Cuba: After Independence

• After its independence from Spain in 1898, Cuba became the richest country in the Caribbean. Sugar planters made money selling to the U.S. Hotels and casinos were built, and tourists enjoyed vacationing on this beautiful island.

• What other than the hotels and casinos made Cuba desirable?

• - location (close to U.S.)

• - climate (mild, sunny, warm)

• - rich soil for farming

• Not all Cubans shared the country’s wealth. Most farm and factory workers earned low wages. Cuba also had many harsh leaders who ruled as dictators, or someone who has complete power.

Batista 1952-58

• Batista decided to run for president in the 1952 election. Realizing his chances of winning were slim, Batista and his army buddies staged a military coup (takeover) in 1952. He ruled Cuba as a dictator until 1958. Cubans were frustrated because there were now no free elections or a free press.

Fulgencio Batista• Batista ruled Cuba as a

dictator from 1952 until 1958.

• Why did the U.S. support his government?

• The U.S. held high financial stakes in the sugarcane plantations, hotels, and casinos.

• How did the people in Cuba feel about this leader?

• The chosen few associated with Batista had plenty.

• Most of the Cuban population lived in extreme poverty and in fear of Batista.

Cuban Revolution1952-1958

Fidel Castro

• In 1953, Castro led his first attack against Batista’s rule. Castro’s attempt failed and he was captured, tried in the court system, and thrown in jail. He fled to Mexico when he was released in 1955.

• Castro would NOT give up – He returned to Cuba in 1956 and led another attack. He failed a second time.

• This time Castro fled to the Cuban mountains where he hid. From his hideout in the mountains, he and his followers waged guerrilla warfare against Batista for the next two years until Castro took over early in 1959, naming himself dictator.

Why did Cubans support Castro?

• Most Cubans were living in fear under Batista and they wanted a change.

• Castro promised to bring back free elections and a free press. He also claimed that his government wanted more foreign investment in Cuba, and that no private businesses or land would be taken away.

• .

What really happened:• In reality, Castro• - signed a law that took

land & businesses away from foreign owners.

• - took control of telephone and utility services.

• - banned gambling and shut down or destroyed casinos.

• These actions of Castro were considered anti-American.

• Cuba became a Communist country in the early 1960s.

• Castro nationalized all property in Cuba, including businesses and farms without payment to those who lost their property.

• In other words, the Cuban government gained control of all private businesses.

• Fearing that the U.S. would invade for having billions of dollars worth of property stolen, Castro allied with the Soviet Union (USSR) and declared themselves a Communist state.

Wealthy Cuban’s Reaction to Castro’s Takeover

• LEAVE!

• Flee to a free market economy (but what about their possessions?)

Impact of Castro’s takeover

1. The country of Cuba became Communist.

2. They developed close ties with the Soviet Union.

3. Most of their land and businesses were nationalized (became govt. property).

4. Cuba became an enemy of the United States.

January, 1961 – The U.S. supported Cuban exiles who tried to invade Cuba to overthrow Castro’s government. They were unsuccessful. Mission failed! This invasion took place at the

Bay of Pigs.

Cuban Missile Crisis - 1962

Cause of Cuban Missile Crisis

• U.S. discovered that the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) had installed ballistic missiles on Cuba that were capable of carrying nuclear warheads and were pointed at the U.S.

U.S. blockaded Cuba (set

up a blockade) to

keep supplies from the

USSR from being

delivered to Cuba.

Effects of Cuban Missile Crisis

• After political negotiations between President John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier (leader) of the U.S.S.R., the Soviets removed the nuclear missiles from Cuba.

• U.S. agreed to end the blockade of Cuba. Also they agreed to remove ballistic missiles from Turkey and promised not to make any further attempts to invade Cuba.

A nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States was avoided!!!

Tension continued to exist between the United States versus Cuba and the Soviet Union.

• The United States ended the blockade, but it established a trade embargo on Cuba.

Embargo

• As Castro’s rule became more harsh, more Cubans wanted to leave. Many fled, leaving families and possessions behind.

• Can you imagine what it would be like to leave everything you owned behind, including possibly some family members?

Why did Cubans want to flee?

• - poor economy• - lack of personal

freedoms• - rationing of goods

and services• - total government

control

• As U.S. policies toward Cuba hardened, this increased Cuba’s dependence upon the Soviet Union. Cuba plunged into a period of severe hunger and hardship when the U.S.S.R. dissolved in 1991 and no longer provided them with financial aid.

Castro ruled since 1959, but is currently in failing health.

CASTRO’S CUBA• Castro was the

dictator of Communist Cuba for 49 years. There were eleven U.S. presidents during Castro’s rule of Cuba. He has outlived the majority of them.

Raul, Fidel’s brother, is currently in charge of Cuba.

• The world does not think that radical democratic change will take place under Raul Castro. However, this is an opening – one that has not appeared in nearly half a century.

What have we learned?

• Neighbors can quickly become enemies

• Government choices directly affect the wealth of a country

• Communism does NOT support the people