Castro and the U.S.-Cuban Relationship

Spanish-American War (1898)

Remember the Maine!

Cuban “Independence?” Platt Amendment (1901) Cuba shall not enter into any agreements with foreign powers that would endanger its independence The US can intervene in Cuban affairs if necessary to maintain an efficient, independent government Cuba will lease Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. as a naval station

What the U.S. Fought For

Cuba By the 1950’s, Cuba was one of the most-developed countries in Latin America A few wealthy Cubans dominated the economy “The Latin Las Vegas”

In 1952 The Cuban dictator was Fulgencio Batista He worked with U.S. businesses (and the mafia) and was a tough anti-communist

“At the beginning of 1959 United States companies owned about 40 percent of the Cuban sugar lands—almost all the cattle ranches—90 percent of the mines and mineral concessions—80 percent of the utilities—practically all the oil industry—and supplied two-thirds of Cuba's imports.”—John Kennedy, 1960

Enter Fidel Castro A young lawyer, Castro was arrested in 1953 for attacking a Cuban army barracks He was released, and two years later he started a guerrilla war against Batista In 1959, Batista fled the country, and Castro came to power

Castro’s Policies Were designed to end Cuba’s reliance on the U.S. Nationalized private property and gave land to poor farmers Launched an education program that basically wiped out illiteracy in under a year Created a system of free, nationwide health care

To Do This, However . . . He gave his own government massive power He ended freedom of the press, and allowed government censorship He created a spy network to make sure that Cuba’s citizens were doing what they were supposed to do He allied Cuba with the Soviet Union The Cuban economy has barely sputtered along “The revolution is a dictatorship of the exploited against the exploiters.”—Fidel Castro

Aided by Ernesto “Che” Guevara Che was key to the revolution’s success in Cuba Helped Castro set up his government Traveled around Latin America trying to spark revolutions Killed in Bolivia in 1967

Since 1959

What’s the Big Deal? For the past 50 years, Cuba has represented Latin American opposition to the U.S. Several other Latin American leaders have modeled themselves after Castro in their socialism and opposition to the U.S. Hugo Chavez, Venezuela Rafael Correa, Ecuador What’s the future of Cuba? What’s the future of U.S.-Latin American relations?