Harbor fortifications were built in the eighteenth century after Havana
suffered many Until the sugar and slave trades became important in Havana, the city was largely populated by Spanish colonialists who exploited the land and sent the profit to Spain. Little wealth was accumulating in Havana. But the sugar and slave trades attracted people from other areas, and some of the money began to stay in Havana. By 1850, there was a small but important United States trading community present. In the early 19th century, Cuba basically became a monoculture society, producing virtually nothing but sugar. In 1898 Cuba won independence from Spain with the help of the United States. As a result, Cuba and the U.S. were close allies politically and economically for 60 years. During this time, Cuba teetered back and forth between fragile democracies and dictatorships until Fidel Castro led a revolution against Batista in 1959. The United States then imposed an embargo against Cuba because of their Socialist regime, and it remains in place today. |
Havana was founded by a Spanish conquistador and moved to its
present location in 1519. It became the capital of Cuba in 1607. Havana
remained a Spanish colonial city until 1898. The Spanish used Havana as
a staging area for trans-Atlantic trips and as a gateway to their conquest
of the New World. Because there were few ports in Latin America, Havana
gained importance easily due to its advantageous position. It commanded
the exit of the Caribbean Sea and controlled the entrances to the Gulf of
Mexico. Therefore, the military and fortification of the harbor have been
important throughout the history of Havana because it became a focal point
for attacks.
unsuccessful attacks. The three most important fortifications
are the 
 |
 |
 |