Cuba and U.S. Cuba and U.S. Relations-Past and Relations-Past and

PresentPresent

Taylor Holmstrom and Blake Taylor Holmstrom and Blake ValentinoValentino

Revolution Leader Fidel Castro Revolution Leader Fidel Castro Breaks Ties with U.S. and Allies Breaks Ties with U.S. and Allies Himself with the Soviet UnionHimself with the Soviet Union

In the beginning the U.S welcomed CubaIn the beginning the U.S welcomed Cuba But later Castro put a lot of people in Jail and created But later Castro put a lot of people in Jail and created

tribunalstribunals Castro broke the Military Pact with the U.S Castro broke the Military Pact with the U.S

Continued Continued Cuba confiscated U.S asset Cuba confiscated U.S asset Then established Soviet-style collective farms Then established Soviet-style collective farms This made the U.S break relations on January 3, 1961This made the U.S break relations on January 3, 1961 Castro created an alliance with the Soviet union and many Castro created an alliance with the Soviet union and many

Cubans fled the country Cubans fled the country

Bay of Pigs DisasterBay of Pigs Disaster With the help of the United States, a group of Cuban exiles With the help of the United States, a group of Cuban exiles

invaded Cuba in 1961.invaded Cuba in 1961. President John Kennedy approved the plan, but provided no President John Kennedy approved the plan, but provided no

air support for the U.S.air support for the U.S.

ContinuedContinued The project was a failure The project was a failure Invaders did not receive support from CubaInvaders did not receive support from Cuba Cuban military took action quickly, ending the operation’s Cuban military took action quickly, ending the operation’s

success success Many Cuban exiles were either imprisoned or executedMany Cuban exiles were either imprisoned or executed

Soviet-Missile CrisisSoviet-Missile Crisis The Soviet-Missile crisis held in 1962The Soviet-Missile crisis held in 1962 Soviets attempted to install medium range missiles in CubaSoviets attempted to install medium range missiles in Cuba The missiles were able to strike the U.S. with nuclear The missiles were able to strike the U.S. with nuclear

warheadswarheads

ContinuedContinued The U.S thought that they were going to start a nuclear warThe U.S thought that they were going to start a nuclear war The U.S created a Blockade tom stop the missile delivery The U.S created a Blockade tom stop the missile delivery Khrushchev had the missile sites dismantled Khrushchev had the missile sites dismantled The U.S pledged they wouldn’t attack CubaThe U.S pledged they wouldn’t attack Cuba

In Poor In Poor Health Castro Announces His Health Castro Announces His

Retirement Retirement Fidel Castro told the public that he was not healthy enough Fidel Castro told the public that he was not healthy enough

to campaign againto campaign again Castro had just had surgery seventeen months before Castro had just had surgery seventeen months before Castro was not actually taken out of the electionCastro was not actually taken out of the election

Continued Continued During the 2008 Parliamentary elections both Castro During the 2008 Parliamentary elections both Castro

brothers were reelected to the National Assemblybrothers were reelected to the National Assembly Castro retired after 49 years of power in February 2008Castro retired after 49 years of power in February 2008 His brother Raul became the 21His brother Raul became the 21stst president of Cuba president of Cuba

Cubans Begin to Win Small Cubans Begin to Win Small FreedomsFreedoms

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights were signed. Rights were signed.

Political, civil freedomPolitical, civil freedom Right to work Right to work Fare wagesFare wages Social securitySocial security EducationEducation Physical and mental health standards highPhysical and mental health standards high

ContinuedContinued Relaxed land restrictions for private farmersRelaxed land restrictions for private farmers Boost food productionBoost food production Reduce dependence on food importsReduce dependence on food imports Castro released 52 political prisoners Castro released 52 political prisoners Activists and journalists working for United StatesActivists and journalists working for United States

Cuba Takes Possible Steps Cuba Takes Possible Steps Toward a New Leader Not Toward a New Leader Not

Named CastroNamed Castro First non-Castro brother in over 50 years- José Ramón First non-Castro brother in over 50 years- José Ramón

