Cuba after the war Teller Amendment – Amendment to war resolution that U.S. would NOT annex Cuba…. 4 years after war U.S. still governs Cuba Platt Amendment – Cuba writes constitution U.S. insists on adding an amendment 1.No treaties that limit independence 2.U.S. reserves the right to intervene 3.No debt for Cuba 4.U.S. buy/lease land for naval base
CRISIS OVER CUBA
Timeline of events 1945: Yalta Agreement 1947: Truman Doctrine 1947: Marshal Plan 1948: Berlin Airlift 1949: NATO formed 1950: Korean War begins. 1952: U.S. tests first hydrogen bomb in Marshall Islands. 1953: Soviet Union tests first hydrogen bomb. 1953: Korean War ends. 1955: Warsaw Pact organized 1957: Launch of Sputnik 1950s: McCarthy Hearings 1961: Berlin Wall built 1961: Bay of Pigs 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis 1963: Installation of a Hot Line
FIDEL CASTRO “Revolutionaries are not born. They are made by poverty, inequality, and dictatorship.” Rebellious, Populist, “Machismo” National hero two goals are to “shake Cuba of American dependence” and “have more than a sugar industry” Tired of Cubans: going to American colleges, having a second home in USA By 1950: he had 1,200 followers (into 150 cells) 1957: Sabotage, Guerilla Tactics, Nationwide strikes, Sought Communist help to train/organize/funding Jan 1 st, 1959: Overthrew Batista government
Why is Cuba so important? Gulf-Atlantic-Caribbean shipping lanes the Panama Canal the Guantanamo Naval Base Sugar, Sugar, Sugar, Sugar, Sugar!!!!! So much sugar!!!!!
Options? 1. Avoid altogether? 2. Warn/Threaten but do not act (until attacked)? 3. Warn/Threaten and act? 4. Do not warn… just act.