Cold War Case Study - Charles Robert Stahurski
Timeline of our invovement with Cuba Between 1945-89
Claim- The US and Cuba's relationship moved from a strong disconnection to more hostile, diplomatic talks.
Images and documents to support claim
Video/Podcasts
Cuba Today
Bibliography
Claim- The US and Cuba's relationship moved from a strong disconnection to more hostile,
diplomatic talks.
The Bay of Pigs negativley impacts our relations with cuba
The Bay of Pigs invasion was one of the first attempts sponsored by the U.S. government to overthrow the government of Cuba. The
operation was organized and funded by the CIA. The invasion was a disaster for the administration of President Kennedy, which had
authorized the mission. This operation is one of the first of events that lead to cuban missile crisis, which turned into hostile diplomatic talks
between Fidel Castro and Political structure of America.
Once Cuba's revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, announced his conversion to Marxist-Leninist principles in early 1961, the government of the
United States could no longer abide the provocation of a communist government only 90 miles off the coast of Florida Close to 200,000
Cuban citizens, mostly upper- and middle-class people, had abandoned the island in the early days of the revolution. From Miami and other
Florida cities, they exerted pressure on the U.S. government to restore a more traditional government in Cuba. The CIA undertook to
organize those and other fighters in the Caribbean region who had worked for the CIA in previous insurgent actions.
The Kennedy administration, the CIA, and the exiles badly underestimated the popularity of the revolution in Cuba and the loyalty of the
people there to Castro. Anticipating that the invasion would incite a popular rebellion that would bring down the government, the invasion
plan went ahead with insufficient forces. On April 17, 1961, some 1,500 exiles landed in the swampy terrain of Playa Girón (Bay of Pigs) and
were easily defeated by well-organized Cuban troops. The Kennedy administration, seeking to avoid further identification with this fiasco,
refused to provide the air cover that the exiles had believed was part of the deal.
Most of the invaders were easily captured by Castro's forces and were traded for food and medical supplies in December 1962.
The turnout of the bay of pigs causes a game of missile tag between Cuba's and the America's H-bombs. Hostility erupts between both
diplomatic powers and they struggle to reach a peace agreement to remove all missile sites.
Fidel Castro reads a U.s. newspaper in laughter about the failure of the U.S. diplomacy trying to assassinate him through the bay
of pigs
Timeline of our invovement with Cuba Between 1945-89
Timeline of Cuba
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Cuba/United States Timeline
Next week hundreds of American food and agricultural producers will hawk their
goods — in Cuba. A sort of mini free trade zone in the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
Right now, U.S. food companies are doing a hundred million dollars of business in
Cuba, thanks to recent changes in American law. And, there's currently a bill in
Congress to ease travel restrictions — it's called the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of
2002. It's all part of a transformation going on in Cuba — a transformation in part
driven by the American dollar. Below is a brief timeline of Cuban - U.S. relations.
Follow the links in the timeline to find more detailed information.
1868
Carlos M. Céspedes issued the Grito de Yara and initiated the Ten Years'
War in Cuba (1868-1878), the independence movement that served as the
forerunner of the 1895 Insurrection and the Spanish American War.
1880's
Cuba's dominant economic partner is the U.S.
1886
Abolition of slavery in Cuba
1892
José Julián Martí y Pérez forms El Partido Revolucionario Cubano (Cuban
Revolutionary party). This Cuban political party was organized first in New
York City and Philadelphia and soon spread to Tampa and Key West,
Florida
1895
Mari y Perez returns to Cuba. The Cuban independence movement
(Ejército Libertador de Cuba) issued the proclamation "Grito de Baire,"
declaring Independencia o muerte (Independence or death). Rebels led by
Jose Marti resist Spanish occupation
U.S. President Grover Cleveland proclaimed U.S. neutrality in the Cuban
Insurrection.
