1898
In July the United States intervenes in the Cuban war. One month later, Spain capitulates to the United States. In December, Spain and the United States sign the Treaty of Paris, whereby sovereignty of Cuba is transferred to the United States.

1899-1902
The formal military occupation of Cuba by the United States commences on January 1, 1899. In 1900 a constituent assembly convenes to prepare a new constitution. In February 1901 the United States enacts the Platt Amendment and requires the Cuban constituent assembly to incorporate the statute into the new constitution. In June, the constituent assembly adopts the Platt Amendment by a vote of 16 to 11, with four abstentions. In national elections in December 1901, Tomas Estrada Palma is elected president. On May 20, 1902, the United States ends the military occupation of Cuba, formally inaugurating the Cuban republic.

1903
The United States and Cuba sign three treaties. The Permanent Treaty enacts the Platt Amendment into a formal treaty relationship. A second accord, the Reciprocity Treaty, concedes a 20 percent concession to Cuban agricultural products entering the U.S. market in exchange for reductions between 20 to 40 percent on U.S. imports. In the third agreement, Cuba leases the sites of Bahia Honda and Guantanamo to the United States. A naval base is constructed in Guantanamo.

1905
President Estrada Palma obtains a second presidential term by defeating Liberal candidate Jose Miguel Gomez in a disputed election.

1906
In the "August Revolution" disgruntled Liberals rebel against Estrada Palma. The Cuban government is unable to defeat the insurgents and requests U.S. military intervention.

1906-9
The United States military occupies Cuba and governs the island through a provisional government.

1907
The Agrupacion de Color is founded by Afro-Cubans protesting racism in the republic.

1908
In national elections held under U.S. supervision, Liberal candidate Jose Miguel Gomez wins election to a four-year presidential term (1908-12).

1912
The United States cedes its rights over Bahia Honda in exchange for larger facilities at Guantanamo Bay.

Armed rebellion by Afro-Cubans protesting political, social, and economic conditions, The revolt is brutally repressed. The United States military intervenes at the site of the conflict in Oriente province to protect North American property.

1912-20
Conservative Mario G. Menocal is elected president in 1912 for a four-year term. After a disputed presidential election in November 1916, in which Menocal won a second term, disaffected Liberals organized a rebellion in 1917, the "February Revolution." The U.S. under-takes an armed intervention in the regions of the political disorders and maintains a military presence in the eastern third of Cuba until 1922.

1917
Cuba declares war on Germany.

1920-24
Liberal President Aifredo Zayas governs Cuba. Due to political and economic problems, the first three years of the Zayas administration were under the direct control of U.S. special envoy General Enoch H. Crowder.

1920
Second National Labor Congress convenes in Havana.

"Dance of the Millions." Between February and May, the price of sugar reaches the extraordinary price of 22.5 cents per pound, only to collapse to 3.7 cents in December. The Cuban economy plunges into disarray and depression.

1923
The Veterans and Patriots Movement organizes to protest social, economic, and political conditions in the republic.

The first National Congress of Women meets in Havana.

Under the leadership of Julio Antonio Mella, the first National Congress of Students convenes in Havana.

1924
Gerardo Machado elected to his first term as president (1924-28).

1925
At the third National Labor Congress, union delegates establish the first national labor federation, the Confederacion National Obrera de Cuba (CNOC). This same year, the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) is founded.

1927
The Customs-Tariff law is enacted, providing Cuban manufacturers and industrialists substantive protectionist relief.

Opposition to Machado increases. Carlos Mendieta leads disaffected Liberals out of the party to organize the new Asociacion Union Nacionalista. University of Havana students establish the Directorio Estudiantil Universitario (DEU).

1928
Through unconstitutional means, Machado is elected unopposed to a new and extended six-year term of office.

1930
The U.S. Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act reduces the Cuban share of the U.S. sugar market, exacerbating economic conditions on the island.

The CNOC, led by Ruben Martfnez Villena, organizes a general strike in March against the Machado government. In September, student demonstrations result in the death of Rafael Trejo.

