Afikoman (Hebrew: ×Ö²×¤Ö´××§×Ö¹×Ö¸×â, based on Greek epikomon [á¼Ïá½¶ Îºá¿¶Î¼Î¿Î½] or epikomion [á¼ÏÎ¹ÎºÏÎ¼Î¹Î¿Î½], meaning that which comes after or dessert)[1] is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal.
Cuba Gains Independence Cuba was a Spanish colony until Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War. The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence but the United States had a bigger role than Spain. In the nineteenth century, many Americans believed in Manifest Destiny, an idea the United States should control or influence North and South America and the Caribbean islands.
Spanish American War. America went to war against Spain to free Cuba from Spanish domination. But the war provided the United States an opportunity to seize overseas possessions and begin building an American empire. After ousting Spain from Cuba, the United States seized Puerto Rico. And subsequently it annexed the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, and Wake Island, followed by Hawaii.