Transcript The History of Modern Cuba

SS6H3a – Student will be able to explain
the impact of the Cuban Revolution
The Cuban “Melodrama”
For about 400
years Spain
ruled Cuba. In
1898, the
United States
helped defeat
Spain in Cuba’s
struggle for
independence.
The Spanish-American War: 1898
Remember the Maine!
To Hxxx with Spain!
The United States
battleship Maine was sent
to Havanna harbor in 1898
to protect Americans due to
fighting on the island. It
was sunk by Spain. US
declared war and won the
battle in August 1898.
American Soldiers in Cuba
in 1902
Spain gave up power and a US military government ruled the
island until 1902.
Cuban “Independence?”
Senator
Orville Platt
Platt Amendment (1903)
1. Cuba was not to enter into any agreements with
foreign powers that would endanger its independence.
2. The U.S. could intervene in Cuban affairs if
necessary to maintain an efficient, independent govt.
3. Cuba must lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. for
naval and coaling station.
4. Cuba must not build up an excessive public debt.
Fulgencio
Batista
Batista led a revolutionary
group in 1933 which took
control of the government.
He ruled as a dictator until
1959 when he was
overthrown by a young
revolutionary named Fidel
Castro.
Fidel Castro as a
Young
Revolutionary
What were some of Castro’s
reforms?
• Castro’s government claimed ownership of
American owned businesses.
• Farms, factories, and businesses owned by
Cubans became government property.
• Castro had all Batista supporters arrested (most
executed by firing squad, some spent decades in
prison).
• Cubans no longer had the right to protest against
the government.
• Cuban newspapers, radio, and television were
shutdown. Government became the source of all
news.
• Churches were closed, and all church property
was taken by the government.
the United States responds and the
Cold War heats up…
• Because of these harsh events the United States
placed an embargo on Cuban goods.
The Soviet Union became friends with Cuba…
* Bought Cuba’s sugarcane each year
* Supplied Cuba weapons and other goods to Cuba
* Soviet Union educated young Cubans
* Soviet Union trained Cuba’s military
• United States did not allow travel by Americans to and
from Cuba. It also tried to keep other countries from
trading with Cuba.
* Cuba tried to spread Communism into Latin America
The Bay of Pigs Fiasco: 1961
In April 1961 Cuban
exiles were promised
direct military action,
including air cover, to
insure the success of
an invasion. Instead
JFK refused to send
the aid (although he
approved the invasion)
and Castro’s forces
crushed the invasion
and captured most of
the exiles. Exiles were
later released in
exchange for
nonmilitary supplies …
The Bay of Pigs Fiasco: 1961
The US “Lays an Egg?”
Cuba is 90 Miles
from the Florida Coast
A Soviet “Client-State”
The Cuban
Missile Crisis:
October,
1962
Soviet-Cuban Construction
Soviet-Cuban Construction
Global Thermal Nuclear War?
Range of the Cuban Missiles
What’s the Message?
Identify the leaders in the above political cartoon. Describe the
meaning of the cartoon in light of events in Cuba in 1962.
Cuban Exiles in Miami
The Cuban “Boat People”
The Cuban Adjustment
Act - 1966
The Refugee “Problem” Today
Analyze the
political cartoon
on the left. What
symbols do you
recognize?
Determine the
meaning based
on the symbols
represented and
the countries
mentioned in the
caption.
Castro at the United Nations
US Embargo of Cuba
Fidel Castro Today
Fidel Castro is rarely seen in
public these days. How do the
pictures in recent years portray
the communist leader?
The Cuban People Today
Under Castro’s rule the Cuban people have some benefits …
Hospitals and schools were improved.
Women and blacks became better educated and had better jobs
BUT>Most parts of people’s lives are controlled by the government
People who practiced their Christian religion were
discriminated against.
Although everyone was guaranteed a wage the income of most
Cubans was low.
Today, the country is one of the poorest in the region and its people
live in one of the least free countries in the world