DECOLONIZATION AND COLD WAR (CARRIBEAN LENSE)

• What was colonialism like in the Caribbean during the second half of the twentieth century?

  • continued exploitation of resources, political dominance by colonial powers, and social inequalities
• Why did the Cuban Revolution start, and why did Castro align himself with the Soviet Union?

  The Cuban Revolution started due to widespread dissatisfaction with the corrupt Batista regime, socioeconomic inequality, and U.S. intervention. Castro aligned with the Soviet Union for political and military support against U.S. aggression and to secure aid for Cuba's development
• How did Puerto Ricans resist their status as a territory under US control?

  Puerto Ricans resisted their status as a territory under U.S. control through protests, advocacy for independence or statehood, and cultural preservation efforts
• How has Puerto Rico's status as a territory (rather than a state) affected people living on the island

  Puerto Rico's status as a territory has affected people living on the island by limiting their political representation, economic opportunities, and access to federal resources, while also maintaining cultural ties to the United States
• How did other nations in the Caribbean learn from the example of the successful Cuban Revolution

  Other nations in the Caribbean learned from the successful Cuban Revolution by seeking to challenge colonial powers, advocate for sovereignty, and pursue socialist policies to address social and economic inequalities
• Compare the ways in which the United States and the Soviet Union sought to maintain influence over the course of the Cold War.

  • Military Alliances: NATO vs Warsaw Pact
  • Economic Assistance
  • Propaganda and Ideology
  • Proxy Wars
  • Space Race
  • Cultural Influence
• Military Alliances

  The United States formed military alliances like NATO to contain Soviet influence, while the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact to counter NATO
• Economic Assistance

  The United States provided economic aid to countries to prevent them from turning communist, known as the Marshall Plan. The Soviet Union provided economic and military assistance to countries aligning with communism
• Propaganda and Ideology

  Both sides used propaganda to promote their ideologies. The United States promoted democracy and capitalism, while the Soviet Union promoted socialism and communism
• Proxy Wars

  Both sides engaged in proxy wars in different parts of the world, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, to spread their influence without direct conflict
• Space Race

  The United States and the Soviet Union competed in space exploration to demonstrate technological superiority and influence
• Cultural Influence

  Both sides used cultural exchanges, such as music, literature, and art, to promote their values and ideologies