1896
The U.S. Senate recognized Cuban belligerency when it passed
overwhelmingly the joint John T. Morgan/Donald Cameron resolution
calling for recognition of Cuban belligerency and Cuban independence.
1897
William Randolph Hearst's NEW YORK JOURNAL and Joseph Pulitzer's
NEW YORK WORLD battle for subscribers with sensational stories about
Spanish repression in Cuba.
Spain grants limited autonomy to Cuba.
1898
USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor.
The United States Government issued an ultimatum to the Spanish
Government to leave Cuba. Spain rejected the ultimatum on April 1, 1898.
The U.S. Congress agreed to President McKinley's request for intervention
in Cuba, but without recognizing the Cuban Government, April 13, 1898
The U.S. Congress by a vote of 311 to 6 in the House and 42 to 35 in the
Senate adopted the Joint Resolution for War with Spain which included the
Teller Amendment, named after Senator Henry Moore Teller (Colorado),
which disclaimed any intention of the U.S. to exercise jurisdiction or control
over Cuba except in a pacification role and promised to leave the island as
soon as the war was over. President McKinley signed the resolution on
April 20, 1898 and the ultimatum was forwarded to Spain.
April 25, 1898, war is declared.
August 12, 1898, ceasefire announced.
Spain grants Cuba her independence, December 10 , 1898.
18991901
U.S. military government in Cuba
1901
Protectorate provisions known as the Platt Amendment are incorporated
into the Cuban Constitution. The Amendment grants U.S. the right to
intervene in Cuba's internal affairs and states Cuba cannot enter into
treaties or financial relationships with other countries. U.S. can also
maintain a naval base on the island.
1930's
Worldwide depression cripples Cuba's export economy.
1934
Under President Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy, the Platt Amendment
is repealed, although the U.S. maintains its naval base.
General Fulgencia Batista rises to power .
1953
Fidel Castro leads first rebellion against Fulgencia Batista, fails, and is
imprisoned.
1955
Batista releases Castro from prison.
1956
Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and a band of revolutionaries set out from
Mexico to Cuba to launch guerilla warfare against the Batista regime.
1958
Castro's guerilla army forces the Batista regime to flee Cuba on New Year's
Eve.
U.S. is only second government to recognize revolutionary Cuba.
1959
Agrarian reform begins.
Cuba nationalizes U.S. corporate assets
1960
U.S. sanctions and a partial embargo are imposed on Cuba.
U.S. cuts all diplomatic relations with Castro's Cuba.
1961
Kennedy Administration gives green light for Bay of Pigs Invasion by CIA-
trained Cuban exiles.
Bay of Pigs debacle results in total embargo of Cuba.
Castro officially declares his adherence to Marxist-Leninist political
philosophy.
1962
Cuban Missile Crisis begins when President Kennedy announces presence
of Soviet missiles in Cuba to the American public.
Late
60's
Cuba - Soviet relations strengthen.
1975
Organization of American States (OAS) lifts diplomatic and economic
sanctions on Cuba.
U.S. allows U.S. foreign subsidiaries to trade with Cuba.
Cuba's Socialist Constitution is declared.
1976
Terrorist attack on Cuban airliner creates renewed tensions between Cuba
and the U.S. Former CIA employee Louis Posada Carriles is tried for the
crime.
1978
Castro releases 400 political prisoners.
1980
Castro relaxes emigration restrictions. Mariel Boatlift begins a massive
migration of approximately 125,000 Cubans to the U.S.
1986
U.S.S.R. initiates a five year, $3 billion aid effort to Cuba.
1988
Sen. Claireborne Pell (D-RI) suggests easing Cuban embargo for
necessary medicines.
1990
Cuban state television broadcasts first unedited weekly news program.
1991
U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) finds no evidence of human
rights abuses in Cuba.
1992
Torricelli Bill, aka The Cuban Democracy Bill, tightens U.S. embargo by
prohibiting transactions between U.S. foreign subsidiaries and Cuba.
