CUBAN & UNITED STATES

RELATIONS

Melanie Sammons

REVOLUTION LEADER FIDEL

CASTRO BREAKS TIES WITH
U.S. AND ALLIES HIMSELF
WITH THE SOVIET UNION

Cuba leader, Fidel Castro

(left), with Soviet Premier,
Nikita Khrushchev (right).

The US thought that Cuba

was democratic and they
welcomed them as an ally.
But soon, Cuba was jailing
hundreds for opposing the
government.

Castro renounced Cuba's

1952 military pact with the
US, got rid of US assets,
and established Sovietstyle collective farms.

The U.S. broke relations

with Cuba on Jan. 3, 1961,
and Castro formalized his
alliance with the Soviet
Union.

BAY OF PIGS

Cuban exiles being taken

in by Cuban military in
April of 1961.

A group of US-supported
Cuban exiles invaded
Cuba. They landed in Cuba
on April 17, 1961.

The invasion failed and the

Cuban military got rid of
them easily.

SOVIET-MISSILE
CRISIS

Newspapers announcing
that Kennedy issued a
blockade on Cuba.

Soviets attempted
to install missiles in
Cuba so that they
could target the US.

The US formed a blockade

against Cuba, issued by
John F. Kennedy.

Soviet premier, Nikita

Khrushchev, promised to
take down the missiles in
return for the US to not
attack Cuba.

CASTRO ANNOUNCES
HIS RETIREMENT

Raul Castro at the

location of the
announcement of his
retirement.

In January 200, 81-year-old

Castro told the public that
he wasnt well enough to
campaign in the upcoming
elections.

In February 2008, he
ended 49 years of power.
His brother, Fidel Castro,
took over.

CUBA GAINS SMALL

FREEDOMS

A Covenant that was

signed by Foreign Minister
Felipe Prez Roque gave
Cuban citizens the right to
work, fair wages, social
security, education, and
high standards of physical
and mental health.

The government decreased

land restrictions for
farmers to boost the
countrys poor food
reduction and to reduce
dependence on food
imports.

US Congress repealed
restrictions on CubanAmericans visiting Havana
and sending money to the
country.

While warmers ties were

being formed with the US,
Fidel said he plans to
release political prisoners
that he said were
"mercenaries" acting at
the request of the United
States.

POSSIBLE STEPS TOWARD NEW

LEADER NOT NAMED CASTRO

For the first time since

1959, a non-Castro
brother, Jose Ramon
Machado, was appointed
the second-highest
position in Cuba.

Many things became legal

when he was appointed
and many new laws came
into place. He also
released more than 2,900
prisoners.

POPE MAKES LONGAWAITED VISIT

This was the first papal trip

since Pope John Paul II
visited 14 years ago.

Pope Benedict XVI is

pushing for Cuba toward
freedom and believes they
are growing as a country.

EXIT VISA REQUIREMENT

IS DROPPED

Ral Castro promised that

Cubans could leave the
country for as long as they
want without an exit visa
in 2013.

However, people could be

stopped from leaving the
country for different
reasons.

CUBAN-UNITED STATES
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS RESUME

After Alan Gross was freed

from Cuba after 5 years,
relations with the US
turned positive.

The ban for Americans

traveling to Cuba were
lifted.

Obama and Castro met at

the Summit of the
Americas and it was the
first face-to-face meeting
for the countries leaders in
more than 50 years.

HOW MIGHT THE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CUBA AND THE U.S. BE

GOOD OR
BAD?

ITS CHANGING FOR THE

BETTER.
One of the articles I read said that restoring full diplomatic ties is
difficult because the economic embargo on Cuba is easing, but not
ending. I think if they end it, the relations will be a million times
better. Most of these surprising changes are the effect of political
prisoners being exchanged by the US and Cuba. If they continue to
forget about the events that took place during the Cold War, the
relationship can continue to get stronger and we could have yet
another ally. Having embassies in each others countries will
continue to let relationships between leaders grow also. In a third
article that I found, it was announced that embassies in Havana
and D.C. will be re-opened.
In the near future, I think we will have full and working relations
with Cuba. The past is getting put behind and we are entering into
a new era both countries are realizing will help more than hurt.