In the 1950s, many Americans
viewed Cuba as “simply paradise”.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27747927@N00/2
830612461
http://cruiselinehistory.com/wpcontent/uploads/2008/07/cce00001.jpg
http://www.arkivatropika.com/images
/pictures/1108_large.JPG
Havana Riviera Hotel
http://www.mediamanageress.com/cuba/hotels/photos/hotel-riviera-pool200.jpg
http://www.cubaheritage.org/images/art/havan
a-casino.jpg
But, this perception was far from
reality for the majority of Cubans prior
to the Revolution
Source: Evans, Walker. Cuba
Source: Evans, Walker. Cuba
Cuban family eating from a breadline.
The Reality of what many Cubans Experienced
in the 1950s
• Many Cubans owned little to no farm land.
• There was a big gap in individual’s wealth and
income.
• Many Cubans were regarded as second class
citizens by the government and foreign
investors.
• The Cuban government was unresponsive to the
needs of its citizens and catered to the demands
of foreign business interests.
What decade do you think this picture was taken?
If you owned this car today, what would be the
pros/cons of owning it?
(List at least two for each)
Cuba: Overview of Society and
Politics in the 20th century
Questions to Consider…
• Should nations interfere in the freedom
and affairs of other nations?
• If so…under what circumstances is this
justified?
The Fight over Cuba
Why Cuba?
• Manifest Destiny
• Example to demonstrate U.S. naval and military power
• Imperialism
• Protect U.S. investments in Cuba
Cuban Exile Community
• Ybor City and the Cigar
Industry (1886)
• Ethnic Community
• Jose Martí
• “Cuba Libre!”
– “Con Todos y Para
Todos”
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/cuba.htm
U.S. Involvement
• Yellow Journalism
• de Lome Letter
• U.S.S. Maine
• Another “Spain”?
• Discussion Question:
What problems could
arise if the U.S. decided
to send troops to Cuba?
Cuban-Spanish-American War
• Cuba had been fighting for independence since
1868.
• The U.S. decided to intervene…but was never
officially asked to do so.
• Many Cubans take offense to this.
• 1898…Spain is defeated in 6 weeks
The U.S. and Cuba: The Early Years
• What message does this picture convey?
• Do you think this is an accurate depiction of U.S./Cuban
relations after the Platt Amendment was enacted?
The U.S. in Cuba
American businesses had a major stake
in much of Cuba’s economy.
The U.S. government and business
supported Cuba’s leader Fulgencio
Batista.
Batista was also supported by the
American Mafia.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/us
-cuba-1902-1997.htm
Fulgencio Batista
Batista’s Rule
Batista’s regime soon
began to attack citizens
whom the government
perceived as a threat.
http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/
funfacts/batist.htm