Why Obama's visit to Cuba is a big deal

A Cuban magazine shows Obama depicted in the style of Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara

You've probably seen President Obama's visit to Cuba being described as "historic".

That's because it's part of a huge shift in the relationship between the US and Cuba.

The last sitting US president to visit the Caribbean island was Calvin Coolidge. That was in 1928 - 14 presidents ago.

So why is it so important that Obama is visiting this small country of 11 million people?

And why is he making the trip now?

Almost 90 years ago President Coolidge arrived on the battleship USS Texas. Barack Obama flew in on Air Force One

The Cuban revolution

Cuba and America were friends until 1959, when two brothers - Fidel and Raul Castro - grabbed power.

The Castro regime then claimed all US businesses in Cuba for itself. That was part of the government's plan to turn private property into public, or government run property.

That included everything from radio stations to housing.

In response Washington broke off all diplomatic ties with Cuba. They blanked them.

US trade with Cuba was banned and it's been that way for more than 50 years.

Shops in Cuba are cashing in on Obama's visit

Havana locals watch the coverage of Obama's visit on TV

The Cold War

In 1961, the US helped invade Cuba and tried to kick the Castros out of power, but the Americans were beaten.

The Cubans then made friends with a country called the Soviet Union, who were enemies of the US. The Soviets then put missiles on Cuba.

It made the Americans nervous and the whole world came very close to war.

Ever since then the United States and Cuba haven't spoken.

USA doesn't allow Cuba to trade in certain things, which the Castros say is unfair on people living there.

It's even difficult for people from each country to visit the other.

Barack Obama and Malia Obama get caught in the Cuban rain

After the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but Cuba carried on as before.

They did toy with limited changes to the economy by allowing some businesses to be run by the public, instead of the government.

Still, nobody would be shaking hands any time soon.

Shame about the weather

Raul Castro takes over, unbans things

In 2008 Fidel Castro handed power to his brother Raul who started moving Cuba towards a system the US could agree with.

He began relaxing Cuba's communist system, lifting bans on private ownership of things like mobile phones and computers.

The ban on owning property was lifted a few years later.

The US opened an embassy in Cuba in 2015, putting the countries back on speaking terms.

Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and their daughter's Malia and Sasha are there for three days.

It's hoped the new relationship will benefit both countries.

President Obama shaking hands with President Castro