The Cuban RevolutionThe Cuban Revolution

CubaCuba

Cuba is an island Cuba is an island nation located nation located 90 miles south of 90 miles south of Florida. For this Florida. For this reason, the US reason, the US has always been has always been interested in interested in what happens in what happens in Cuba. Cuba.

Changes for CubaChanges for Cuba Spanish-American War of 1898 led to Spanish-American War of 1898 led to

changes for Spain. changes for Spain. The U.S. declared war on Spain to help The U.S. declared war on Spain to help

people gain freedom from Spanish rule. people gain freedom from Spanish rule. The U.S. wanted to protect American The U.S. wanted to protect American

businesses in the sugarcane plantations. businesses in the sugarcane plantations. The U.S. won the war and Spain gave up The U.S. won the war and Spain gave up

Puerto Rico and Cuba. Puerto Rico and Cuba. Puerto Rico is a territory under the U.S. Puerto Rico is a territory under the U.S.

(dependency) (dependency)

Changes for CubaChanges for Cuba Cuba became independent from Spain, Cuba became independent from Spain,

but remained under U.S. control until but remained under U.S. control until 1902. 1902.

The U.S. established a new governmentThe U.S. established a new government The U.S. set up a military base on The U.S. set up a military base on

Guantanamo Bay, which is still in Guantanamo Bay, which is still in operation today. operation today.

For the next 50 years, Cuba had a series For the next 50 years, Cuba had a series of leaders. of leaders.

Some were elected and some took over Some were elected and some took over as dictators. as dictators.

Fulgencio Batista Fulgencio Batista Even though the Even though the

country of Cuba was country of Cuba was very wealthy, most of very wealthy, most of the people were the people were extremely poor. extremely poor.

Cubans were Cubans were continually angry continually angry with their with their government.government.

In the late 1950’s the In the late 1950’s the leader was Fulgencio leader was Fulgencio Batista. Batista.

The USA liked The USA liked Batista because Batista because American American businesses traded businesses traded a lot with Cuba. We a lot with Cuba. We bought most of bought most of Cuba’s sugar cane.Cuba’s sugar cane.

Also, Americans Also, Americans owned a lot of land owned a lot of land in Cuba. in Cuba.

Cubans hated Cubans hated Batista because he Batista because he was a dictator, so was a dictator, so he had no controls he had no controls on his power.on his power.

Education and Education and health care were health care were very bad, and a lot very bad, and a lot of people in Cuba of people in Cuba were poor. were poor.

Summarizing Questions: Summarizing Questions:

Who was Fulgencio Batista?Who was Fulgencio Batista?

Who liked Batista? Why did they like him?Who liked Batista? Why did they like him?

Who disliked Batista? Why didn’t they like Who disliked Batista? Why didn’t they like him?him?

Fidel CastroFidel Castro In the late 1950s, a young lawyer In the late 1950s, a young lawyer

named Fidel Castro led a group of named Fidel Castro led a group of rebels against the corrupt rebels against the corrupt government of dictator Fulgencio government of dictator Fulgencio Batista. Batista.

This is known as the Cuban This is known as the Cuban RevolutionRevolution

The rebels defeated Batista’s army, The rebels defeated Batista’s army, and took over the government early and took over the government early in 1959. in 1959.

Fidel CastroFidel Castro Because so many Because so many

people hated Batista, people hated Batista, it was easy for Castro it was easy for Castro to find supporters.to find supporters.

Fidel Castro came to Fidel Castro came to power during the power during the Cold War. Cold War.

This was a period of This was a period of conflict between two conflict between two superpowers- The superpowers- The U.S. and the Soviet U.S. and the Soviet Union. Union.

Communist CubaCommunist Cuba Castro admired Josef Castro admired Josef

Stalin and started Stalin and started making a communist making a communist government, where government, where he controlled he controlled everything and all everything and all property was taken property was taken by the government. by the government.

Castro took AmericanCastro took American property, as well as property, as well as farms, factories, and businesses owned by farms, factories, and businesses owned by Cubans. Cubans. Castro had anyone who disagreed with him Castro had anyone who disagreed with him

executed by firing squad or they were executed by firing squad or they were imprisoned. imprisoned.

Newspapers, radio, and TV were shut down. Newspapers, radio, and TV were shut down. Churches were closed and their land and Churches were closed and their land and

property taken by Castro. property taken by Castro.

Frenemies?!?!Frenemies?!?!

The United States placed an The United States placed an

embargo on Cuban goods, embargo on Cuban goods, meaning that Cuban sugar was not sold. meaning that Cuban sugar was not sold.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union became Meanwhile, the Soviet Union became friends with Cuba. They friends with Cuba. They

bought sugar, sold bought sugar, sold weaponsweapons, ,

helped with education, and helped with education, and

trained the Cuban army. trained the Cuban army.

Good and BadGood and Bad Hospitals and Hospitals and

schools were schools were improved.improved.

Women and blacks Women and blacks were educated and were educated and got better jobs. got better jobs.

Christians were Christians were discriminated against. discriminated against.

People had a very low People had a very low incomes. incomes.

People’s lives were People’s lives were controlled by the controlled by the government. government.

The USA and CubaThe USA and Cuba The relationship between Cuba and the The relationship between Cuba and the

USA was very tense because Cuba wanted USA was very tense because Cuba wanted to spread communism in Latin America. to spread communism in Latin America.

In 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis In 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis happened when Cuba let the Soviet Union happened when Cuba let the Soviet Union bring in nuclear missiles that were close bring in nuclear missiles that were close enough to hit US cities. Eventually, the enough to hit US cities. Eventually, the Soviet Union agreed to move them out. Soviet Union agreed to move them out.

In 1991, Castro lost an important ally and In 1991, Castro lost an important ally and trading partner when the Soviet Union trading partner when the Soviet Union broke apart. broke apart.

Summarizing Questions: Summarizing Questions:

Why didn’t the United States like Why didn’t the United States like Cuba?Cuba?

Why did the Soviet Union like Cuba? Why did the Soviet Union like Cuba?

What did the Soviet Union do for What did the Soviet Union do for Cuba?Cuba?

We almost had a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the

U.S.A!

Now…Now… There is still an embargo on Cuba.There is still an embargo on Cuba. Food shortages occur in Cuba. Food shortages occur in Cuba. Often, people escape from Cuba to Often, people escape from Cuba to

Florida on boats. America allows Florida on boats. America allows 20,000 people a year to escape to the 20,000 people a year to escape to the US. US.

Summarizing Questions: Summarizing Questions:

Why was there almost a Nuclear War Why was there almost a Nuclear War between the Soviet Union and the between the Soviet Union and the United States?United States?

How did the United States try to hurt How did the United States try to hurt Cuba after Castro came to power?Cuba after Castro came to power?

Quick Quick

1. Who became leader of Cuba in 1. Who became leader of Cuba in 1959?1959?

2. What did the United States do about 2. What did the United States do about what was happening in Cuba?what was happening in Cuba?

3. Why did we almost have a nuclear 3. Why did we almost have a nuclear war in 1962?war in 1962?