Download
1 / 42
E N D
Cuba Board Talk: March 26 March 26: Cuban Revolution/Che/Cold War in Latin America Board Talk (culminating) on the following subjects:1. Causes and roots of the Cuban Revolution (can also use info from other LatAm nations)2. Role and response of the U.S./CIA to the Cuban Revolution (can also use info from other LatAm nations) and its effect on Cuba and the course of the revolution3. The Cuban Revolution: Success or Failure? What actions are justified to carry out radical change. (Think of perspective here.)
IA Schedule • March 26: Cuban Revolution/Che/Cold War in Latin America Board Talk (culminating) March 29 (midnight) ~ Criterion B- Investigation Rough DraftApril 1 ~ peer-edit Investigation Rough Draft in class April 4~ Criterion A- Evaluation of Sources Rough DraftApril 16~ Complete IA Draft (Criterion A,B,C + Bibliography)April 22~Final IA DUE (Hard copy & turnitin.com)
Looking in depth at the Cuban Revolution 1. Explain the economic and politicalfactors that contributed to the Cuban Revolution2. Describe how resentment against U.S. domination of Cuba’s political structure and economy played a role in the Cuban Revolution 3. Analyze why the Cuban Revolution took the course that it did after 1959. 4.To what extent has the Cuban Revolution been a success or failure?
U.S. relations with Cuba today-still troubled “When there is no electricity, thank the marvels of modern Cuban-led engineering,” “When there’s no water, thank the excellent hydrologists from Cuba. When there’s no food, thank the Cuban communist overlords.” --U.S. Secretary of State MikePompeo on the current crisis in Venezuela
Tabletop discussion questions • What were the characteristics of the Cuban economy in the period we are discussing? • What are its problems? • What is the nature of U.S. political involvement in Cuban politics. U.S. attitude? • How are U.S. economic involvement and U.S. political interventions in Cuba linked?
Photo by Alberto Diaz Gutierrez (Korda)1928-2001“This child convincedme that I should dedicate my work to a revolution that will transform these inequalities.”
Fulgencio Batista “el Hombre” seized power in 1952. Government immediately recognized by the U.S.
Fidel Castro Ruiz and his companeros plan the Moncada attack • The attack on the Moncadabarracks in Santiago de Cuba involved about 150 poorly armed students and others. "Even if it failed," Castro said, "it would be heroic and have symbolic value."
The attack on the Moncadabarracks in Santiago de Cuba involved about 150 poorly armed students and others. "Even if it failed," Fidel noted, "it would be heroic and have symbolic value." It was a indeed a dismal failure. Many of the attackers were tortured and executed following the assault.
Castro gives a 4-hour (!) speech at his trial. • “I do not fear prison, just as I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who snuffed out the life of 70 brothers of mine. Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.”
Graded Discussion • What were the problems facing Cuba, according to Castro? • Who would be involved in the rebellion? Who had grievances? • What were the solutions according to Castro? • Were these solutions “capitalist” or “communist” • Who does Castro evoke at the end of this speech? • Does Castro sound like a crazed Marxist revolutionary?
Hasta Siempre by Carlos Puebla • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8xMiZp588
Cuban Cold War Joke (or true story?) • Cuban government ministers are having a late-night meeting in 1959. Castro asks if anyone at the meeting is a good economist. Half-asleep, Che sits up and raises his hand. Castro says, “Great! Che, you can be head of the national bank.” After the meeting, Che comes over the Castro with a pained expression on his face. “Why did you make me head of the national bank?” he asks. “I don’t know anything about economics or finance.”Fidel looks at him and says, “Then why did you raise your hand when I asked if anyone was an economist.” After a moment of silence, Che says, “Oh crap! I thought you asked if anyone was a communist!” • *Note: Castro named Che as head of the Cuban National Bank in 1959
As we go through this think about: • The Cuban perspective • The Soviet perspective • The U.S. perspective
U.S. relations with Cuba worsen • March 1959 Castro implements seizures of large land holdings • U.S. oil companies in Cuba refuse to refine Soviet oil • Castro nationalizes foreign-owned oil companies • January 1961, US breaks off diplomatic relations • Castro government expropriates all U.S.-owned companies • October 1960 U.S. imposes a trade embargo on Cuba • April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Castro • Feb 1962. Pres, Kennedy extends embargo to include Cuban imports to the U.S. • By Autumn 1962, Cuba has received 1000s of USSR missiles, jets, boats & personnel Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev embraces Castro
What the embargo meant for Cuba • U.S. business expropriated by the Cuban government included sugar mills, department stores, distilleries, banks, textile factories, and railroads. • “Washington last week slapped Havana with the most severe trade embargo imposed on any nation except Red China. Under penalty of a $10,000 fine and ten years’ imprisonment, the U.S. barred from Cuba, which traditionally buys 70% of its foreign goods in the U.S., two-thirds of all American imports. Only medicines and nonsubsidized foods, such as canned goods, may still be shipped.” –Time Magazine
October 1962 The Cuban Missile Crisis: 13 days on the brink of nuclear war
Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba? • To help a new Communist ( but more importantly, anti-U.S.) state • To get a launch base for inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) • To test strength of new U.S. president, JFK • Khrushchev wanted to force JFK to bargain over U.S. missiles in Europe Why does this cartoonist think that Khrushchev was interested in Cuba?
14 October 1962, U.S. U-2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites in Cuba
A U.S. Navy plane shadows a Soviet cargo ship bound for Cuba
What actually happened? • 10/20--JFK decides to blockade Cuba • 10/22– Goes on TV and publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove weapons
Kennedy’s Speech • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YkJxQT_0Y
10/24 Soviet ships (accompanied by submarine) approach blockade zone • 10/24, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop & turn round
What happened next? • 10/25-- Photos show continued construction of missile sites • 10/26--Kennedy receives offer from the Soviet Union: we’ll remove missiles if you end blockade & promise not to invade Cuba • 10/27--JFK receives 2nd letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too
October 27th, 1962 • Russians shoot down a U-2 spy plane over Cuba, killing the pilot • Order to shoot it down was given by a Soviet General on the ground in Cuba, not Khrushchev • U.S. military advises Kennedy to bomb Cuba the next day • Both Kennedy and Khrushchev feel that the situation is spiraling out of control“There was the feeling that the noose was tightening on all of us, on Americans, on mankind, and that the bridges to escape were crumbling.” Robert Kennedy
The world holds its breath….
10/28--Khrushchev agrees to dismantle Soviet missiles in Cuba • U.S. publicly declares it will never invade Cuba & secretly agrees to dismantle missiles in Turkey What is this cartoonist trying to say about the difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?
Aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis • Cuba remained communist & heavily armed, but without nuclear missiles • U.S. continues crippling trade embargo • World saw the futility of the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) • Supported theory of mixing containment & co-existence because alternatives unimaginable • Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin set up • U.S. & U.S.S.R negotiate a nuclear test ban treaty (above ground, but not underground)
