Cuban Revolution

• January 1959


  A group of revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, overthrew the head of the pro-American government of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista.

  • This concerned President Eisenhower as there were close links between Cuba and the USA.
• • American business had invested heavily in Cuba and much of Cuban land was owned by Americans.
  • America also controlled Cuba's oil refineries, electricity and telephone networks, and railways.
  • USA was an important investor in Cuba's main export - sugar

  The new Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, did not want the country's economy to be under American control.
• Tensions were created between Cuba and the USA when Castro came into power for three main reasons

  1. American government reluctantly recognised the new gov but refused to provide economic aid unless Cuba followed guidelines set out by the International Monetary fund (still controlling)
  2. In May 1959, the Cuban gov took over all land in Cuba owned by foreigners. It paid compensation to previous owners - USA refused to accept and recognise this scheme (Castro took all the land anyway)
  3. Castro began appointing communists to his government and in Feb 1960, he made an agreement with the Soviet Union.
• In 1960, Khrushchev agreed top buy Cuban sugar and provide economic aid, meaning that Cuba would no longer have to comply to guidelines set out by the USA, as it no longer needed them.

  (there was also a secret clause of the Soviet Union's and Cuba's agreement, stating that Cuba would receive arms from the SU)

  • The USA was very concerned that a pro-soviet regime was being established just 145 kms away from US mainland
• The USA decided it needed to take action.

  July 1960: Eisenhower reduced the amount of sugar the USA would buy from Cuba

  October 1960: Banned all trade with the country

  January 1961: The USA broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba