Cuban Revolution Extended Essay

Cuba was one of the territories that United States imperialized. The US was a heavy consumer of the sugar produced in Cuba but didn’t meet the sugar industry demands. The international market collapsed, and the US used this opportunity to purchase the sugar mills in Cuba “Cuban sugar mills into bankruptcy … sensing an opportunity, investors from the United States

Castro’s involvement with the foreign and domestic politics during the early Cold War period greatly influenced the outcome of the Cuban Revolution. Without the actions taken by foreign powers like the United States and Russia, some events on the domestic front may have had very different results. It is important to understand how every nation’s foreign policies can influence more than just one other nation, and this was especially true for Cuba. It was this mix and chain of events which produced the communist Cuba that we are familiar with today.

The United States embargo of Cuba has its roots planted in 1960, 53 years ago, when “the United States Congress authorized President Eisenhower to cut off the yearly quota of sugar to be imported from Cuba under the Sugar act of 1948… by 95 percent” (Hass 1998, 37). This was done in response to a growing

When Fidel Castro took over Cuba by means of a revolution, he quickly established his government as the first openly Communist government in the western hemisphere. He petitioned the Soviet Union for aid, which was cheerfully given him. These events went against our current policies, as well as the Monroe Doctrine, which established us as the police force of the western hemisphere. Ninety miles away from the greatest bastion of Capitalism was now residing its greatest foe. This tense situation was brought to a boiling point by the arrival of

Louis A. Pérez Jr. is an American author who wrote this source in 2002, which was four years before the end of Castro’s rule. The journal article in its entirety was made to explore how and why the US had fear of and loathing towards Fidel Castro. In the extracts, I have selected benefits and disadvantages brought about by Castro are mentioned and explored. The source, for example, mentions how Castro nationalised US property such as sugar corporations, cattle ranches, oil refineries, utilities, mines, railroads and banks. Although it may have initially created economic problems, the nationalism of US property would have been a good thing, as it would have helped Cuba feel more independent and free and therefore benefit the nation socially by creating a sense of patriotism. In another extract pulled from the same article, the four

Supporters of the legislation believe that prohibiting foreign investment will quicken Castro’s downfall. (Close Up Foundation) Many debate on the issue of why the U.S. should or shouldn’t keep the ebargo against Cuba. These debates deal with the effects of the Embargo on Cuba’s economy, humanitarian rights and health of the people of Cuba. The embargo today places a ban on subsidiary trade, Licensing, shipping and humanitarian aid. (Close Up Foundation) In 1992, the Cuban Democracy act imposed a ban on subsidiary trade with Cuba. This ban restricted Cuba’s ability to import medicines and medical supplies from third country sources. There have also been corporate buy-outs and mergers between U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies thus adding to the number of companies permitted to do business with Cuba. Under the Cuban Democracy Act, The U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments are allowed to license individual sales of medicines and medical supplies, supposedly for humanitarian reasons to make up for the embargo’s impact on health care delivery. According to the U.S. corporate executives, the licensing provisions are so tough as to have had the opposite effect. With this statement, it is assumed that there are fewer licenses given out for humanitarian reason therefore favoring the embargo and aiding in the downfall of health in Cuba. Since 1992, the embargo has prohibited ships from loading or unloading cargo in U.S. ports for 180 days after

The Cuban revolution had great domestic and international influences and reshaped Cuba’s relationship with the world, especially with United States, which continues an embargo against Cuba as of this very day. Immediately after the revolution, Cuban government started a program of nationalization and political consolidation, which ultimately transformed Cuba’s economy and society.

economic growth comes from agriculture and exports to and from Europe. Since America has had an embargo on Cuba since 1962 neither countries trade with each other because of many disagreements about governing techniques and Fidel's unwillingness to comply with U.S. instructions. Cuba’s long history and culture has contributed to many economic and social growth through out the world, but Cuba is still struggling to try to stable their economy.

