Cuba-Key terms
Platt Amendment: It was the basis for all foreign policy in Cuba after the
S/A War. It gave the US the right to oversee Cuba’s finances,
intervene in domestic affairs and lease ports to the navy, as well as
Guantanamo Bay
10-year war: The first wide spread Cuban revolt against Spanish Rule. It
took place in 1968 and it was the start of the push towards achieving
independence from Spain
Spanish/American War: The US declared war on April 25, 1898 and had
defeated Spain in a few months. It was done for a variety of reasons,
but primarily to protect US interests.
Jose Marti’: A Cuban exile from the 10-year war that fought for
independence. He was a very well educated leader of the movement
and became the symbol of independence. He wanted a Cuba free of
outside involvement
1895 War: War against Spain by a group of Cuban radicals led by Jose Marti
who was killed in the war. The Spanish won
PIC: The Partido Independiente de Color, it was the first black political
party in the Western Hemisphere. They called for full racial equality,
social reform and an end to discrimination
Batista: He led a military coup in 1933 and made Ramon Grau the new
president. The US supported Batista, a powerful general, over Grau.
He was in power until 1944 and again in 1952
Guantanamo Bay: After the repeal of the Platt Amendment, this remained as
one of its provisions
Moncado Barracks: It is a military post that the M-26-7 attacked, led by
castro
July Movement: A group of about 150 militants led an assault on the
Moncado Barracks on the 26th of July, 1953. It was led by Castro,
giving him big time acclaim.
M-26-7: 26th of July Movement became known as this. Most of the rebels
were tortured or executed. Castro led the defense of the attack
Granma: In 1956, Castro and the M-26-7 attacked Batista’s troops aboard
the Granma, he came from Mexico
“Che” Guevara: Revolutionary that believed in the “New Man”, he was the
right hand man of Castro
Agrarian Reform Act of 59: This law limited the size of an individual
landholdings, all excess land was nationalized. This law affected US
companies that still owned land. It angered the US and led to future
issues like the BAP and CMC
“The Victory”/BOP: Angered by the Agrarian Reform Act, the US
government tried to overthrow the government. The US sponsored air
raids, Castro declared Cuba a socialist nation…then the US supported
1400 Cuban exiles as they landed at the Bay of Pigs. About 200,000
dissidents across Cuba were arrested. It was a massive failure for the
US and a victory for Cuba
Operation Mongoose: It was instilled by the CIA, it was aimed at
overthrowing the Castro government. It included acts of sabotage\
included economic and political targets and funded opposition groups
October Crisis/CMC: The Cuban government was increasingly worried of a
US attack on Cuba so they turned to the Soviets. Due to the USSR
increasing its shipments of weapons to Cuba, the US got pissed. In
October, US reconnaissance found nuclear missiles which led to a
standoff, the USSR backed down which angered the Cubans
“New Man”: Coined and embraced by Che, this new man would not need
financial incentives and would continue to work hard for the
government because of his belief on the revolution, this would lead to
increased productivity.
CDR’s: Committee for the Defense of the Revolution. They basically helped
to promote ideas of the revolution. They tried to find “enemies of the
revolution”. It included all people, and by the late 70’s 80% of the
population was part of it.
Non-Aligned Movement: a group of 96 countries from around the world that
grouped together and selected Cuba as their its chair. United Nations
Mariel Boatlift: In 1979 the Cuban government tried to restore good
conditions with its citizens so they allowed people to visit Cuba and
return. Many brought money and pictures of a better life. It caused
issues. Due to an economic crisis in Cuba, Carter said that Cuban exiles
would be allowed asylum. @ 125,000 Cubans left the island and from\
the port of Muriel in 1980.
Rectification of Errors: Issued in 1986 its goal was to increase the role of
the state in the economy. Basically all the economic reforms of the
70’s were gone and they went back to state owned businesses.
Productivity plummeted because motivation was gone
Operation Carlota: Named after an enslaved Cuban who had died in a revolt
in 1843, Castro decided to send forces to assist the MLPA(popular
movement for the liberation of Angola) against an invasion by South
Africa. It involved the US, South Africa, Soviet Union, Angola and\
Cuba in a struggle for government control in Angola after the
Portuguese left. The MLPA was a black nationalist movement and the
South Africans were worried of its impact on Apartheid. The US did
not want the socialist MLPA to take power since they thought they
were connected to the Soviets.
Raul Castro: Castro’s brother, he is the current leader of Cuba
Varela Project: It was a movement that proposed reforms of free speech,
free assembly, multi-party elections, private employment and freedom
for political prisoners. The movement accumulated 11,000 signatures,
the government eventually cracked down on the project
US Congressional Acts against Cuba: These were the Cuban Liberty and
Democracy Act of 1992 and the Libertad Act of 1996. The acts
provided support for pro-democracy groups and Cuban exile\
companies. It also said that the US would not make deals with any
government run by a Castro.
Elian Gonzalez: Boy who fled Cuba with his family in the late 90’s. He was
found and brought to the US, it became an international issue
Paladores: legalized small restaurants, by 1995 there were about 200,000
Cuban citizens that had licenses. They were heavily taxed.
“Special Period”: This was done in 1990, due in part to the downfall of the
soviet union, it was a time of limited economic reforms intended to
curtail the economic problems. The limited reforms was the allowing
of paladores and other small businesses, but problems with the
economy increased, including the rise of the black market and other
social issues