1. Matt Gillis, Diana DiGasbarro

2. Throughout the 20 th Century, Cuba experienced extreme turmoil and disorganization. Since they gained their freedom from Spain, Cuba had been ruled by a small, wealthy elite who, along with the US, suppressed the voice and ignored the well being of the Cuban people for the sake of economic interests. Despite its many natural resources, Cuba’s economy relied almost entirely on the US for survival: the US was the biggest buyer of Cuban raw exports as well as their biggest supplier of finished products. This system made it nearly impossible for the Cuban middle class to form businesses, instead, the Cuban landowners that owned the raw materials profited heavily and thus made up the upper class. As the Cuban elite grew richer through these deals, the Cuban poor sank deeper into poverty, with most of the population living in slums and other poverty stricken areas. It was the Cuban masses’ poor quality of life as well as the government’s greed and corruption that inspired revolutionaries to overthrow their rulers in an attempt to promote change.

3. banana republic dependent on foreign consumers. conservative corruption and greed façade of democracy Christmas Earthquake of 1972 Sandinist Front of National Liberation (FSLN) violence and censorship inhumane allowing the FSLN to finally take power, thus completing the revolution. Nicaragua's economy started in the colonial period as a self sufficient, effective system, but when a banana republic was established, the economy deteriorated and became dependent on foreign consumers. A futile attempt to return a functioning government that helped the poor masses was made when Jose Santos Zelaya tried to make the economy more liberal and self sufficient. He was quickly overthrown, with help from the United States, by a more conservative party. When the Somoza family took control of the government, their corruption and greed catapulted the country into a state of complete disrepair. They created a façade of democracy in order to get foreign aid from the United States, but instead of helping the thousands of impoverished workers, the Somozas and other high-ranking officials kept the money for themselves. The real turning point was the Christmas Earthquake of 1972, where thousands of civilians died, but the millions of dollars of foreign aid meant for the victims was instead kept by government officials. Following the earthquake, the Sandinist Front of National Liberation (FSLN) took action against the Somoza government, resulting in violence and censorship by the government. At this point, the United States threatened to stop sending aid to Nicaragua if the Somozas continued their inhumane way of suppressing the rebels. After the Somozas assassinated Pedro Chamorro, a prominent rebel leader, the FSLN attacked government officials. The pressure from the United States, Catholic Church, and FSLN caused Somoza to flee Nicaragua, allowing the FSLN to finally take power, thus completing the revolution.

4. CubaNicaragua Government *Corrupt Leaders -Castro, Batista, Somozas -eliminated political competition -façade of democracy -violence and censorship to control rebels *Attempted Revolutions -San Martin, Zelaya *US Support -Batista, US Alliance for Progress *US Disapproval -tried to get Batista to leave; disagreed with Castro; turned against violent Somozas *Unpopular Leaders -Batista, Somozas, only popular within elite upper class -Castro was popular only among the exploited workers -Castro tried to spread his ideals to rest of Latin America -Self-proclaimed Communist -Allies with Soviet Union -Blamed US for problems -Somozas kept vast majority of money from foreign aid -Somozas maintained democratic façade -1972 Christmas Earthquake sparked serious actions by rebels -FSLN supported by people from all demographics

5. Economy CubaNicaragua -Extremely dependent on the US to buy raw, Cuban exports and to supply them with finished imports -Almost impossible for middle class to succeed in business, the US could produce the same products cheaper, faster, and at a higher quality -Dominated by small, wealthy elite -Dependent on foreign nations -Began as a strong, self sufficient economy but as they started to export coffee they soon became a banana Republic -Receives money from US for the US Alliance for Progress, however most of this money never reached the people

6. Corrupt government officials and economic dependence on foreign powers caused the revolutions in Cuba and Nicaragua, which resulted in leftist policies.