| Show A HISTORY OF CUBA spain colonized the island in 1511 in 1534 and again in 1554 havana was destroyed by the french matanzas was the first city to fall into the bands of the insurgents cruelty and injustice to the natives has always been the creed of the span lards the present revolution began february when the republic was proclaimed by marti in 1848 president polk offered spain far the island which offer was refused the constitution of cuba modeled on that of the united states was adopted september 23 1895 the revolution of 1868 lasted ten years before spain succeeded in compromising by promising reforms A triangular blue union having a single star and five stripes three of red and two of white Is the flag of the republic very little reliable news of the present insurrection can be obtained owing to the censorship of the press and the mendacity of the leaders of both eides the firsts cerious revolution took place in 1848 under the leadership of narciso lopez who in 1851 repeated his attempts to free the island from spanish control |
