conditions: economic, social, impact of war and political

• Political: relating to the government or public affairs of a country
• Political:

  domination of USA: the Platt Amendment of 1901-1934- gave the USA control over Cuban foreign policy.
• Political:

  Guantanamo bay became a US military base
• Political:

  Batista's excess in repression, torture and persecution affecting his image, allowed Castro to rise.
• Political:

  student protests and anti-barista demonstrations were threatening to topple his government. he used violence to kill student protestors. he refused to hold elections in March 1956.
• Political:

  he killed 20,000 people during his dictatorship
• Economic:

  the worlds largest supplier of sugar- exposed the economy to price fluctuations.
• Economic:

  the sugar crop was worth $200m in 1929, but was only worth $40m in 1932.
• Economic:

  the US was committed to buying 50% of the annual sugar crop.
• Economic:

  the sugar trade brought in 80% of Cuba's foreign earnings.
• Economic:

  the Banco Nacional collapsed, and the USA took economic control of Cuba for over three years.
• Economic:

  unemployment was 17% in 1956-57- sugar workers were seasonal, and mostly owned by upper class or foreign companies.
• Economic:

  1/4 of all workers lost their jobs during the Great Depression
• Economic:

  Inflation- raising prices of imports, but lower sugar prices in the international market, therefore no money to buy imports.
• Economic:

  Inflation- it was threatening the living standards of all Cubans, rising to 40% a year for foodstuffs whilst pay levels stagnated.
• Social:

  20% of the population lived in Havana yet it accounted for over 80% of investment in construction and 62% of salaries and wages.
• Social:

  Rural areas lacked running water or electricity.
• Social:

  ownership was upper class only
• Social:

  50% was illiterate
• Economic:

  rural areas suffered from poor health and educational services