US in the Caribbean gc

• Strategic importance


  The Caribbean is in close proximity to the U.S and as a result of this these islands can be used as bases to ward off European powers and protect the hemisphere
• Ideology


  Based on their ideologies for example Manifest Destiny and Monroe Doctrine the U.S believe they have the God given right to protect the Western Hemisphere. They believe the Caribbean is their backyard and it's their right to secure it. Americans had missionary and humanitarian desires to spread some of the benefit of their civilization (which they thought was superior to people in the Caribbean who they thought were backward). They wanted to build schools and hospitals to eradicate diseases, to improve communication and government. The US saw itself as a champion of democracy especially since World War 1 and was interested in establishing solid foundations in the western Hemisphere including the Caribbean. The US believed that it had to spread its influence in order to remain a world power and also to extend America ideas and intuitions to other parts of the world.
• Economic


  The Caribbean most important trading partner is the U.S. The U.S depends on the Caribbean nations to buy and consume its products in return Caribbean nations is sure of a market to export. However, the U.S used its position and influence in the hemisphere to keep the Caribbean dependent economically
• Political Reasons


  The US wanted to create a situation which would safe guard the US against enemy attack. For this reason the US constructed military bases and centers in the Caribbean. From around the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain became less able to maintain worldwide control of its empire; this in effect gave control of the Caribbean to the US who was better able to defend it. The Caribbean territories were of great importance to the US as members of the United Nations because their support of the US helped make them a super power.
• Relationship between the British Caribbean and the 13 North American Colonies prior to 1776


  The relationship was mostly economic. The British Caribbean exported to the U.S sugar, rum and molasses. The 13 North American colonies exported to the British Caribbean plantation supplies, clothes for the enslaved people and food for the enslaved in the form of codfish, salt beef etc.
• How did the declaration of independence from Britain affected the trade relationship with British Caribbean


  With declaration of independence the British passed the Navigation Acts and began to hunt down any American ship trading with the British Caribbean. This sought of behaviour was indeed mercantilism. This led to the reduction of food for the enslaved people which resulted to starvation. Plantation supplies were also limited which led to the decline in infrastructure. The trade block also laid the foundation for the decline of the sugar industry in the British Caribbean.
• According to the Historian Kamaua Brathwaite in his book the Development of a Creole Society in Jamaica many planters protested that Jamaica should be annexed to the U.S
• Manifest Destiny


  This is the belief that the U.S had the god given right to protect the hemisphere. Additionally Manifest Destiny entailed expanding westward and southward on the north American continent. Early examples of Manifest Destiny are:1803 Louisiana Purchase, 1819 Florida acquisition and the obtaining of territories in the 1840s through the Mexican American War for example California and Texas
• The year 1804 was the year of Haitian independence most Americans were unwilling to support a republic governed by blacks
• America always had trade relations with Cuba. America had massive investment in the Sugar industry and land
• Strategic location


  Cuba's close proximity to the U.S it could be used as a base
• Cuba still had slavery which most southern politicians argued should become apart of the U.S
• Attempts to purchase Cuba


  They were two main attempts to acquire Cuba. Firstly through purchase secondly through sponsored raids. U.S offered 100 million which Spain declined and took as an insult. In Ostend Belgium the attempt for purchase was made again only this time through Bullyism. During the Ten Years War (1868-1878) which ended with the Treaty of Zanzon the U.S sponsored Cuban rebels. This was trying to undermine Spain.
• Reasons for 1895- 1898 Cuban War for independence


  • Need for political independence
  • The right to trade without the permission of Spain
  • The ideas and philosophies of Jose Marti. Marti wrote poems and pamphlets denouncing the Spanish monarchy and strongly believed in democracy
  • Equal rights for all
• In 1898 the U.S was ship main was blown up in Cuba . President Mckinley declared war on Spain , and the U.S entered the war on the side of the Cubans. The war was over within four months.
• The Teller Amendment was passed and stated that the U.S would leave Cuba once peace was restored. They would respect their rights as citizens and not intervene in their political affairs
• Manifest Destiny


  The belief that the U.S had the right to expand Westward and also the belief that it was the U.S god given right to protect the hemisphere.
• Munroe Doctrine of 1823


  The doctrine stated as from 1823 no European power should attempt to colonize any nation in the western hemisphere. If they attempted it could provoke war. If they ignored the doctrine it meant they did not respect the position of the U.S in the Caribbean. It also meant that Europe had no respect for political independence which the U.S wanted to protect
• 1902 Platt Amendment


  Treaty which stated that Cuba could not sign treaties without U.S permission, U.s was allowed to moderate Cuban debt, allowed to build military bases and intervene in Cuba affairs once they felt that their interest was threatened.
• 1904 Roosevelt Corollary


