Cuba – U.S. Relations
By Osman N.
&
Majd N.
Cuba’s Historical Background
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Cuba was discovered by Christopher Columbus in October
27th, 1492 in which he described the scenery as "the
loveliest land ever beheld by human eyes."
Cuba was introduced to slavery in 1522, as colonial
landowners brought African slaves to the work field.
On June 6th, 1762, Great Britain captured Havana (present
day capital of Cuba).
1886 - Slavery is abolished.
1925 - Gerardo Machado becomes president. His regime
was one of the most corrupt in the island's political history.
January 1, 1959 - The Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro
overthrows Batista after months of guerilla warfare.
On April 17th, 1961, the U.S.S.R, U.S.A. and Cuba had
entered the Cold War.
Cuba
Cuban Demographics
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Population: 11,087,330 (July 2011 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 984,607/female 931,167)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 3,947,047/female 3,932,128)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 583,757/female 708,624)
(2011 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.104% (2011 est.)
Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Death rate: 7.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
Literacy rate: total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)
GDP as of 2010: 9,900
Population Pyramid
Fidel Castro Gains Power
& Communism in Cuba
Evolves
 In
1959, the Communist leader Fidel
Castro took power in Cuba. Since Cuba
was only 100 miles away from the U.S.
(distance to Florida). At the time everyone
in the U.S. feared the idea of Communism
creeping it’s way into the U.S.. So they
immediately tried to distance themselves
by physical barriers and trade barriers.
The Cold War and Cuban Missile Crisis
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In May of 1962 rumors had emerged that Russia was planning
on “placing intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba.” After
Castro approved it, Russia had secretly planted nuclear missiles
in Cuba. President Kennedy was shown photographs of the
nuclear sights in Cuba in October 16th. A week later he had
delivered a public announcement informing the country about
the installments of nuclear weapons in Cuba. He took actions
by imposing a naval quarantine on Cuba to stop nuclear
weapons from Russia passing the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba and
the U.S. had exchanged many letters threatening to drop a
missile on the other side. Eventually they had came up with
treaty and it ended the Cold War. Some argue that the Cold
War is not yet over.
Issues
What’s
the issue?
During the 50’s, the U.S. was afraid of the idea of
communism entering the U.S. border. With only 100 miles
separating Florida and Cuba the U.S. decided to place an
embargo from Cuban imports. They also put an end to
traveling to Cuba from the U.S.. It was said that Cuba
offered 1,300 doctors that spoke English to help with the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The United
States rejected the offer.
Who are involved?
U.S. and Cuba
U.S Public Opinion on Cuba Isolation
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Many supporting U.S districts would like to resume relations.
Most Cuban Americans are angered by the Bush
Administration’s strict limits on travel and remittances.
Though a small group of Cuban exiles, most in Florida, do
not want to resume relations with Cuba until the communist
regime is over. A general agreement is ascending
between Cuban-American immigrants that "current policy
has failed and that neither the Cuban nor the U.S.
government has any business getting in the way of
individuals“.
Ending the Cuban Embargo would require congressional
approval and opinions in congress are mixed. Some
members like Lincoln Diaz-Balart are strongly anti-Castro
while others still favor improving relations with Cuba.
U.S Embargo on Cuba
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The U.S’s Embargo against Cuba, also called the Cuban Democracy Act,
was made into a law in 1992 but has been in force since March 1958. It’s
stated purpose was to maintain as long as the Cuban Government
continued to refuse the greater respect for Human Rights.
In 1996, the Helms-Burton act was passed by congress which further
restricted doing business in or with Cuba and restricted giving public or
private to any successor government in Havana unless some claims
against the U.S government are met.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton expanded the embargo even more by
ending the practice of U.S companies trading with Cuba.
In 2000, though, Clinton allowed the sale of “humanitarian” products to
Cuba.
Presently, the embargo is still in effect and is the most enduring trade
embargo in history. But despite the embargo, the U.S is still the largest
exporter to Cuba. 6.6% of Cuban imports are from the U.S but Cuba has
to pay for all the imports with cash since credit is not allowed.
On sep.13th 2011, President Barack Obama extended the embargo until
sep.14th 2012.
Sources
Cuba’s Historical Background:
http://www.history.ca/content/ContentDetail.aspx?
ContentId=222
Cuba Demographics:
http://www.indexmundi.com/cuba/demographic
s_profile.html
Cuba Communism:
http://www.johndclare.net/Basics_ColdWar.htm
 COLD WAR: CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/colc.html
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