Cuba Under Castro Ch. 4 FROM COMMUNIST SOLIDARITY TO COMMUNIST SOLITARY the 1990’s “Special Period in Peacetime”

Economic and Labor Reforms-Special Period Castro’s response to the changing world situation Through “Socialism or Death” “Food Program” centered on expansion of irrigation, farming, and slaughterhouses Energy Conservation requiring power cuts and gas-dependent factory shut downs Transportation- taxi use was confined to tourists only Information access became even more limited (Siege Economy) ●Rationing increased, and the quality of social services declined

Communist Solidarity/Communist Solitary COMECON dissolved which caused Cuba to lose trading partners Reunification of Germany cost Cuba an important source of aid and key supplies from East Germany Collapse of COMECON and decline of the Soviet Union caused debate between screens the Soviets on whether to continue to help Cuba China was the only remaining Communist country in which relations improved U.S. Relations became even more strained as president Bush tried to topple the Communist regime in Cuba through embargos

People’s Responses to The “Special Period” Respondents are unable to speak their minds Dissatisfaction Unhappy islanders accepted without protest Disgruntled people

Conclusion Castro survived the domino collapse of Communist Russia that challenged his leadership Imports dropped $6 billion in 3 years due to the strong dependence Cuba had on Soviet products Cuban Communism began a convert to a more nationalist inclusionary political system Castro experienced the true “weight of history” and its affect on his goals for his country His regime was weakened and taken further from what made the revolution distinctive, leading to stepped up repression and less societal support