1931
Old-line political chieftains led by former Conservative president Mario G. Menocal and ex-Liberal Carlos Mendieta launch an abortive armed uprising against Machado.

1932
The first national union of sugar workers, the Sindicato Nacional de Obreros de la Industria Azucarera (SNOIA) is founded.

1933
The worsening political crisis in Cuba prompts the United States to dispatch Ambassador Sumner Welles to organize mediations between the Machado government and the opposition. The mediations commence in July. A general strike in August brings the brewing political crisis to a climax with a military coup ousting Machado and installing Carlos Manuel de Cespedes as president. In September, the "Sergeants' Revolt" led by Fulgencio Batista overthrows the Cespedes administration and aids the establishment of a new provisional government headed by Ramon Grau San Martin. Known as the "government of 100 days," the Grau regime inaugurates a wide range of social, economic, and political reforms.

1934
In January, Batista overthrows the Grau government and installs Carlos Mendieta as president. In May the United States abrogates the Platt Amendment.

Ramon Grau San Martin and others organize the first new post-Machado political party, the Partido Revolucionario Cubano (Autentico).

1935
A general strike forces the resignation of President Mendieta, who is replaced by Jose A. Barnet.

1936
Miguel Mariano Gomez is inaugurated president and within twelve months is ousted by Batista. Batista replaces him with Federico Laredo Bru, who serves the balance of the four-year term.

1938
The communist party obtains recognition as a legal political organization.

1939
The CNOC is reorganized as the Confederacion de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC).

1940
The constitution of Cuba is promulgated.

Fulgencio Batista is elected president for a four-year term.

1942
Cuba declares war on Germany, Italy, and Japan.

1944
Ramon Grau San Martin elected president for a four-year term and carries the Autentico party into power.

Communist party is reorganized and changes its name to the Partido Socialista Popular (PSP).

1947
Eduardo Chibas breaks with the Autentico party to organize a new opposition party, Partido del Pueblo Cubano (Ortodoxo).

1948
Carlos Prio Socarras is elected president for a four-year term.

1951
Eduardo Chibas commits suicide.

1952
Fulgencio Batista seizes power through a military coup and ousts the Prio administration, thereby ending constitutional government in Cuba.

1953
Fidel Castro attacks the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba. The attack fails and survivors are sentenced to fifteen-year prison terms.

1954
Running unopposed, Batista is elected to another four-year term as president.

1955
Batista proclaims a general amnesty in which Fidel Castro and other participants in the Moncada attack are released from prison. The leader of the newly organized 26 of July Movement departs for Mexico to organize armed resistance against the Batista government.

1956
Fidel Castro returns to Cuba aboard the Granma yacht and establishes guerrilla operations in the Sierra Maestra mountains of southeastern Cuba.

Colonel Ramon Barquin is arrested for organizing an anti-government plot within the armed forces. More than 200 officers are implicated in the conspiracy.

1957
In January, Fidel Castro leads the first successful guerrilla operation against the Rural Guard post at La Plata in the Sierra Maestra foothills. In March the Directorio Revolucionario led by Jose Antonio Echeverria attacks the Presidential Palace in an effort to assassinate Batista. The assault fails and Echeverria is killed. In September a naval uprising in Cienfuegos leads to the temporary seizure of the local naval station.

1958
In March, Raul Castro establishes guerrilla operations on a second front in the Sierra Cristal mountains in northern Oriente province. In the same month, the United States imposes an arms embargo against the Batista government. The attempt by the 26 of July Movement in April to topple the Batista government through a general strike fails. In May the government launches a major offensive against guerrilla forces in the Sierra Maestra. Government military operations fail, and the guerrilla columns mount a counter-offensive. In late December, a military coup led by General Eulogio Cantillo ousts Batista.

1959
A general strike in early January forces the military government to relinquish power to the 26 of July Movement. On January 8, Fidel Castro arrives in Havana. The following month, Castro becomes Prime Minister. In May the government enacts the agrarian reform bill.

