The Cuban Revolution

The Cuban Revolution Fulgencio Batista was a Cuban army Officer who had taken control of the island of the nation of Cuba - During Batista regime sugar dominated Cuba’s economy. Tourism and gambling played a key factor. - US investments is Sugar mills - Batista supported heavily by upper class of cuba - In 1959 was overthrown in the Cuban revolution

Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro - Son of Successful Spanish immigrant - Studied law in the US and in Cuba - Graduated with a law degree in 1950 - In 1952 Castro ran for the Cuban congress, but troops led by Batista Stopped the election and Batista took control of the government. - Led an attack on a military barracks with his brother Raul. - Both were jailed 22 months before being exiled in Mexico. - While in Mexico Castro met a young argentine doctor named Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Together three of them trained a group of revolutionary rebels with plans of attacking Batista’s government in Cuba.

Che, Raul and Fidel

Life under Castro - Castro was favored by the lower and middle classes of Cuba because he promised many reforms. (Reforms: Education, Agriculture, Improve health care, restore civil liberties and hold open elections. Most importantly he wanted to free Cuba from American influence) - At the end of 1959 Castro became a dictator. He made Marxist land reforms that redistributed income and property. - He took control of almost all US businesses on the island. - Castro and the soviet Union became close allies because the similar styles of the government.

Bay of Pigs - Castro seized US oil refineries after they refused to process fuel from the Soviets. - As a result of the US refused to import sugar - Fidel then seized more US property on the island. - January 1961 President Eisenhower broke off US diplomatic relations in Cuba. - The US CIA began to support and train Cuban exiles in Guatemala. These Cubans would return to the island to overthrow Castro and his regime. -The rebels landed in the Bay of Pigs, but lacked support from the US military and the anti-Castro from the citizens of Cuba. - The invasion was put down by Castro’s forces and as a result Castro moved close to the Soviets.

Bay of Pigs

Cuba and the Cold War - Fearing another attack from the US, Castro allowed the soviets to build a Nuclear Missile Sites on the Island. - The Cuban missile crisis followed. - Soviets agreed to remove missiles if US promises not to invade Cuba.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Background to the Crisis Castro had become leader of Cuba after leading a Communist revolution in the Country. Cuban exiles, trained and assisted by the US, tried to Invade Cuba and usurp Castro. However, the Cuban exiles were defeated and Castro asked Khrushchev for help in defending the island.

Cuban Missile Crisis Khrushchev agreed to place nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba in 1962. This was deemed unacceptable the US, who declared that an attack by Cuba would be seen as an attack from the USSR. President Kennedy set up a naval blockade of the island to stop any- more missiles from entering Cuba. Eventually, Khrushchev backed down which was seen as weakness and humiliation by the Soviet union.

Overall Khrushchev foreign policy was contradictory. -On the one hand he advocated “peaceful coexistence” with the US but on the other he intended to place nuclear missiles on their back door (in Cuba) -The step down during the Cuban Missile Crisis was a contributing factor to Khruschev’s outing