Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution
In 1959, Fidel Castro was the ruler of Cuba. He was a left-wing revolutionary that overthrew the Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista. While many people praised him for improving Cuba's economy and social reforms, he was a very merciless dictator. For example, he suspended elections and executed anyone who opposed him. Castro nationalized the Cuban economy by seizing sugar mills and refineries owned by the United States. President Eisenhower ordered an embargo on all trade with Cuba, which led Castro to seek support from the Soviet Union. The Bay of Pigs invasion, led by anti-Castro Cuban exiles trained by the CIA, was unsuccessful in overthrowing Castro. The U.S. was humiliated by its defeat.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Causes:
Resolution: The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Kennedy reconciliated. If the U.S. would not invade Cuba, then Soviet Union would send the missiles away from Cuba.
Results:
- The Soviet Union reacted to the Bay of Pigs attempt by placing nuclear missiles in Cuba.
- The U.S. did not want nuclear weapons within striking distance. So, President John F. Kennedy put a naval blockade on Cuba to prevent the missiles from reaching it.
- People were afraid of a nuclear war.
Resolution: The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Kennedy reconciliated. If the U.S. would not invade Cuba, then Soviet Union would send the missiles away from Cuba.
Results:
- Castro aided Communist revolutions in Africa and Latin America, since he relied on Soviet support.
- In 1991, the Soviet Union broke up and Cuba's economy was damaged, but Castro was determined to remain in power.