Cuba Powerpoint

History of Cuba (1956-Present): 

History of Cuba (1956-Present) In 1956 a group of 82 revolutionaries, run by Fidel Castro, landed in Cuba aboard the Granma with intent to establish an armed resistance to overthrow Batista’s government. Because of the arms embargo imposed on Batista by the United States, the government forces were crippled. After the revolutionaries captured Santa Clara, Batista fled the country in 1959. After Castro’s forces captured the capital, he appointed himself Prime Minister in 1959.

History of Cuba (1956-Present) Cont.: 

History of Cuba (1956-Present) Cont. In 1960 Castro’s government expropriated private property without compensation totaling over 25 billion dollars U.S. This prompted the United States to hire the ChicagoMafia to assassinate Castro in 1961. By the end of 1960, all radio, television, and newspapers were state-controlled. In any given year, 20,000 people were imprisoned for “defying” the government. Neighborhood spying leagues were set up, and in January 1961, Castro showed off donated Soviet tanks and weaponry .

Bay of Pigs (1961): 

Bay of Pigs (1961) On April 17 th 1,500 Cuban exiles ,trained by the U.S,stormed the beaches of Playa Giron which were protected by over 230,000 C uban soldiers and various military countermeasures. The battle lasted three days and the Cuban exiles suffered 118 casualties with 1,202 captured. On the other-side, the Cubans lost 176 soldiers with 4,000 wounded. The Bay of Pigs was a complete disaster and the Americans did not achieve their goal of staging a military coup.

Problems in Cuba (Food): 

Problems in Cuba (Food) After the divide of the U.S.S.R, Cuba was affected in an extremely negative way. Imports and exports fell by 80% and the average Cuban lost 20 lbs. in 1994. Currently, all food is rationed by the government. More than 80% of this food is imported by neighboring countries. The situation has improved in recent years, party because of Raul Castro’s criticisms on the communist way of rationing food.

Problems in Cuba (Immigration): 

Problems in Cuba (Immigration) Reaching U.S soil is something many Cubans risk their life to do, in 2007, 4,295 adults and children risked their life to reach the democracy of the United States. Many Cubans wishing to immigrate to the U.S pay smugglers who charge thousands of dollars to ferry them to Miami. Others create homemade rafts that are often destroyed by rough seas.

Problems in Cuba (Free Speech): 

Problems in Cuba (Free Speech) The Cuban Constitution states that free speech is encouraged as long as it’s “in keeping with the objectives of socialist society” and “as long as its content is not contrary to the Revolution” many websites, television channels books, music, and movies are censored. Cuba is currently ranked last in the Press Freedom Index in a 2008 survey and is part of the top ten most censored countries according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.