Castros Cuba Ninety miles south of Florida in the Caribbean Sea lies a country unlike any other in its vicinity... Home to eleven million Spanish-speaking inhabitants, Cuba has had a long history of struggle for independence and social reform For over 400 years, Cuba was a prosperous Spanish colony in the Americas, even though many rebellions were attempted. Today, CUBA is the only Communist country in the Western Hemisphere. Fifty years ago, Cuba was a lively tourist center of the Caribbean. Fidel Castro, Cubas head of government, began the Communist chapter in Cuba's history in 1961 and is still in control to this day. Average Cuban citizens struggle to survive living under the government that stands almost alone in a democratic world. Before Castro gained control, a different man ruled Cuba Fulgencio Batista controlled the Cuban government and ruled as its dictator. Along with total power over the government, Batista also gained control of Cubas economy. Corruption worsened under Batistas rule. Criminals from around the world recognized Cuba as an easy pathway into the American black market. But the United States government continued to maintain relations with Batista and his regime. The United States controlled 90 percent of the telephone and electricity services, 50 percent of the railroads, and 40 percent of the sugar production. With the support of the United States and the Cuban army, Batista had total authority over Cuban society. Furthermore, Batista and his ruling military leaders grew wealthy and lived affluently. During this time, the common Cuban citizen was not enjoying the wealth and benefits given to Batista and his military generals. The Cuban peasants were living in the same manner, having neither land nor money. The unemployment rates rose considerably during this time. The working class was 17% unemployed. The fight to survive during the Batista regime became too much to endure. The Cuban laborers were in great need of new leadership. Fidel Castro lived on his fathers sugar plantation from his birth in 1926. Castro was put through private school and received a degree in law from the University of Havana. Castro was an influential leader in the rebel oppositions to Batista. In 1956, Fidel Castro organized a rebel attack of 82 men. Also helping to weaken Batistas harsh rule was the withdrawal of much needed support from the United States government. President Kennedy declared, "Batista was murdering thousands, destroying the last vestiges of freedom and stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the Cuban people" Three years later, Batista finally made the decision to flee Cuba, leaving Havana free for Castro and his followers to take over. From then on, Castro was the one and only Cuban political leader, declaring Cuba a communist country in 1961. The declaration of communism in Cuba was the beginning of a long list of changes to be made in the country in years to come.communism The primary beliefs of communism include that * privately owned property is illegal, * the money of the country should be given in equivalent amounts to all citizens, and * the government runs the lives of its countrys residents. Castro established a government which allowed only one political party- the Communist Party. Cubans over the age of 16 could vote in elections for local officials, but there is really no choice but one candidate, already approved by Castro. So, Cuba essentially became a dictatorship controlled by Castro, the head of the Communist Party. But the poorest people in Cuba saw changes they approved, such a free medical care, and for the first time, their children could enjoy a free education. As Castro had hoped for, these changes did have impressive short-term effects for Cuba. Serious illness and economic hardship were almost nonexistent and Cuba had the greatest number of teachers and doctors in that area of the Caribbean. Cuba seemed to be looking toward a brighter future However, other unpopular policies were enacted Castro eliminated freedom of the press, imprisoned political opponents and made religion a thing to be ashamed of. Today, although most Cubans are raised in Catholic traditions, few attend church because most of the priests were forced out when Castro took over. Castro then began to resemble other leaders of communist countries, doing things such as bringing industry under government control, taking over all of the banks collecting the property and businesses once privately owned and operated by citizens. Before the Castro revolution, many of the plantations had been owned by private American sugar companies. Today, the vast majority of fertile cropland and pastureland lying between the two mountain ranges is owned by the government, who pays laborers wages for their work. Because of the United States opposition of Communist governments, it was quickly on bad terms with Castro and Cuba The United States government ended all trade and foreign relations with Cuba, establishing an embargo which still exists today. President Kennedy took steps to start training and arming Cuban exiles, who planned to strike against Fidel Castro and his communist government. However, Kennedy decided that it would not look right if the United States was behind any of the planned attacks. But the exiles continued their plans Then, in August,1961, 1300 exiles attacked Cuba, starting at the Bay of Pigs, hoping to make their way across the island to Havana. Without the help of the United States, the exile brigade was crushed by Castros army. As many other world nations ceased trading with Cuba, the Soviet government, which was also Communist, agreed to offer Cuba financial aid. The Soviet Union Much of the country's money was from the Soviet's annual $5.7 billion purchase of sugar Cuba was almost wholly dependent on the support of the Soviet Union and continued to be for decades to come. In October, 1962, the United States and the Soviet Union almost waged war on each other over the placement of nuclear weapons in Cuba The Soviets used their new friendship with Cuba to place nuclear missiles aimed at the United States, missiles which could reach American cities in less than 20 minutes Photo of Soviet missiles in Cuba President Kennedy demanded the missiles be removed Throughout the Cuban missile crisis, lives were threatened, international war almost arose, and hostility between the United States and the USSR heightened. Even with the continued huge support from the Soviets, as the years passed Communism became less and less desirous for Cubas citizens. One Cuban lower class woman described the harsh conditions giving her daily rations, "One roll per day. Four eggs every ten days. No milk at all. For Christmas we get a bonus of half a pound of chicken. Lots of average Cubans tried to escape in search of a better life. In 1980 Castro permitted over 125,000 people to leave Cuba. The Mariel Boatlift was a mass exodus of refugees who opposed Castros regime. Peru, Spain and Costa Rica, along with the United States, agreed to give refuge to the thousands of Cubans seeking political asylum. Castro also released criminals in Cuban prisons. Under U.S. immigration policy, Cubans who reach American shores are allowed to stay, but those found at sea -- even a few yards offshore -- are returned immediately to Cuba. The refugees continue to try to escape. U.S. Customs officials in Miami said they recorded 3,000 Cuban boat people making landfall in South Florida since since the 1990s.. In the early 1990s, the Soviet Union experienced economic failure. Soviet troops were evacuated from Cuba and their financial support withdrawn. Since that time, Cubas economy struggles. Without Soviet assistance, Cubans face housing shortages. 75% of the population live in Havanas crowded apartment buildings. Rural farmers still dwell in thatch-roofed huts without electricity or running water Food is scarce and rationed. Shoppers stand in long lines to buy staples such as eggs and meat. In addition, over the past 40 years, Castro has used government funds to spread revolution throughout Latin America, aiding guerillas in several countries, such as Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile. Although the U.S. government still bans trade with Cuba, some 110,000 Cubans living in the United States visit the island each year, visiting relatives or trying to arrange their emigration. But the United States has an even odder relationship with Cuba. Even though we still oppose Castros government, we remain a constant presence on the island Since 1903, Cuba leases to the United States the land on which the Guanatanamo Bay Naval Station is located. Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base This privilege was given after the U.S. helped Cuba gain independence from Spain in 1898 (the Spanish-American War.) This treaty has the effect of giving the United States a perpetual lease on the land Fidel Castro continues to hold strong control over Cuba, but the future for Communism after his death is unclear Castros Cuba Created for the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies