Cuba and U.S. Relations- Past and Present Taylor Holmstrom and Blake Valentino

Revolution Leader Fidel Castro Breaks Ties with U.S. and Allies Himself with the Soviet Union In the beginning the U.S welcomed Cuba In the beginning the U.S welcomed Cuba But later Castro put a lot of people in Jail and created tribunals But later Castro put a lot of people in Jail and created tribunals Castro broke the Military Pact with the U.S Castro broke the Military Pact with the U.S

Continued Cuba confiscated U.S asset Cuba confiscated U.S asset Then established Soviet-style collective farms Then established Soviet-style collective farms This made the U.S break relations on January 3, 1961 This made the U.S break relations on January 3, 1961 Castro created an alliance with the Soviet union and many Cubans fled the country Castro created an alliance with the Soviet union and many Cubans fled the country

Bay of Pigs Disaster With the help of the United States, a group of Cuban exiles invaded Cuba in With the help of the United States, a group of Cuban exiles invaded Cuba in President John Kennedy approved the plan, but provided no air support for the U.S. President John Kennedy approved the plan, but provided no air support for the U.S.

Continued The project was a failure The project was a failure Invaders did not receive support from Cuba Invaders did not receive support from Cuba Cuban military took action quickly, ending the operation’s success Cuban military took action quickly, ending the operation’s success Many Cuban exiles were either imprisoned or executed Many Cuban exiles were either imprisoned or executed

Soviet-Missile Crisis The Soviet-Missile crisis held in 1962 The Soviet-Missile crisis held in 1962 Soviets attempted to install medium range missiles in Cuba Soviets attempted to install medium range missiles in Cuba The missiles were able to strike the U.S. with nuclear warheads The missiles were able to strike the U.S. with nuclear warheads

Continued The U.S thought that they were going to start a nuclear war The U.S thought that they were going to start a nuclear war The U.S created a Blockade tom stop the missile delivery The U.S created a Blockade tom stop the missile delivery Khrushchev had the missile sites dismantled Khrushchev had the missile sites dismantled The U.S pledged they wouldn’t attack Cuba The U.S pledged they wouldn’t attack Cuba

In Poor Health Castro Announces His Retirement Fidel Castro told the public that he was not healthy enough to campaign again Fidel Castro told the public that he was not healthy enough to campaign again Castro had just had surgery seventeen months before Castro had just had surgery seventeen months before Castro was not actually taken out of the election Castro was not actually taken out of the election

Continued During the 2008 Parliamentary elections both Castro brothers were reelected to the National Assembly During the 2008 Parliamentary elections both Castro brothers were reelected to the National Assembly Castro retired after 49 years of power in February 2008 Castro retired after 49 years of power in February 2008 His brother Raul became the 21 st president of Cuba His brother Raul became the 21 st president of Cuba

Cubans Begin to Win Small Freedoms International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights were signed. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights were signed. Political, civil freedom Political, civil freedom Right to work Right to work Fare wages Fare wages Social security Social security Education Education Physical and mental health standards high Physical and mental health standards high

Continued Relaxed land restrictions for private farmers Relaxed land restrictions for private farmers Boost food production Boost food production Reduce dependence on food imports Reduce dependence on food imports Castro released 52 political prisoners Castro released 52 political prisoners Activists and journalists working for United States Activists and journalists working for United States

Cuba Takes Possible Steps Toward a New Leader Not Named Castro First non-Castro brother in over 50 years- José Ramón Machado First non-Castro brother in over 50 years- José Ramón Machado Second highest position in Communist Party Second highest position in Communist Party More private enterprise in Cuba More private enterprise in Cuba More approved jobs More approved jobs Buying and selling cars legal since 2011 Buying and selling cars legal since 2011 People have their own businesses People have their own businesses

Continued People allowed to own one home in city and one in country People allowed to own one home in city and one in country Government pardoned over 2900 prisoners Government pardoned over 2900 prisoners 86 were foreigners 86 were foreigners Alan Gross still imprisoned for distributing satellite cell phone equipment Alan Gross still imprisoned for distributing satellite cell phone equipment His actions caused problems between US and Cuba His actions caused problems between US and Cuba

Pope Makes Long-Awaited Visit March 26, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI pays 3 day visit to Cuba March 26, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI pays 3 day visit to Cuba Tension between church and Cuban government Tension between church and Cuban government Believed Cuba deserved freedom Believed Cuba deserved freedom Convinced that Cuba was moving towards bigger and better things for future Convinced that Cuba was moving towards bigger and better things for future

Continued Over 200,000 attended Mass in Santiago de Cuba Over 200,000 attended Mass in Santiago de Cuba People as far as Miami People as far as Miami Many pressured by communists Many pressured by communists Anyone who made negative remarks regarded the government was removed Anyone who made negative remarks regarded the government was removed

Exit Visa Requirement is Dropped October 16, 2012 government announced in early 2013 Cubans would no longer required to have exit visa to leave country October 16, 2012 government announced in early 2013 Cubans would no longer required to have exit visa to leave country Cubans longed for this change, promised by President Raul Castro Cubans longed for this change, promised by President Raul Castro

Continued Cubans can go wherever they want, for however long they want Cubans can go wherever they want, for however long they want Can stay abroad up to two years before the loss of citizenship and benefits Can stay abroad up to two years before the loss of citizenship and benefits Stopped only for national security reasons Stopped only for national security reasons New, tighter control for political dissidents New, tighter control for political dissidents

Cuba Resumes Diplomatic Relations with U.S. December 17, 2014 Alan Gross is released with approval from humanitarian grounds December 17, 2014 Alan Gross is released with approval from humanitarian grounds President Obama decided to resume all relations with Cuba for their good deed President Obama decided to resume all relations with Cuba for their good deed

Continued No diplomatic relations between the two nations since 1961 No diplomatic relations between the two nations since 1961 Negotiation lasted 18 months in secret Negotiation lasted 18 months in secret Pope Francis hosted meeting for the two of them Pope Francis hosted meeting for the two of them

A New Era for U.S. and Cuba The United States will now send a new ambassador to Cuba to help end the economic hardship. The United States will now send a new ambassador to Cuba to help end the economic hardship. The U.S. has also promised to make traveling easier for Cuban Americans. The U.S. has also promised to make traveling easier for Cuban Americans. Cubans will have an easier time communicating around the world. Cubans will have an easier time communicating around the world. Alan Gross was released after being imprisoned for years on end. Alan Gross was released after being imprisoned for years on end.

How might the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. be changing? In your opinion, is this good or bad? Since the 1960’s the relationship between the United States and Cuba has not been the best. Trade between the two nations was blocked for almost six decades. Since the 1960’s the relationship between the United States and Cuba has not been the best. Trade between the two nations was blocked for almost six decades. Now, with Barack Obama as president, he has mended the relationship between them. Now, with Barack Obama as president, he has mended the relationship between them.

Works Cited Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 22 Dec Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 22 Dec Prince, Sean. "All Classroom Magazines." A New Era for the U.S. And Cuba. Scholastic News, 19 Dec Web. 22 Dec Prince, Sean. "All Classroom Magazines." A New Era for the U.S. And Cuba. Scholastic News, 19 Dec Web. 22 Dec