Mirra+Sims+&+Gustavo+Martinez

= **Cuba** = = =

Cuba is located between the Caribbean and the North Atlantic Ocean. It's 150 km south from Florida and its the largest island of the Antilles archipelago.

Elevation: Lowest point- Caribbean Sea 0m Highest point- Pico Turquino 2,005m Climate: Tropical; moderated by trade winds. Dry seasons(November to April); Rainy season(May to October)

Natural Resources: Cobalt, Nickel, Iron ore, Chromium, Copper, Salt, Timber, Silica, and Petroleum

**Independence**
(Text Information- 25.4: pg 805)

- The brief Spanish-American War ended in a defeat for Spain. - Cuba was granted independence in 1901, but the US forced Cuban to add the Platt Amendment to their constitution. - That amendment gave the US naval bases in Cuba and the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.

**After WWI**
@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Cuba http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1203355.stm

-Socialist Party founded in 1925 -Gerardo Machado establishes dictatorship in 1925 -He was constitutionally not allowed to be re-elected but he was determined to modernize Cuba -He set up many civil projects including building a central highway but when his term ended he held onto his power/position. -Many people opposed his dictatorship and staged rebellions/uprisings- most failed. -Finally he was asked to leave by the Cuban Army and senior Cuban civil leaders in 1933 -After he was forced to leave there was a short period of time in which they did not know who would lead the country -6 months later a mutiny by soldiers and officers occurred lead by Fulgencio Batista.

**1940's**
(http://www.answers.com/topic/batista-y-zald-var-fulgencio) -Fulgencio Batista was president of Cuba from 1933-1944. - He made friends with the close by US and helped the economy. He also established a better educational system and started many public works. -He lost the election in 1944 but returned in 1952 with a rebel force and took over Cuba. -He also established a constitution for the country.

(Text Information 30.1: 970-971) Cold War Conflicts/ Cuba Goes Communist - The US and the Soviet were both military and economic super powers indirectly fighting one another through other countries by spreading their influence. - Both the Soviets and the Americans made allies around the globe and often had small "shooting wars" over disputes that put America's allies on one side and Soviet allies on the other. - The biggest of these indirect disputes in the western hemisphere took place in Cuba.

1950-1970
(http://cuba1952-1959.blogspot.com/2009/03/cuba-1952-batista-coup.html) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/611045/26th-of-July-Movement http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/batista.htm

- 1952 After resigning to a new president Batista seizes power again and established a corrupt dictatorship. His second reign was much different than that of his first.
- He suspended Cuba's 1940 constitution, opened casinos and helped many others to do so as well. Cuba became a big tourist spot for Americans "The Latin American Las Vegas" - Batista had connections with Cuban Mob bosses and drug lords he also took money from the casinos that should have gone to public works and services but did not.



- He led with force and many people opposed him. Some people was the political side of it and the violation of the constitution and others were revolutionaries who wanted to force Batista to leave.

1953- Castro leads unsuccessful revolt against Batista. He attacked the Mocada army Barracks but most of the people involved were either captured or killed. Castro was captured and sentenced to 15 years in prison. "History Will Absolve Me"

(Text Information) - 1950's Fidel Castro led a guerilla warfare rebellion against the corrupt Cuban government- transformed the government- known as the Cuban Revolution - Sought the support of the Soviet Union- restricted the political rights of people, killed or jailed political opponents, hundreds of thousands of people fled to Florida.

-US withdraws military support for Batista -1956 Castro organized the July 26th movement. Castro had exiled himself in Mexico and with the help of Che Guavera he organized his guerilla force to attack the Santiago de Cuba army Barracks.

1959- Castro Becomes Prime Minister after leading a successful coup and forcing Batista to flee. -Castro's success was well received by many Cubans who wanted to see an end to Batista's regime.

[] [|Fidel Castro]

- 1961Bay of Pigs Invasion- was an invasion force made up of US trained Cubans who had fled the country. John F. Kennedy supported the invasion but it failed and the Cuban Government captured the soldiers. The US set up a trade embargo on Cuba that still exists today.

[|Che]

1961- Castro names Cuba a communist county

(Text Information 30.1: 970-971)

Cuba Effected by Imperialism
- Once the US had severed ties with Cuba the Soviets quickly stepped in and gave Cuba the economic stimulus it needed through trade. Cuban Missile Crisis - 1962- The Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. The US responded by creating a naval blockade that prevented the Soviets from bringing in any more shipments. The US demanded that they remove the missiles from Cuba- there was tension over the issue and people worried it would spark a nuclear war. But then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba if the US would remove their nuclear weapons from Turkey.

1976- The Cuban Communist party approves a new constitution and Castro is elected President. Cuba began sending forces to help Angola prevent South Africa from taking them over and helped the Ethiopeans defeat the Somalis. They agreed to leave after signing a treaty with South Africa.

1991 USSR collapses and Soviet military support leaves Cuba. Trade embargos' tightened on Cuba by the US help it's economy to deteriorate.

[|Soviet Collapse]

1994- US makes an agreement with Cuba to allow 20,000 Cuban to enter the United States per year.

1996- Cuba shoots down two American air crafts operated by Miami based Cuban exiles

2000-2001- US exports medicine and food to Cuba not only for trade but also to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Michel in 2001.

2000- Cuba brakes ties with many allies

2003- The Cuban government cracks down hard on citizens- 75 men who opposed Castro were jailed and 3 executed for trying to steal a ferry in attempts to get to the United States.

2004- United States puts restrictions on money being sent to Cuba through immigrant families and President Castro puts a 10% tax on dollar peso exchange.

2006- Fidel undergoes surgery and many people wonder about his future.

2007- Castro is unable to celebrate 1959 Revolution Day with the masses because of health issues and states that he will not hold onto power indefinatly.

2008- Castro steps down and his brother Raul takes over as president. Bans on personal computers and mobile phones are lifted. To help Cuba to produce more food restrictions on the amount of land farmers were allowed to own were revised. Russia re-established ties with Russia through trade and begins trade with China.

2009- Cuba allows Russian oil exploration in Cuban waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The United States lifts restrictions on money transactions between Cuba and the United States. Cuba invited back into OAS but does not rejoin.

Present Day- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36966409/ns/world_news-americas/ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36774641/ns/world_news-americas/ http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/23/1595168/anti-government-slogans-appear.html -sugar harvest is the worst in 150 years -850,000 tons short -Raul Castro fires sugar ministers for incompetence -Cuba may open its doors to tourism -travelers would have to have health insurance either bought locally in Cuba or a travel plan - May 2nd Cuban government allowed protest after the countries top Roman Catholic clergyman negotiated with them. The Damas de Blancas (Ladies in white) are the wives of the men jailed in the 2003 crackdown. They held a peaceful protest after three weeks of confrontations by pro-Castro supporters -Cuban government insists that citizens like their government, and there are those that support him, but anti government slogans appear in Havana and are visible only until the police paint over them. [|LIfe in Cuba] Points -Cuba was dependent upon other countries for support and prosperity, and could not survive once it gained independence on it's own. On the one hand it was necessary for it to adopt a system of communism to survive and have a functioning economy but the system quickly became corrupt allowing the rights of the people to be compromised.