How did Fidel Castro Take Power in Cuba??? Mr. Ornstein Willow Canyon High School IB: History of the Americas

What is Latin America??? Mexico Central America South America West Indies/Caribbean

July 26, 1953 A Young Middle Class Lawyer Leads Failed Revolt Against Rulers of Cuba Jailed and Escapes Goes back to Cuba in 1956 Most Followers are killed and he hides out in mountains of Cuba.

Castro Son of wealthy plantation owner Law Student Less Ideological and more interested in power. Che Guevara Introduced him to communism as means of revolution

Is Castro Dead??? American and Cuban Leaders Assumed Castro Was Dead. Organizing Cuban Peasants.

The US and Cuba End of War with Spain US all but controls Cuba 1956 US companies control 80% of Cuban Utilities US companies own 40% of Cuban Sugar US companies own 90% of its mining wealth American Military Controls Most Important Harbor Guantanamo Bay

US and Cuba After 1902 American Troops Land in Cuba 3x Cuba was a Main Reason the US Entered War with Spain

Fulgencio Batista Takes Power in Cuba in 1952 Overthrows an elected Government Pro-US Pro-US Business Interests

Middle Class Rebellion Much of the Opposition to Batista was Middle Class, not Peasants

Cuba Before Castro 2 nd Highest Standard of living in Latin America Highly Urbanized Highly Educated Not as poor or backward as Castro Portrays

Castro Takes Over Castro Takes Power in Cuba on New Years Day 1959

Castro’s Goals for Cuba Balance the Cuban Economy Rectify Social Injustice in Cuban Society End Cuba’s Dependence on the United States

Castro Moves Towards Communism By 1960 Non-Communist Revolutionaries who helped Castro are isolated or leaving Cuba. American Property is Confiscated. Feb Trade Agreement with Soviet Union: Sugar for oil, machines, technicians

Castro Breaks from the US Confiscation of Property July 1960, US cuts amount of Cuban Sugar it will buy US Begins working with other Latin American Countries to Isolate Cuba Planning of the Bay of Pigs Invasion Jan Relations Break Officially

Latin America in the 1950s and 1960s Castro is symbol of the greatest danger to American Power. Latin American Economies Grow Populations Grow Venezuela Produces Oil

Latin America in the Cold War The United States Previously Had Not Given Much Aid to Latin American County’s After Castro Takes Power it Increases Interest and Aid to Latin America Latin America Becomes Part of the Cold War