CUBA What is an unlimited government? What is a Dictator?

Limited Government (govern with consent of the people, representative of the people, free market economy/free enterprise and competition, free elections, basic rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution (Bill of Rights). Unlimited Government (ruler ultimately makes all decisions concerning the nation’s economy, rules without the consent of the people, elections are not held or if they have elections voters are not free to choose, voters might be threatened, ballots might not have multiple candidates to choose from, secret ballots might be nonexistent, basic rights are not guaranteed)

CUBA Background Information Cuba, a socialistic republic, is an island nation in the Caribbean. After the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, Fidel Castro became the country’s “authoritarian” leader.  The country is made up of a diverse population that has been affected by a history of Spanish colonialism, the slave trade, and its proximity to the United States. The Communist Party strengthened its one-party rule and in 1961 the United States launched the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs Invasion (La Batalla de Girón) in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government.

CUBA Cuba had formed an alliance with the U.S.S.R. and this made the United States uneasy primarily because of the proximity between Cuba and the U.S. Almost 1.2 million Cubans live in the United States having escaped the strict regime in Cuba.  In 2008 Fidel Castro resigned as President and his brother Raul Castro (former vice-president) became Cuba’s next president.

CUBA Cuba’s economy follows socialistic principles that allow for control of companies and limit any form of private ownership. Scarcity of resources has required Cuba to import up to 80% of their food. Cuba is often referred to as a country “stuck” in a 1950’s time warp mostly because trade ceased to exist once their system of government changed to that of an unlimited government.

Cuba A Brief History of Cuba • One of the original Spanish Colonies • Spanish American War (1898)  A civil war was raging in Cuba between the Spanish government and Cubans.  The United States felt that the Spanish were violating the human rights of the Cubans as they attempted to separate the rebels from the non-combatants by locking up its citizens in camps so then only the rebels would be in the countryside.  The United States sent the Battleship Maine to send a message to the Spanish and to protect US citizens. The Maine mysteriously exploded in Havana Harbor. The United States blamed the Spanish and invaded Cuba.

Cuba The United States won the war and declared Cuba free and allowed them to form their own government (After we governed it for three years). • The United States maintains close ties to Cuba and economically assists in their development 1902 – 1956. Many including the government, welcomed the U.S. involvement in the economy but many felt that Cuba would be better off without the American presence in Cuba • (1956) Fidel Castro leads a successful revolution against the U.S. -supported government of Cuba and establishes a government, supported by the Soviet Union. The United States archrival / enemy in the 1950s.  There were many conflicts between the U.S. and the Soviet Union concerning Cuba. • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): When the Soviets placed missiles capable of attacking the U.S. in Cuba. • Bay of Pigs (1962): The United States supported Cuban nationals (those who left Cuba when Castro took power) who were attempting to over-throw the Castro government. It failed, making the USA look very bad. • Currently, we have economic sanctions against the Cuban government. For example, Cuba is famous for their cigars, but they are illegal to import into the U.S. to sell. • Fidel Castro has recently relinquished power to his brother Raul Castro due to his poor health and aging.