Cuba and US relations By: Kyle Chandler

Castro Breaks Ties With the United States Cuba looked like a democratic state until Fidel Castro took over. This led to strong ties with the Soviet Union.

Castro Breaks Ties With the United States Cubans were not happy with this. Thousand fled the country because they were scared.

Bay of Pigs Disaster In 1961, a U.S. backed group of Cubans exiles invaded Cuba. The invasion got the go ahead from President Kennedy.

Bay of Pigs Disaster Kennedy refused to give U.S. air support. The invaders did not gain support from most of the Cubans.

Soviet Missile Crisis The Soviets attempted to install medium ranged missiles that were able to the United States. Kennedy threatened to attack if they weren’t dismantled.

Soviet Missile Crisis On September 1st, 1977 Cuba and the US established limited diplomatic relationships making it easier for US citizens to visit.

Castro Announces his Retirement 17 months after his emergency intestinal surgery, 81 year-old Castro is forced to retire. This came as a shock to the nation.

Castro Announces his Retirment This ended Castro’s 49 years of power in Cuba. He led since the beginning of the revolution. His brother Raul Castro became the new leader.

Cubans Begin to Win Small Freedoms At a UN meeting in February 2008 laws were passed that will allow citizens fair wages, education, social security, and the right to work.

Cubans Begin to Win Small Freedoms In March of 2009 the United States Congress voted to get rid of restrictions with Cuba. Obama has signaled that he wants to get rid of these.

Cuba Takes Possible Steps Toward a New Leader Not Named Castro In April of 2011 Cuba made a major step forward in allowing José Ramón Machado to fill the second- highest position in the Communist Party.

Cuba Takes Possible Steps Toward a New Leader Not Named Castro Many new laws have been passed recently. In October 2011 buying and selling cars is now legal Real Estate is now able to bought and sold

Pope Makes Long-Awaited Visit On March 26, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba. This cam after there was a lot of tension between the Catholic Church and the Cuban Government. Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Makes Long-Awaited Visit Around 200,000 people attended the mass from as far as Miami. However people felt pressured into going by their employers and the government in Cuba.

Exit Visa Requirement Is Dropped In October of 2012 Cuba finally dropped their exit visa rule which would be no longer required for them when they wanted to leave the country

Exit Visa Requirement Is Dropped The new policy states that Cubans can leave the country for vacation or forever. Their citizenship is taken away after 2 years of not being in the country. Cubans could still be stopped for "defense and national security" reasons.

Cuba Resumes Diplomatic Relations with U.S. In response to the Cuban Government freeing Alan Gross in 2011, Barack Obama announced that the U.S. would resume full diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Cuba Resumes Diplomatic Relations with U.S. The two leaders meet and talked about how they could restore this after 5 centuries. The ban for traveling to Cuba was lifted in 2015. Cuban cigars were now allowed to be brought into the U.S. Cuban Cigars

The Big Picture The relationship between Cuba and the United States is changing greatly. I think that this is good for both of them. This will help boost both of the two nations economy greatly. Because it was illegal to bring things back from Cuba now they will be able to sell them here. Also, now people will be able to link up with their long lost family members that they haven’t seen in many years. I couldn’t image not seeing them for that long. Lastly this is another step closer to having Cuba become a democracy. If we become closer with them then we could serve as an example how a democratic government is supposed to work.