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Cuba: Hatred Close to Home. By: Isaac S. Economy of Today. GDP as of 2008: $62.7 Billion GDP per Capita: $5,596 $.9968 per Cuban Peso as of January 2011. A Long Time Ago…. Cuba was once a part of Spain
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Cuba: Hatred Close to Home By: Isaac S.
Economy of Today • GDP as of 2008: $62.7 Billion • GDP per Capita: $5,596 • $.9968 per Cuban Peso as of January 2011
A Long Time Ago… • Cuba was once a part of Spain • After the Spanish-American war(Treaty of Paris 1898), Cuba was no longer a part of Spain. • Given to United States • Cuba gained independence from US on May 20th, 1902
Some Struggle • Most of their economy focused on Agricultural exports.(Sugar = Major) • Great Depression hurt(Who wants sugar?) • Drastic Economic Regulation Expansions led to unemployment.
One After the Other • Constitutional government suspended in 1930 by Machado. Commies sided with him during strikes. • September 1933: Government Restored • 1956: Fidel Castro prepares for Revolution
Finally, Some Commies! • January 8th, 1959: Fidel’s troops entered the scene • Another Movement on 26th worked out. • Fidel Castro became Prime Minister • Osvaldo was President from July 1959 to 1976
Rather Fast “Progression” • Within one year, private property was abolished. • Closed down mafia-controlled gambling industry • Tightened Control • United States not happy about this. • 1960-1961: CIA worked with Chicago Mafia to assassinate Fidel Castro
Health Care in Cuba • Before 1959 revolution: • Highly trained doctors in healthcare • However, only in prosperous cities. • 8% had access to health care • After the revolution: • Universal Health Care priority • Eventually succeed • Free Polyclinics, Medical Care, Hospital Care, even Dental Care by 1967 • However, disease became rampant and many Cuban Doctors left(about 3000/6300) because of Communism
Little Over the Top • One Party Communist rule • By end of 1960… • All Tv and Radio stations controlled by State • Moderate teachers and professors purged • 20,000 dissenters imprisoned per year • Homosexuals, some religious practitioners and other people needing “Re-education” were sent to labor camps • Approximately 15,000 died in labor camps
US Retaliation • 1961: Bay of Pigs invasion • Plan: • Create a group of Cuban opposition outside of Cuba • Create mass intelligence communications throughout Cuba in secrecy • Gather intelligence in Cuba in preparation • Invade
Didn’t Go So Well… • Reality: • Cuba knew an invasion was going to happen • Acts of terrorism on bridges and such occurred, hoping to make it look like Cubans were the perpetrators. • American B-26 planes used, but the different noses of the planes caused the failure in their ploy. • Cuba ready for actual invasion, sunk Command Vessel “Maropa” and supply ship “Houston”. • Soviets came to Cuban aid, warning President Kennedy • Air Support never arrived because of this • Complete failure
Everyone is Dissapoint • America furious with Bay of Pigs invasion • Soviets not to happy • Cuba obviously pissed • CIA heavily criticized(despite Kennedy taking the blame publicly) • Even Kennedy blamed them for their incompetence • 1,189 people involved in invasion arrested • Had to pay $53 million in Food and Medicine to free them
Whatever Victory We Can Manage • 1961: Embargo on Cuban goods • Kept progressing until 1993, when the majority wanted it to end • Progress towards end continued until 2007, when travel between Cuba and US became possible (further progress intended) • Travel ban • Trade ban • Money to relatives ban • Ineffective against the government, harmful towards the citizens
Quite a Step Forward • After Soviet Collapse, Cuba had to deal with food shortages, but wouldn’t take American donations until 1993 • By 2008, Raul Castro took Fidel Castro’s place • Raul had been working as the leader for some time before this • In 2009, Raul removed some of Fidel’s officials. • Hopefully will stray from communism
Looking Hopeful • United States will only remove all sanctions with Cuba if they are no longer communist. • Fortunately, Raul has planned around 300 economic reforms similar to China’s in hopes to slowly stop being communist.
Works Cited • http://www.medicc.org/ns/index.php?s=11&p=0 • http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/baypigs/pigs.htm • http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/embargo.htm • http://www.walterlippmann.com/cubanconstitution.html