1. Cuban Revolution

2. Fulgencio Batista Ruler in Cuba in late 1950s
Elected president but later made himself dictator
Much poverty in Cuba under his rule
Education and health care were not good for most citizens
Became unpopular with many Cubans
Castro led a group of rebels against Batista

3. Fidel Castro
Defeated Batista in a military coup and made himself dictator in 1959
Created a Communist government
Everyone who supported Batista arrested; most were executed by a firing squad

4. The Cuban Revolution Cuban Revolution videos (Castro leading troops)
(Seizure of Hilton Hotel)

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 the government’s property
Cuban newspapers, radio, and television were shut down
Government became the ONLY source for news
Churches were closed – all church property was taken by the government

6. Cuba Under Castro
Poor people supported Castro’s changes because their healthcare and education improved
People who were already successful did not support these changes and felt that the government was stealing from them

7. Relations with the United States
In 1961 the U.S. cut off all diplomatic relations with Cuba
The US placed an embargo on goods from Cuba and tried to get other countries to do the same
The U.S. did not allow Americans to travel to Cuba

8. Relations with the United States
The Soviet Union became allies with Cuba and began to buy sugarcane from Cuba
The Soviet Union supplied weapons to Cuba and helped train their military

9. Cuban Missile Crisis
Occurred in 1962 when Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to build a missile launching complex in Cuba
These missiles could reach US cities since Cuba is only 90 miles from the U.S.

10. Cuban Missile Crisis
Missile Crisis

11. Cuban Missile Crisis
President Kennedy demanded that the missiles be removed or the US would invade Cuba
The world carefully watched as two of the most powerful countries in the world faced off against each other and threatened nuclear war
After 13 very tense days the Soviets agreed to remove missiles so the US did not invade

12. U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade
For more than 40 years the two countries had a poor relationship but then gradually things began to change
In 1991, Castro lost an important ally and trading partner when the Soviet union broke up
Food shortages became a real problem for Cubans
In the U.S. many people began to want a better relationship with Cuba
In 2008 Raul Castro took over as President of Cuba when Fidel Castro became very ill

13. U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade
In 2014 the U.S. restored diplomatic relations with Cuba and started allowing travel to the island country

14. U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade

15. U.S. and Cuba Hostilities Gradually Fade
The embargo however remained in effect
In 2016 President Obama became the first U.S. President to visit Cuba since 1928
Fidel Castro died later in 2016

16. Video Summary