Cuba Cold War

Fulgencio Batista

A Cuban army officer who rose to the presidency. Overthrown by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1959.In 1938, he ordered a new constitution and ran for president and got elected in 1940. During his term Cuba entered WW11 on the Allies side. He was elected senator in 1948 and returned to Cuba and ran for president again in 1952. On July 26, 1953 Castro and a handful of rebels attacked the army barracks at Moncada, igniting the Cuban Revolution.

Literacy Campaign

A year long effort to abolish illiteracy in Cuba after the Cuban Revolution. January 1- December 22, 1961.

Why did Castro seek aid from the Soviets?

After seizing Cuba, Fidel aligned himself with Russia, because he liked communism. Under Castro, Cuba grew dependent on the Soviets for military and economic aid. Also, Russia was Cuba's only buyer for sugar.

Embargo

An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a country.

Has Castro been a success or failure as the leader of Cuba?

Bad- Castro promised to free Cuba from tyranny but instead replaced it with another tyranny. He promised to free Cuba from foreign influence but instead made it a copy of the Soviet Union. He promised peace but almost incited another World War and brought economic devastation.

Why did Cuba become such a hot spot during the Cold War?

Cuba became such a hot spot because Russia and The United States both wanted to control Cuba. Since it was the Cold War, Russia and The U.S were enemies. Russia decided to take action for Cuba by putting nuclear missiles on Cuba, making a stir with the United States.

Spanish American War

Cuba wanted independence from Spain. The U.S Congress issued resolutions that declared Cuba's right to independence.

Sugar

Cuban's only grew sugar cane to sell to other countries , to make money. But the cuban's had no backup plan if their sugar cane failed which would cause them to lose more money.

Platt Amendment

Passed March 2, 1901. Established terms under which the united states would end its military occupation of Cuba. It also compromised to allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes.

Boat people

People who have left their country by boat, usually hoping to find safety in another country.

Fidel Castro

Ruled Cuba for 5 decades. Castro's regime was reducing illiteracy, stamping out racism and improving public health care, but was widely criticized for stifling economic and political freedoms. Castro's Cuba also had a highly antagonistic relationship with the United States- most notably resulting in the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Castro publicly declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in late 1961. By that time, Cuba was becoming increasingly dependent on the Soviet Union for economic and military support.

What measures did the US take to undermine Castro?

The U.S. created a policy to prevent Castro from seeking alliance with the Soviet Union and other European communist countries. John F. Kennedy planned a force called the Cuban Exiles to land in the Bay of Pigs.

Cuban Missle Crisis

This was a 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. The U.S. was prepared to use military force to neutralize the threat. Many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war. Disaster was avoided when the U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

This was a failed invasion in 1961. Cuban refugees, supported by the U.S government, landed in Cuba and attempted to topple the communist government of Fidel Castro. All exiles were either dead, captured or injured.

Che Guevara

Was a military leader who was also interested in Marxism, just like Fidel Castro. He was Fidel's primary advisor. He supported Castro in overthrowing Batista. He acted as the ambassador of Cuba going around the world to establish relations with other countries.

Protectorate

Weak territories protected and partly controlled by stronger territories.