In the 17th century, sugar was emerging as the most important Cuban export. The cultivation of sugarcane was expanded and production of coffee began. (D) Since productions were expanded, more cheap labor was needed, so the Spanish crown encouraged the importation of slaves. The Havana Company was established for importing slaves in 1740, but it was not successful. (C) In response to the awful treatment of slaves, José Antonio Aponte planned a revolt, but was discovered and beheaded. Havana was the political, cultural, and economic center of the island. It was captured by the British in 1762 during the Seven Years’ War (or the French and Indian War in America), but they turned control back to Spain the following year. Britain used the year they had Havana to establish trade ties between Cuba and colonies in North America. (D) Between the years of 1838 and 1880, the sugar industry had become the most mechanized in the world. Steam mills and railroads had been put to use, small farmers became useless, and forests were destroyed. By 1850, sugar had become four-fifths of all Cuban exports, and in the decade that followed, Cuba was producing one-third of the world’s sugar. The sugar production was so successful that it led to a new class of wealthy plantation owners who needed labor, leading to the hiring of Mexican Indians and Chinese contract workers. (A)
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