The Spanish 400 year domination that ended in 1898 was followed by four years of US occupation that offered Cubans their first lessons on how to govern a country. The enlightened European civilization that Spain had brought to Cuba had been blighted by selfish economic and political impositions. After 1898, the constructive years of American government control were marred by the burden of an unwelcomed Platt amendment. This book presents a series of episodes of these 400 years of Colonial Cuba. The fervent hope that Cuba would be free continues to this day in the hearts of Cubans in the island and in exile.