1960
In May, Cuba and the Soviet Union re-establish diplomatic relations. The following month, the Cuban government nationalizes U.S. petroleum properties. In July, the United States cuts the Cuban quota. Between August and October, additional North American properties are seized, including utilities, sugar mills, banks, railroads, hotels, and factories. In mid-October, the United States imposes a trade embargo on Cuba. In the course of the year, a number of mass organizations are founded, including the militia, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the Association of Young Rebels (AIR), and the National Organization of Small Peasants (ANAP).

1961
In January the United States and Cuba sever diplomatic relations. In April the Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron) invasion fails, with some 1,200 expeditionaries taken prisoner.

The Cuban government proclaims the "Year of Education," inaugurating a national campaign to eliminate illiteracy.

1962
October 22-28: the missile crisis.

1965
The PSP is reorganized as the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).

1967
Ernesto Che Guevara is killed in Bolivia, thereby dealing Cuban advocacy of armed struggle (foquismo) a serious and irrevocable blow.

1968
Fidel Castro tacitly endorses the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, announcing the beginning of Cuban reconciliation with the Soviet Union.

The Cuban government launches the "revolutionary offensive," leading immediately to the nationalization of the remaining 57,000 small businesses and preparing for the ten-million-ton crop of 1970.

1970
The sugar harvest totals 8.5 million tons, short of the much heralded and symbolic target of ten million tons.

The economy falls into serious disarray.

1971
Poet Herberto Padilla is arrested and charged with writing counter-revolutionary literature.

1974
Poder Popular (People's Power) inaugurated in Matanzas province, establishing local elections for municipal assemblies.

1975
The Family Code is promulgated, establishing a comprehensive body of law regulating family, marriage, and divorce.

The First Party Congress convenes.

Cuban combat troops participate in the Angolan war for national liberation against Portugal.

1976
The new socialist constitution is promulgated. The government is reorganized around a Council of Ministers headed by the president. The administrative units of the island are reorganized into fourteen new provinces: Pinar del Rio, Havana, the city of Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Granma, Santiago, and Guantanamo.

1977
The United States and Cuba establish limited diplomatic relations by opening interests sections in Washington and Havana.

1978
Cuba inaugurates family reunification program, whereby Cuban exiles are permitted to return to the island for brief family visits.

1979
At the sixth Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana, Fidel Castro is elected president of the organization. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan later in the year effectively neutralizes Cuban leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement.

1980
The Mariel boatlift results in the emigration of 125,000 Cubans to Florida.

The Second Party Congress is convened.

1983
The U.S. armed intervention in Grenada results in the capture and arrest of Cuban construction workers and soldiers.

1985
The United States inaugurates Radio Marti broadcasts to Cuba. Havana responds by suspending family visits to Cuba.

1986
Limited family travel to Cuba is re-established.

The Third Party Congress is held.

1987
Cuba and the United States sign a pact whereby Cuba agrees to accept the return of 2,000 "undesirables" who arrived during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. In return, the United States agrees to accept 20,000 new Cuban immigrants annually. News of accord sparks riots among Cuban inmates in U.S. detention centers.

1989
Cuban combat troops begin evacuation of Angola.

1990
The Soviet Union proposes new trade arrangements with Cuba on hard-currency basis at real market value.

The Soviet Union replaces the ruble with the dollar as the accounting unit.

The Cuban government announces a new series of austerity measures associated with the "Special Period."

1991
The Fourth Party Congress is convened.

1992
U.S. Congress enacts the Torricelli bill, increasing trade sanctions against Cuba by prohibiting U.S. subsidiaries in third countries from trading with the island.

1993
The Cuban government legalizes dollars transactions and authorizes limited self-employment.

1994
A delegation of Cuban emigres, including representatives of opposition, hold series of meetings in Havana with government leaders.

Havana and Washington sign an agreement whereby the United States authorizes the legal immigration of 20,000 individuals annually and in return Cuba pledges to control illegal immigration.

(*) Taken from Louis Perez, Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution (2nd. edition, Oxford University Press, 1995).