In 1898, the United States declared war on Spain, and one of the main objectives was to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris, which granted Cuba its independence, but the U.S. also gained control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Despite the promise of independence, the U.S. maintained a strong presence in Cuba, and in 1901, the Platt Amendment was added to the Cuban constitution. This amendment gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs, and it also allowed the U.S. to establish naval bases on the island.

Over the next few decades, the U.S. continued to exert its influence in Cuba, often through the use of force. In 1933, a group of Cuban revolutionaries led by Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government, and the U.S. recognized the new regime.

However, in the 1950s, a new revolutionary movement emerged in Cuba, led by Fidel Castro. The U.S. initially supported Castro, but as his government became more socialist and aligned with the Soviet Union, the U.S. began to view him as a threat.

In 1961, the U.S. attempted to overthrow Castro’s government with the Bay of Pigs invasion. The invasion was a failure, and it only served to strengthen Castro’s grip on power.

Despite the failure of the Bay of Pigs, the U.S. continued to maintain a strong presence in Cuba, and it wasn’t until the 2010s that relations between the two countries began to thaw. Today, the U.S. and Cuba have diplomatic relations, but the legacy of U.S. imperialism in Cuba is still felt by many.