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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
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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.
What was the Cuban Revolution? • 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.
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 Economy) • 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.