Cuban Revolution

Fulgencio Batista Ruler in Cuba in late 1950s Elected president but later made himself dictator Much poverty in Cuba under his rule Education and health care were not good for most citizens Became unpopular with many Cubans Castro led a group of rebels against Batista

Fidel Castro Defeated Batista in a military coup and made himself dictator in 1959 Created a Communist government Everyone who supported Batista arrested; most were executed by a firing squad

The Cuban Revolution Cuban Revolution videos (Castro leading troops) http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/24157256-05FD-47B1-86A9-5F68C7FFBDBA (Seizure of Hilton Hotel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s6BEvtQesk

Cuba’s Communist Government Declared all property belonging to Americans now to belong to Cuba’s government All farms, factories, and businesses also became the government’s property Cuban newspapers, radio, and television were shut down Government became the ONLY source for news Churches were closed – all church property was taken by the government

Cuba Under Castro Poor people supported Castro’s changes because their healthcare and education improved People who were already successful did not support these changes and felt that the government was stealing from them

Relations with the United States In 1961 the U.S. cut off all diplomatic relations with Cuba The US placed an embargo on goods from Cuba and tried to get other countries to do the same The U.S. did not allow Americans to travel to Cuba

Relations with the United States The Soviet Union became allies with Cuba and began to buy sugarcane from Cuba The Soviet Union supplied weapons to Cuba and helped train their military

Cuban Missile Crisis Occurred in 1962 when Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to build a missile launching complex in Cuba These missiles could reach US cities since Cuba is only 90 miles from the U.S.

Cuban Missile Crisis Missile Crisis http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/6F19233A-8981-495D-93CE-5E3FB008F1D0

Cuban Missile Crisis President Kennedy demanded that the missiles be removed or the US would invade Cuba The world carefully watched as two of the most powerful countries in the world faced off against each other and threatened nuclear war After 13 very tense days the Soviets agreed to remove missiles so the US did not invade

U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade For more than 40 years the two countries had a poor relationship but then gradually things began to change In 1991, Castro lost an important ally and trading partner when the Soviet union broke up Food shortages became a real problem for Cubans In the U.S. many people began to want a better relationship with Cuba In 2008 Raul Castro took over as President of Cuba when Fidel Castro became very ill

U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade In 2014 the U.S. restored diplomatic relations with Cuba and started allowing travel to the island country

U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade

U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade The embargo however remained in effect In 2016 President Obama became the first U.S. President to visit Cuba since 1928 Fidel Castro died later in 2016

Video Summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQklqdVd4oA