THE COLD WAR Case study: Cuba

CUBA.IS.BEAUTIFUL.

CUBA.IS.BEAUTIFUL.

CUBA.IS.BEAUTIFUL.

CUBA.IS.BEAUTIFUL.

CUBA ALSO HAS SOME HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS… “The Cuban government continues to repress dissent and discourage public criticism. While in recent years it has relied less on long-term prison sentences to punish its critics, short-term arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders, independent journalists, and other critics have increased dramatically. Other repressive tactics employed by the government include beatings, public acts of shaming, and the termination of employment.” – The World Report on Human Rights Violations

HISTORY OF CUBA 1510 – Spanish conquer Hispaniola Spanish then slaughter native Cubans – Ciboney tribe 1510-1868: slavery, sugar plantations, sadness 1868: First War of Cuban Independence (10 Years’ War) 1886: Slavery abolished in Cuba

HISTORY OF CUBA 1895: Cuban Revolution (against Spanish) began under leadership of Baez and Jose Marti 1898: USS Maine explodes; USA intervenes; Cuban Revolution becomes Spanish- American War Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders!

HISTORY OF CUBA 1899: Treaty ends war; Spain is out 1901: Platt Amendment: USA assumes hegemonic control over Cuba 1901-1933: USA gets to decide who is in charge of Cuba

HISTORY OF CUBA 1933: Military leader Fulgencio Batista assumes power (USA is happy with this; he is an ally) Late 1940s – early 1950s: Batista not re-elected; moves to USA 1952: Batista returns to Cuba and rises to power again thanks to a military coup Cubans are unhappy about this. Cubans do not like Batista.

HISTORY OF CUBA 1953: Fidel Castro, alongside 160 revolutionaries and Che Guevara, attack military barracks in Santiago (eastern Cuba) 1958: Batista and Castro fight in eastern Cuba 1959: Batista flees Cuba; Castro assumes power

HISTORY OF CUBA 1959: Castro implements socialist reforms – land reform, nationalization of industry 1960: USA tries to invade Cuba a lot 1961: USA implements its embargo on Cuba (no more trade; no more NOTHING) Cuba just lost its greatest trading partner. They need another superpower nation to help them. Who else is the other superpower right now? 1961: Bay of Pigs USA really wants Cuba to not be ‘communist’ (socialist, really) Why would the US keep referencing Cuba as a ‘communist state’?? 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis 1962-1991: Sad Cuba Socialist revolutions are ALWAYS associated with land reform – why???

HISTORY OF CUBA 1991-2014: embargo on Cuba. USSR dismantled. Cuba suffering. Enter into “Special Period” 2014: OBAMA AND RAUL CASTRO REOPEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND EVERYTHING IS AWESOME… or is it?

CUBA IN A NUTSHELL Cuba, as an island nation, has always needed a trading partner The US controlled Cuba (in)directly from 1899-1950s The USA set up its embargo against Cuba after Castro’s successful socialist revolution USSR aligned itself with Cuba (which makes Cuba happy; it needs a trading partner)

FULGENCIO BATISTA Rulers over Cuba from (1933 indirectly) 1940-1944 Entered WWII on side of Allied Powers Friends with the American mafia Cuba served as a link between the cartel in Colombia and the mafia in the States Goes back to Cuba, becomes president in 1952 Super corrupt and terrible Widened the gap between the wealthy plantation owners and the poor working class …. Perfect set up for a revolution!!

ENTER: CHE GUEVARA Born in Argentina Trained as a doctor “Motorcycle Diaries” – traveled throughout Latin America and became exposed to extreme poverty and hunger; blamed capitalism He worked with leprosy colonies throughout south america – found solidarity among the outcasts

CHE GUEVARA Disillusioned by the gap between the rich and the poor – the haves and have-nots Helped lead revolutions in Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala before heading to Cuba He worked with leprosy colonies throughout south america – found solidarity among the outcasts

CHE AND FIDEL: BFFS 1955: meets up with Fidel Castro in Mexico City Gets on board to overthrow Batista and establish a socialist regime in Cuba – equality for all!! Fights in the east with Fidel against Batista’s military forces

LITERACY CAMPAIGNS Begins his literacy campaign in 1961 – January 1 – December 22 “The Year of Education” “Literacy Brigades” – build schools, train teachers, educate the illiterate Raised the literacy rate from 60% to 96% IN ONE YEAR Commonalities in ALLLLLLLL communist revolutions: literacy increase and land reforms

FIDEL CASTRO Organized a guerilla revolution against Batista and the US’ influence Eastern Cuba With Che Guevara, fellow revolutionary Took over Havana and declared his revolution socialist Social, land, and education reforms Becomes BFFs with USSR

FIDEL CASTRO Good things Castro did: Abolished discrimination Brought electricity to poor areas in Cuba Full employment Advanced health care and education New schools and medical facilities

FIDEL CASTRO Bad things Castro did: Closed down opposition newspapers Jailed thousands of political opponents And killed a bunch, too Limited amount of land someone could own Abolished most private businesses Lots of food shortages  Lots of consumer good shortages  Agua y jabon!

THE “SPECIAL PERIOD” USSR fell in 1991 Loss of oil – increase in black market Intentionally blacked out parts of Havana to save money No foreign television – no foreign influence; huge restriction on outside news and journalism (like NK but less terrible) Increased reliance on the US for remittances and smuggling Tourism on the rise Also sex trafficking  “The Special Period” – 1991-present Current state of Cuba – inventive and resourceful people living in a time of scarcity “resolviendo” buying, selling, and trading whatever you had for whatever you needed

NOW WHAT? Diplomatic relations reopened with Cuba What does this mean? How will Cuba change? What could positives and negatives be? More importantly… WHY DO WE HATE CUBA?!?!? buying, selling, and trading whatever you had for whatever you needed