1. Cuban Revolution

2. Fulgencio Batista Ruler in Cuba in late 1950s Dictator Much poverty
Education and health care were good for most citizens
Castro led a group of rebels against Batista

3. Fidel Castro Made himself dictator in 1959 Communist government
Everyone who supported Batista arrested; most were executed by a firing squad

5. Cuba’s Communist Government
Declared all property belonging to Americans now to belong to Cuba’s government
All farms, factories, and businesses also became Cuba’s property
Cuban newspapers, radio, and television were shut down
Government was the ONLY source for news
Churches were closed – all church property was taken by the government

6. Benefits under Castro Hospitals and Schools improved
Women and blacks became better educated and had better jobs

7. Relations with the United States
Cuba and the US do not get along well!!!!
Embargo on goods from Cuba

9. Cuban Missile Crisis
1962
Allowed the Soviet Union to build a missile launching complex in Cuba
Missiles could reach US cities
President Kennedy demanded that the missiles be removed or the US would invade Cuba….Soviets agreed to remove missiles so the US did not invade