Cuban and American Relations -Bay of Pigs e.c.t
In January 1961
all diplomatic relations between the two nations break down with the closure of the US Embassy in Havana.
Post-Elián González Affair
brief window in 1999/2000 when it looked like Cuba and the US could start a dialogue But 9/11 and George W. Bush put paid to that Cuba was associated with the 'Axis of Evil' and of supporting terrorism Bush introduced further restrictions on travel and money sent to Cuba
Cuba and the US before 1959
Cuban rebels fought the War of Independence against Spain between 1895-1898 -The US decides to intervene on behalf of the Cubans. -The war turned into the Spanish-American War - lasted for 3 months in 1898 -Successful sea and land battles led to the defeat of the Spanish. Spain was forced to negotiate.
Fidel Castro, January 1 1959 - quote
"This time, fortunately for Cuba, the Revolution will truly achieve power. It won't be as in 1898, when the Americans came at the last hour and took over the country".
Beginning of US-Cuba hostilities
-Castro announced the Agrarian Reform Law in May 1959 -Put an end to large estates and landholdings in an attempt to make land distribution more equal. -Affected much US-owned land and property - elicited alarm and protests from the US administration, and accusations of communism -Major step in breakdown of US/Cuba relations -Anti-American rhetoric increased
Platt Amendment meant US retained considerable control over Cuba for the next 30 years --->examples
-Cuba became Nullified following the 'revolution' of 1933 -But two terms of President Batista (1940-44; 1952-59) heralded an era of close cooperation between Cuba and the US -The Batista era saw the almost complete domination of Cuba's economy by the United States
The Revolution gets under way, 1956-59
-Initially, US not convinced that the rebellion posed real threat to Batista's power. -Until 1958, the US continued to support Batista militarily. -But as the Revolution gained momentum, the US became uncomfortable providing arms to Batista -Stops weapons supply in 1958
Elián González Affair, 1999/2000
5-year-old boy rescued off the Florida coast after trying to reach the US with his mother The authorities handed Elián over to his great-uncle in Miami, but his natural father in Cuba called for his return The Miami family protested his return, supported by the enormous and hugely powerful Cuban-American community The controversy dragged on for 6 months, with US authorities unsure of how to proceed
CIA plans takedown of Fidel Castro
CIA presents a plan to President Eisenhower to take down Castro: propaganda offensive creating a civilian opposition outside Cuba setting up an anti-Castro underground within Cuba Developing a military force outside Cuba that would land at the Bay of Pigs LATER: Cut sugar quota and refused to allow crude Soviet oil to be refined in US refineries
September 1960
Castro attended the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York where he gave the longest speech in the history of the General Assembly - 4.5 hours. Spoke in detail about the 'crimes' of the US against Cuba
The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962
In August 1962, US intelligence began reporting that Soviet ships were unloading technicians and surface-to-air missiles in Cuba In October 1962, President Kennedy made a television address, announcing the discovery of Soviet missiles on Cuban soil US places a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further deliveries
Reasons for failure
Kennedy withdrew air support for the invading forces, leaving them at the mercy of the Cuban air force Castro had mobilised the Cuban Armed Forces and the volunteer National Revolutionary Militias - far superior in numbers to the invaders These two groups, along with the CDRs, managed to round up potential collaborators on a mass scale The Cuban population backed the Revolution
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 (2)
Kennedy's address set in motion 'nuclear panic' around the world - people feared an imminent nuclear war between the two superpowers. Between October 22 and 28th, tensions were at their peak, as people waited to see how the standoff would end. The most dangerous moment of the crisis was when the Soviets shot down a US spy place over Cuba on October 26th.
The Attack: Playa Girón 1961 (Bay of pigs)
Landing of 1500 trained Cuban exiles began early 17th April 1961 Cuban air strikes on US ships before troops unloaded The invaders struggled with the terrain - mangrove swamps They were met with huge numbers of Cubans defending the island Casualties and 1, 179 prisoners taken - these were released in 1962 in exchange for $60 million in food and medicine
The Obama Administration, 2008-
Obama promised a 'new beginning' in 2009 But, in 2014, Obama agreed to a 1-year extension of the embargo
Bay of Pigs invasion 1961
On coming to power in 1960, Kennedy approves of plans for a covert invasion of Cuba (he told the us population that he was not involved and wouldn't be) The US believed that the Revolution was losing support - it thought an invasion would spark a mass uprising Started training anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Guatemala and dropping propaganda on Cuba Cuba was aware an attack was coming
December 2014
Raúl Castro and Obama announce the restoration of full diplomatic relations US announces overhaul to commerce, travel and internet restrictions Both sides release political prisoners
Aftermath of the Crisis
Relations between the Soviet Union and Cuba fluctuated greatly during the 1960s. The Crisis increased the US' active encouragement of Latin American governments to break all ties with Cuba The Western Hemisphere became extremely inhospitable to the Revolution
Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981
Relations did improve slightly under Carter's Presidency Carter was interested in dialogue Interests sections were opened in Havana and Washington - similar to embassies But Carter's successor, Reagan, brought in a new era of hostility
The steps forward
Steps towards 'normalisation' are significant But Obama is simply continuing, rather than initiating, the progress made by Carter in the 70s Embargo still in place - the greatest problem that besets US-Cuban relations and also Cubans' daily lives.
Elián González Affair, 1999/2000 (2)
The Cuban govt called for his return The US public and the US govt supported his return Elián was reunited with his father in May 2000, after a ruling by the Supreme Court The decision was bitterly contested by Cuban-Americas The Affair was the first time in decades that the Cuban and US govts had been in agreement
US-Cuba relations in the Special Period
The Revolution struggled to survive after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 The US attempted to hasten the demise of the Revolution by introducing the Cuban Democracy Act/Torricelli Act in 1992 Act prevented foreign subsidiaries of US companies from trading with Cuba, prohibited US citizens travelling to Cuba, and restricted the amount of money that Cuban exiles could send to their families back home.
Cuba and the US before 1959 (2)
The US gained controlled of all remaining Spanish colonies outside of Africa (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines) US forces remained in Cuba between 1898-1902 to ensure stability was resumed on the island But it had promised Cuba its independence, and in 1902 the US left - the Republic of Cuba was formed.
The Revolution comes to power, January 1959
The US keeps a watchful distance Revolution not yet socialist so no immediate need for intervention There are concerns over the direction of the Revolution
Platt Amendment
The US stipulated that certain conditions that had to be met if US troops were to leave the island -That the US keep its naval base at Guantánamo -That the US be allowed to intervene if the island became unstable -Control over Cuba's foreign relations
Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 (3)
The crisis lasted until October 28th 1962 - agreement reached which resulted in the removal of the missiles from Cuban soil. Cuba was not consulted about their removal. Castro made a televised speech stating that the missiles would only be removed if the US agreed to five conditions, including the end of the economic blockade and the removal of the Guantánamo naval base. Castro's conditions were ignored. Cuba was left humiliated at having had to bow down to two superpowers.
October 1960
the US announces trade embargo