controls all aspects of life. Fidel Castro, former President of Cuba, denounced the United States and searched for support from other communist countries (Castro and Communism in Cuba). However, in southeastern Cuba, the United States maintains a constant presence at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba Facts, Cuba Flag). Average temperatures in Cuba seldom fall below 60°F or exceed 100°F. The climate is semitropical or temperate. Cuba's eastern coast is often hit by hurricanes from August to October (Cuba – Climate). These hurricanes cause great economic loss to Cuba. The coolest month is January while the warmest month is July (Sara Elliott). Annually, Cuba averages 52 inches of rain

The national dish is ropa vieja. This dish consists of shredded steak, black beans, yellow rice, plantains, and fried yucca. A popular Cuban dish is Pernil Relleno de Moros y Chistianos, which is a pork shoulder and stewed black beans with rice (Laura Torres). Popular drinks in Cuba are coffee, rum, and soft drinks. Most Cuban dishes are sautéed or slow-cooked over a low flame and very little is deep fried (Danielle Rosario). A large portion of these dishes contain at least one form of meat (beef, chicken, or pork) and are grilled over an open flame. Also, most Cuban dishes contain many vegetables, rice, and spices (Danielle Rosario). These dishes are very healthy because all of the ingredients are either home-grown or bought fresh from a farmers' market. A popular dessert in Cuba is flan, a pie/tart often with a custard base, and arroz con leche, rice pudding (Sara