One of the primary driving forces of the Cuban Revolution was the seemingly oppressive relationship between the United States government and Cuba. The United States took interest in Cuba because of the mutually profitable sugar trade; sugar was Cuba’s main export and most of it was traded to the US. Fulgencio Batista and previous Cuban leaders had the reputation of being US puppets, preventing policies such as worker’s rights which would most likely raise the price of sugar. The Cuban Revolution was in part due to disenfranchisement; the Cuban government seemed to represent the will and desires of the Americans not their own people.

In 1940 to 1944, communist Fulgencio Batista withheld power as the president of Cuba and then from 1952 to 1959, United States backed dictator until fleeing Cuba because of Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement. Socialist Fidel Castro governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Fidel Castro’s intent was to provide Cuba with an honest democratic government by diminishing the corrupt way in which the country was run, the large role the United States played in the running of Cuba as well as the poor treatment & the living conditions of the lower class.

There is evidence to suggest that Fidel Castro’s interest in Cuba’s economy was more important than ideology and was incredibly influential in the causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis. His interest in Cuba’s economy saw him decide to nationalise all American-owned companies, so that the money would be invested in Cuba by means of a national health system and major land reform. This was unsurprisingly not supported by America. This led to America ceasing all aid to Cuba and all imports of Cuban sugar which was Cuba’s main source of importation and this ultimately forced them to look to the Soviet Union for assistance. Arguably, America led Castro to become a communist state as Castro sought the help from the USSR. Before this, Castro had considered himself a socialist. America was incredibly concerned and fearful “that the Cuban Revolution might provide an example of alternative ways to develop under a difference social and economic system”(IBID, 147) and thus undermine democracy and prove socialism to

In 1959, Cubareceived 74 percent of its imports from the US, and the US received 65 percentof Cuba’s exports. On February 3, 1962, the United States imposed a fulltrade embargo on Cuba, completely ending any type of trade between the twocountries. This embargo remains in effect today, more than four decades later,and has grown ! to be a huge center of debate and controversy (DeVarona 8).Opponents to the embargo argue that the embargo does nothing more than hurt theCuban people, while proponents argue that the embargo places pressure on Castroto repair Cuba’s mismanaged and corrupt government. Both the supportersand the opponents of this embargo have strong arguments and evidence to supportthese

A revolution is known as being an activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation. Cuba during the decade of the 1950's experienced this type of rebellion in search for an enhanced and better-developed society, independent of all outside domination. Cuban citizens were at a point where they needed to be free and be able to enforce the constitution established in 1940, which included amendments stating that Cuba should be a "democratic republic…shall not conclude or ratify pacts or treaties that in any form limit or menace national sovereignty or the integrity of the territory," and such. I chose this topic because there has been so much controversy

The Cuban Revolution, which began in the early 1950’s, was an overthrow of a very corrupt government. It was an attempt to improve the conditions of the Cuban people, but the path was covered in blood and sweat and an informed historian has to ask, was it really worth it? How much actually changed?

Fidel Castro had a clear vision. He dreamed to see Latin America united as one force like Simon Bolivar, the independence hero, had originally conceived it. Compared to other countries in the region, his homeland Cuba had arrived late to the emancipation party; and still in 1926, when he was born, the libertarian ideals were palpable in the streets of Havana. At the beginning of the 20th century, Cuba passed from being under the control of one world power, the Spanish monarchy, to another, the United States. As a reward for helping the island achieve its independence, the U.S ensured they had the privilege to intervene in the country’s affairs at will by including a special section in the new constitution. This inequitable relationship created a profound anti-American sentiment on the island. Likewise, anti-capitalist philosophies such as communism and socialism rapidly advanced among the population. Fidel, fueled by these currents of thought, enlisted in the guerrilla and ultimately successfully lead the Cuban revolution in 1959. Just three weeks after installing the new Government, Fidel started a presidential tour with Venezuela as its first stop. Not only was he attracted to the country for being the nation that raised his idols, but Venezuela was one of the largest economies in the world thanks to the boom in the black gold, oil. To his disappointment, Castro did not find the welcoming environment he was expecting. President Romulo Betancourt saw through Fidel’s