  This was an upgrade of the Munroe Doctrine. U.S pledged to secure democracy and ward off European powers.
• Dollar Diplomacy


  This is where the U.S Pimped millions of Americans dollars into Cuba dominating its resources.
• Gunboat and Big Stick policy

  Gun Boat was the U.S way of bullying over nations
• Treaty of Cession 1916


  This treaty allowed President Wilson to purchase islands in the Caribbean belonging to Denmark. The Islands became the U.S Virgin Islands.
• 1934-The Good Neighbour Policy


  Passed in 1934 by President Roosevelt stated that the U.S would no longer interfere in the affairs of other nations in the Caribbean.
• The Platt amendment robbed the Cubans of their political rights and their independence. They were not allowed to make their own decisions as a nation. Economically Cuba's economy was dominated through Dollar Diplomacy. The people protested by demonstrating, going on strike.
• Even though Cuba benefitted from its involvement in the affairs of Cuba it was the Americans who mostly benefitted.
• Socio Cultural Problems in Cuba


  • High unemployment
  • Peasants were landless
  • Crime and violence corrupted Cuban society
  • Tourism affected Cuban culture specifically in the areas of language and identity
• Americans benefitted economically through dollar Diplomacy while most Cubans were paid cheap labour. Americans got the best job positions and dominated the Cuban economy. Treaty such as the Platt Amendment robbed Cuba of its sovereignity
• From as early 1902 all Cuban presidents ruled in American interest. In 1925 president Machado tried to oppose the U.S but was dismissed. In the 1930's Fulgencia Batista rule strongly in the U.S interest. He allowed the Americans to purchase lands in Cuba and dominate the nation resources. His regime was a brutal dictatorship with no democratic rights . Many were shot or imprisoned for criticizing his regime. Batista regime would give rise to Fidel Castro.
• Why Did Castro oppose Fulgencia Batista


  Fidel Castro opposed Bastista for social political and economic reasons. The social reasons were that he neglected poor cubans right to education and proper healthcare. Rural Cuba remained underdevelop and lacked proper infrastructure. Economically he allowed the U.S to domiate the Cuban economy and resources. He did not care about the poor economic state of the poor Cubans. Political reasons were also crucial when it came to explaining why Castro opposed Batista. Batista ruled in American interest and came to power illegally without election. Castro believed that people had the right to elect their leaders Batista regime was also a brutal dictatorship. Media was censored and no one could oppose his regime they would be either locked up or shot
• Other elements that assisted Castro


  • Catholic church who wanted peace
  • American business men who wanted peace and productive business
  • University students marched and demonstrated against Batista.
  • The role of literature was also used. For example speeches and poems from Jose Marti.
  • Castro also listened to the ideas of his close friend Che Guevera
• What Fidel Castro did after coming to power in 1959


  1. Passing the Agrarian Reform- Taking away the land from the American and placing it under the Cuban government, then distributing it equally among the peasants who were landless.

  2. Nationalized the resources once dominated by the U.S

  3. Improving literacy. Castro suspended school for a year and had the young children of Cuba educate Cubans who were illiterate. This method improved Cuba's illiteracy rate tremendously
• How did Fidel Castro Oppose the U.S


  He opposed the U.S with his socialist policies for example, the Agrarian reform which took back the lands Americans had either bought or invested. He nationalized the resources for example hotel, sugar industry, electricity, railway etc and drove out the Americans. Lastly he became friends with the Soviet Union America' worst enemy during the Cold War
• The Cold War


  This was not a physical war but psychological f battle between communism and capitalism. The Cold War can also be seen as the competition between the U.S and Soviet Union for World Dominance. The Cold War would lead to events such as the Cuban Missile Crises in 1962.
• America's reaction to the Cuba

  • Limit trade relations
  • Cut sugar exports to the U.S
  • Sponsoring the 1961 Bay of Bigs invasion in which Cuban exiles were used in the attempt to overthrow Castro.
  • Placing a embargo which meant cutting trade completely. This embargo
• Agrarian Reform


  Taking away the land from the American and placing it under the Cuban government, then distributing it equally among the peasants who were landless
• Nationalization


  Nationalizing the resources once dominated by the U.S
• Improving literacy


  1. Castro suspended school for a year and had the young children of Cuba educate Cubans who were illiterate

  2. This method improved Cuba's illiteracy rate tremendously
• Oppose the U.S


  • Castro opposed the U.S with his socialist policies, such as the Agrarian reform which took back the lands Americans had either bought or invested
  • He nationalized the resources like hotel, sugar industry, electricity, railway etc and drove out the Americans
  • He became friends with the Soviet Union, America's worst enemy during the Cold War
• Cold War


  A psychological battle between communism and capitalism, a competition between the U.S and Soviet Union for World Dominance, leading to events like the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962