Socialist Healthcare Policy and Demographic change in Cuba

Abstract

Cuba is the largest island of the Caribbean situated in the Western Hemisphere. The history of Cuba starts with the discovery of it by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and later by the conquest and colonization by Spain in 1512. The Guanahatabey, Ciboney, and Taíno were the indigenous tribes of Cuba but soon were eliminated due to war, disease and many other factors. After the conquest of Cuba by the Spaniards, Spanish culture and religion prevailed in Cuba. Cuba became the hub of agricultural production and trading transit point for the Spanish fleets. Due to the brutal colonization of Cuba the local population almost got extinct which created a severe shortage of labor in Cuba. So in the 16th century the first African slaves were brought in Cuba. In 19th century Cuba emerged as one of the wealthiest colony in the Americas due to large and profitable sugar plantations. In the same time period the independence of United States its economic interests in Cuba, growing nationalism and strong resentment against Spanish authoritarianism among Cubans gave rise to the independence movement