A Brief History of Cuba

A Brief History of Cuba The Early Years Inhabited by Arawaks, Tainos (migrated from South America) Spain colonized Cuba in the 1500s Cuba had no gold but did have excellent farmlands Spanish organized, controlled large sugar plantations throughout Cuba Arawaks, Tainos killed off completely through brutal treatment & disease enslaved Africans eventually replaced indigenous population Cuban Independence and the USA 1868 - Cuba begins to organize for independence believed the country could compete better in international trade if independent US wanted Cuba to be free from Spain business interests (sugar) Keep western hemisphere free of European powers US pressured Spain to let Cuba be free 1898 - When no result, sent USS Maine to protect Cuba from Spain Cuban War of Independence (Spanish-Cuban-American War) Explosion of the USS Maine is blamed on the Spanish US declares war on Spain, assists Cuba in winning independence the USS Maine Platt Amendment Close of war: US refuses to remove its troops unless Cuba signs Platt Amendment Platt Amendment: US can intervene in Cuba under ‘special conditions,’ and Cuba must agree to a US naval base at Guantanamo Bay 1934 - Platt Amendment ends but naval base still in Cuba today US Influence in Cuba after independence Corruption in Cuban government common after independence US companies began to control most businesses: especially sugar US sent troops to Cuba numerous times for interventions because of political conflicts and potential ‘uprisings’: 1906, 1912, 1920s, 1930s Playground of US mafia, big businessmen Tropicana Club – open since 1931 Batista – all about the business 1930s: military sergeant Fulgencio Batista begins to gain power 1952: Batista seizes power and becomes dictator US supported Batista because he protected US companies Most middle class and poor Cubans hated and feared Batista Fulgencio Batista Viva la Revolucion! 1956: a new group of rebels challenges government Leader: young lawyer Fidel Castro Castro is popular with rich and poor Cubans New Year’s Day, 1959: Batista flees, Castro becomes leader Castro asks US for economic aid US refuses to give aid because it supported Batista’s government Poster celebrating 47th anniversary of the Revolution Castro’s Agrarian Reform Law 1959 - Castro’s government enacts reform: Broke up large plantations, gave land to poor Cubans Lands owned by US companies returned to Cuban control Fidel Castro Agrarian Reform & US Response Even with compensation, the Agrarian Reform was unacceptable to US government Two days after reforms, the US government tried to ‘destabilize’ the Cuban government Many wealthy Cubans opposed reform because they lost land & businesses, most moved to Miami, Florida The US government welcomed these exiles Homes in Havana lost by wealthy This home is now an embassy This home is now a non-profit organization office US Response to Agrarian Reform US government (CIA) tried to ‘destabilize’ Castro’s government throughout ’60s 1961: “Bay of Pigs” invasion: US helped the exiles try and invade Cuba & overthrow Castro: unsuccessful 1961: US economic embargo imposed on Cuba 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis Santiago Harbor, Cuba Cuban Socialism 1961: Cuban government declares itself socialist and accepts help from the Soviet Union Some Cubans wanted nationalism, some wanted socialism…but all wanted to be free of US domination Nationalism: Cuba should pursue its own independent destiny Socialism: idea that public control of economy helps to end poverty and injustice Socialism and Rights Limited political and civil rights: freedom of speech, association, press, religion 1998 - religion allowed but not strong Catholic church followed in name but not really State controlled media – hard to speak out against government whey they control all newspapers, radio, television and billboards Castro – “We’re doing well” A billboard in Havana Socialism and property The baseball…an example of different values Other rights under Socialism Pre-school students meet for class Different values: Excellent education system, free education for all through university Excellent healthcare system, free care for all Cubans, many neighborhood clinics World-renowned arts community: music, dance, painting Literacy Campaign - 1961 Castro organized a massive campaign to teach all citizens to read once he took power Dramatically increased literacy rate in one year – over 90% of adult population at basic (3 rd grade) reading level Additional efforts to get as many adults as possible to a 6 th grade education Literacy Campaign - 1961 The fall of the Soviet Union – a crisis for Cuba US embargo not really a problem until fall of Soviet Union – Soviets supported trade for Cuba with Soviet bloc countries Communist governments in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe began to dissolve between 1989— 1991 The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Cuba lost trade avenues The US could have stopped the embargo…but it didn’t Saw an opportunity to pressure Castro out of power Embargo still stands today Cuba today Cuba entered a severe economic crisis in 1994, shortly after the Soviet Union fell Measures introduced to alleviate crisis: Emphasis on tourism industry (European travelers) Collaboration with foreign investors Introduction of community markets Community Markets: small scale capitalism Next time… More on Cuba today! Works Cited Resistance in Paradise: Rethinking 100 Years of U.S. Involvement in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Wei, Deborah and Rachael Kamel (editors). Philadelphia: American Friends Service Committee and Office of Curriculum Support, School District of Philadelphia. Additional pictures & research based on December 2005 trip to Cuba