MachadoMachado Second highest position in Communist PartySecond highest position in Communist Party More private enterprise in CubaMore private enterprise in Cuba More approved jobs More approved jobs Buying and selling cars legal since 2011Buying and selling cars legal since 2011 People have their own businessesPeople have their own businesses

ContinuedContinued People allowed to own one home in city and one in countryPeople allowed to own one home in city and one in country Government pardoned over 2900 prisonersGovernment pardoned over 2900 prisoners 86 were foreigners86 were foreigners Alan Gross still imprisoned for distributing satellite cell Alan Gross still imprisoned for distributing satellite cell

phone equipment phone equipment His actions caused problems between US and CubaHis actions caused problems between US and Cuba

Pope Makes Long-Awaited Pope Makes Long-Awaited VisitVisit

March 26, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI pays 3 day visit to Cuba March 26, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI pays 3 day visit to Cuba Tension between church and Cuban governmentTension between church and Cuban government Believed Cuba deserved freedomBelieved Cuba deserved freedom Convinced that Cuba was moving towards bigger and better Convinced that Cuba was moving towards bigger and better

things for futurethings for future

ContinuedContinued Over 200,000 attended Mass in Santiago de CubaOver 200,000 attended Mass in Santiago de Cuba People as far as MiamiPeople as far as Miami Many pressured by communists Many pressured by communists Anyone who made negative remarks regarded the Anyone who made negative remarks regarded the

government was removedgovernment was removed

Exit Visa Requirement is Exit Visa Requirement is DroppedDropped

October 16, 2012 government announced in early 2013 October 16, 2012 government announced in early 2013 Cubans would no longer required to have exit visa to leave Cubans would no longer required to have exit visa to leave countrycountry

Cubans longed for this change, promised by President Raul Cubans longed for this change, promised by President Raul CastroCastro

ContinuedContinued Cubans can go wherever they want, for however long they Cubans can go wherever they want, for however long they

wantwant Can stay abroad up to two years before the loss of Can stay abroad up to two years before the loss of

citizenship and benefitscitizenship and benefits Stopped only for national security reasonsStopped only for national security reasons New, tighter control for political dissidents New, tighter control for political dissidents

Cuba Resumes Diplomatic Cuba Resumes Diplomatic Relations with U.S.Relations with U.S.

December 17, 2014 Alan Gross is released with approval December 17, 2014 Alan Gross is released with approval from humanitarian groundsfrom humanitarian grounds

President Obama decided to resume all relations with Cuba President Obama decided to resume all relations with Cuba for their good deedfor their good deed

ContinuedContinued No diplomatic relations between the two nations since 1961No diplomatic relations between the two nations since 1961 Negotiation lasted 18 months in secretNegotiation lasted 18 months in secret Pope Francis hosted meeting for the two of themPope Francis hosted meeting for the two of them

A New Era for U.S. and CubaA New Era for U.S. and Cuba The United States will now send a new ambassador to Cuba The United States will now send a new ambassador to Cuba

to help end the economic hardship.to help end the economic hardship. The U.S. has also promised to make traveling easier for The U.S. has also promised to make traveling easier for

Cuban Americans.Cuban Americans. Cubans will have an easier time communicating around the Cubans will have an easier time communicating around the

world.world. Alan Gross was released after being imprisoned for years Alan Gross was released after being imprisoned for years

on end.on end.

How might the relationship How might the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. be between Cuba and the U.S. be

changing? In your opinion, is this changing? In your opinion, is this good or bad?good or bad?

Since the 1960’s the relationship between the United States Since the 1960’s the relationship between the United States and Cuba has not been the best. Trade between the two and Cuba has not been the best. Trade between the two nations was blocked for almost six decades. nations was blocked for almost six decades.

Now, with Barack Obama as president, he has mended the Now, with Barack Obama as president, he has mended the relationship between them. relationship between them.

Works CitedWorks Cited InfopleaseInfoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014.. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014. Prince, Sean. "All Classroom Magazines." Prince, Sean. "All Classroom Magazines." A New Era for the A New Era for the

U.S. And CubaU.S. And Cuba. Scholastic News, 19 Dec. 2014. Web. 22 . Scholastic News, 19 Dec. 2014. Web. 22 Dec. 2014.Dec. 2014.