Cuban Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers
Where does the name Cuba come from?
A: The Taíno language.
The exact meaning of the name Cuba is unclear but it may be
translated as what?
A: Either as 'where fertile land is abundant', or 'great place'.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, who inhabited Cuba?
A: Cuba was inhabited by American Indian
people known as the Taíno, Guanajatabey
and Ciboney people before the arrival of the Spanish.
The ancestors of these Native Americans migrated from where
centuries earlier?
A: The mainland of North, Central and South America.
In what year was the first Spanish settlement was founded
by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar at Baracoa?
A: 1511.
The future capital of San Cristobal de la Habana was
founded in what year?
A: 1515.
In 1529, a measles outbreak in Cuba killed how many of the
native population?
A: Two-thirds.
On September 1, 1548, who was was appointed governor of
Cuba?
A: Dr. Gonzalo Perez de Angulo.
When he arrived in Santiago, Cuba on November 4, 1549, what
did he immediately declare?
A: The liberty of all natives.
Dr. Gonzalo Perez de Angulo became Cuba's first permanent
governor who resided where?
A: Havana instead of Santiago.
The Governor also built Havana's first what?
A: Church made of masonry.
In 1762 a British expedition of five warships and 4,000
troops set out from Portsmouth to capture what country?
A: Cuba.
The British war ships arrived on the 6th June, and by
August had Havana under what?
A: Siege.
The arrival of the British immediately opened up what with
their North American and Caribbean colonies?
A: Trade.
Food,
horses and other goods flooded into the city, and
thousands of slaves from West Africa were transported to the island to work on
what?
A: The undermanned sugar plantations.
What was the population of Cuba in 1817?
A: 630,980.
Of the 630,980 people, how many were white?
A: 291,021.
How many of the population were black?
A: 224,268.
Why is Carlos Manuel de Céspedes known as Father of the
Homeland in Cuba?
A: He declared the nation's
independence from
Spain in 1868.
Over the decades, what four US presidents tried to buy the island from Spain?
A: Polk, Buchanan, Grant, and McKinley.
After the Spanish-American War, Spain and the United States
signed what treaty?
A: Treaty of Paris (1898).
In the treaty, Spain ceded Puerto Rico, the
Philippines,
and Guam to the United States for how much money?
A: The sum of $20 million.
Cuba gained formal independence from the U.S. on what date?
A: May 20, 1902, as the Republic of Cuba.
Under Cuba's new constitution, the U.S. retained the right
to do what?
A: Intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances and foreign
relations.
Under the Platt Amendment, the U.S. leased what from Cuba.
A: The Guantánamo Bay naval base.
Who was the first president of Cuba?
A: Tomás Estrada Palma.
In 1908, self-government was restored when who was elected
President?
A: José Miguel Gómez.
In 1924, who was elected president?
A: Gerardo Machado.
During his administration, tourism increased markedly, and
American-owned hotels and restaurants were built to accommodate the influx of
what?
A: Tourists.
In September 1933, the Sergeants' Revolt, led by who,
overthrew Cespedes?
A: Sergeant Fulgencio Batista.
Batista, dominated Cuban politics for the next how many
years?
A: 25.
In 1940 a new constitution was adopted, which engineered
radical progressive ideas, including the right to what?
A: Labor and
health care.
Batista was elected president in 1940, holding the post
until when?
A: 1944.