UN condemns U.S. embargo of Cuba
1993
Cuba holds first popular election since the Revolution. Elections consist of
one candidate per position with voters choosing either to elect or reject the
candidate.
1994
Largest Cuban migration since the Mariel Boatlift occurs.
On February 24, 1996, Cuba shoots down two civilian aircrafts piloted by
Brothers to the Rescue, An anti-Castro humanitarian outfit.
1996
1998
The Helms-Burton Act (The Cuban Liberty And Democratic Solidarity Act
Of 1996) is passed by Congress, granting U.S. citizens the right to sue
foreign investors profiting from expropriated U.S. assets.
Pope John Paul II visits Cuba and attacks the U.S. embargo as
"deplorable." Pope also calls on Castro's Communistic government to
loosen political restrictions and embrace pluralism.
Sources: The Oxford Companion to American History; Library of Congress: The World
of 1898: The Spanish-American War; Crucible of Empire: PBS Online; Documents in
American History, Mt. Holyoke College; George Washington University, National
Security Archive; The CIA Freedom of Information Page, Bay of Pigs; The State
Department: The U.S. and Cuba
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Images and documents to support claim
Robert F. Kennedy's Statement on Cuba and Neutrality Laws
Robert F. Kennedy's Statement on
Cuba and Neutrality Laws, April 20, 1961
The Neutrality Laws were a series of acts intended to prevent the U.S. from being drawn into a war. Since the U.s. were deploying and training Cuban Patriots
invade Cuba, it breaks the context of these laws. Robert F. Kennedy claims that training a malicious group to invade another country is criminalizing and wrong.
These diplomatic Statements used by politicians were used to cover up the embarrassment and failure of the Bay of Pigs operation to lower the heat with Cuba.
The stradgies like this example were used commonly by the diplomacy power that pushed Cuba and America to more diplomatic and hostile talks.
Bay of Pigs and Castro Assination attempts results Political Cartoon
The Bay of Pigs and the attempts to assasinate castro were ways covertly over throw Cuba's government. Tactics used to gain
control completly backfires on America's diplomatic power. The exploding cigar was used by the Special Operation Unit. Since it failed,
Cubas hostility during the cold war escalated into a game of missle tag.
Cuban Missile Crisis Historic Photo
Reconnaissance photo of an intermediate ballistic range missile base in
Cuba in 1962. Cuba's movement to ballistics cause a stir of fear for safety of citizens
in populated areas in the United States. Immediate actions were taken by the America's
diplomatic power to have agreements in removal of missile bases in Cuba and the U.s.
Most of these agreements struggled and it became a endless fear of nuclear warfare
between the citizens of America and Cuba.
Cuba Today
For the first time since 1959, Cuba faces life after Castro
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/for-the-first-time-since-1959-cuba-faces-life-after-castro-8509015.html
Fidel Castro makes surprise parliament appearance amid leadership speculation
worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/24/17076603-fidel-castro-makes-surprise-parliament-appearance-amid-leadershipspeculation?lite
Cuba’s Raul Castro jokingly hints at possible retirement
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2013/02/23/cubas-raul-castro-jokingly-hints-at-possible-retirement/
Links Of Wonder!
These web links, located on the right side of the webpage, offer great up-to-date articles about the current leaders and the political world of
Cuba in today's society.
Cuba's New President, Raúl Castro, brother of Fidel Castro
New
President of Cuba Conversing with Fidel Castro
Bibliography
Bibliography
Bay of Pigs
"Bay of Pigs invasion." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/252729?terms=bay+of+pigs
Fidel Castro
Pino, Julio César. "Fidel Castro." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013
http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1688491?terms=fidel+Castro
Cuban Missile Crisis reconnaissance photo
"Cuban Missile Crisis reconnaissance photo." Image. John F. Kennedy Library. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 5 Mar.
2013.http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1759140?terms=cuban+missle+crisis