People

By: Cole Murray __Fidel Castro__: Born on August 13th, 1926 in Brian, Cuba. Known for being ruthless and cruel, traits that were passed to him from earlier family. Angel Castro, Fidel's father, always ruled his farm strictly and harshly, traits Fidel learned to imitate. when Fidel was 5 years old, he was sent to live with his and a teacher in Santiago de Cuba. The teacher he lived with punished him frequently, and threatened to send him to boarding school. Catro decided that he wanted to go to boarding school so he purposely broke all the rules until his godfather and teacher sent him, it was his first major rebellion, with many more to come. Castro went on to study law at Havana Universe from 1949 to 1950. While studying he became fascinated with politics. He knew how to capture peoples imagination with his words. He joined a political party that wanted to end the corruption in Cuba. He eventually had to bring a gun to his classes because he became so powerful that he had to protect himself. Eventually, Castro led vast protests against the government at the university. Castro made up his mind and had dropped law, and and made his perfect entrance into the political world, when most cubans all over the world, including cubans who had residence in the united states, felt disgust and disgraceful toward Batista. Castro was able to overthrow the prior dictator of cuba, Flugencio Batista, through a series of crucial events and the support of cuban people. Batista ruled cuba from 1940 to 1944, but lost his elections in 44' and in 52'. Castro triumphantly entered Havana on January 1, 1959 and formed a new government. His army of 800 guerilla fighters had defeated Batista's cuban army of thousands. Castro now had control over cuba. During his first speech, a white dove landed on his shoulder, after somebody released them. Many cubans believed this was a sign saying that he would be an excellent leader, what cuba desperately needed. Once in the seat of power, Fidel led a Cuban revolution. It took place from 1959 to 1961.
 * CUBA:**



__Raul Castro__: The world's longest-serving defence minister, took over as president in February 2008, succeeding his ailing brother Fidel, who had been in power for five decades. Raul, was once known as an iron-fisted ideologue who executed Fidel Castro's orders and enemies - ruthlessly. Raul Castro has also eased some restrictions on personal freedoms by lifting bans on mobile phones and home computers.

__Diego de Velazquez__: The official founder of the colony of Cuba.

__Wyclef Jean__: A big and popular musician in Haiti.
 * Haiti**:

__François "Papa Doc" Duvalier__: Dominated political life between 1957 and 1971. He was an initially popular, but very brutal, dictator.

__Jean Bertrand Aristide__: In 1991, he won the presidency with an overwhelming majority of the popular vote. Aristide was deposed seven months later in a military coup. Then the United Nations imposed an embargo on all international trade with Haiti. In 1994, threatened with the invasion by United States forces, the military junta relinquished control to an international peacekeeping force. The Aristide government was reestablished, and since 1995 an ally of Aristide, Rene Preval, has ruled the government.