Cuban Revolution

Background• December 10, 1898

Cuba gained independence

• Cuba wanted to be a republic and hold free elections.

• Many Americans invested money in Cuba by buying plantations, sugar mills, hotels, and casinos– 1952, Batista staged a

coup d’ etat (military takeover). Batista took over the government and became leader.

• Fidel Castro was the leader of the Cuban Revolution.

• His goal was to remove Batista from office.

• Castro used Guerrilla warfare– Guerrilla warfare- small, mobile

groups of non-government soldiers using tactics such as ambush, sabotage, spies, and deception to fight a larger government force such as an army or police force

• Castro defeated Batista when he fled the country.

• Castro became prime minister of Cuba in 1959.1959.

What was the Cuban Revolution?

• The world cheered for Castro because….– He promised free

elections and free press.

– He wanted more foreign investment in Cuba.

– He would not take away private businesses.

Soon people found out Castro was not going to keep those promises

What impact did Castro coming to power have on Cuba’s government?

Castro did the following:• Took away land from foreign owners.• Took control of the telephone and utility services• Banned gambling and destroyed casinos

• These things were owned by Americans and this made America very MAD

• Castro declared himself a Communist so…..

Cuba became a Communist country

What impact did Castro coming to power have on US/Cuban relations?

• The United States was not happy with Castro.

• Cuban Missile Crisis- Soviet Union had missiles in Cuba pointed towards the U.S.

• The U.S. broke off its relationship with Cuba and imposed a trade embargo.

• The embargo is still in place today.

• Many Cubans escaped Cuba and came to the U.S. – There are a lot of Cubans in Miami. It is only

90 miles from Cuba.– Many have even tried to swim to the U.S. from

Cuba.

Cuban Exiles in Miami

What impact did Castro coming to power have on the rights of Cuban

citizens?

• Freedom was taken away• No free press Newspapers, radios, and

television stations can not do and say as they please.

• No free elections The Communist Party always wins.

• Education and healthcare is free and controlled by the government.

• Many citizens have fled to the United States for FREEDOM

What impact did Castro coming to power have on Cuba’s economy?

• Government took control of business (Command Market)

• U.S. put an embargo on Cuba. It would not import or export anything from Cuba.

• Cuba relied on the exportation of sugar

• Economy suffered especially after the Soviet Union collapsed.

• The Soviet Union imported and exported with Cuba.