The Cuban Revolution, 1959 (AQA GCSE History) : Revision Note

Why was Cuba important to the USA in the 1960s? - Timeline & Summary

Cuba was historically important to the USA both economically and politically. In 1898, the USA helped Cuba gain independence from Spain. Throughout the 20th century, American businesses invested heavily in Cuba’s raw materials, especially sugar. In 1925, Cuba produced five million tons of the world's 25 million tons of sugar. By the 1950s, the USA had strong economic influence and believed this gave them a right to be involved in Cuban politics.

Geographically, it was important for the USA to maintain a good relationship with Cuba. Cuba is only 90 miles away from the USA. An enemy of the USA could ally with Cuba to use its proximity to attack or invade the USA. 

US involvement in Cuba before 1959

• The USA was heavily involved in Cuba's economy

  • US businesses controlled and profited from Cuba's sugar trade

  • US businesses also owned all of Cuba's oil refineries, railways and electricity

• The US also attempted to control the political identity of Cuba

  • From the 1900s to the 1930s, the US military had suppressed three attempted revolutions in Cuba 

  • In 1933, the US government supported a military coup by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista

    • Batista became the president of Cuba

Batista's government

• Batista was a corrupt leader

  • Batista stopped elections and refused to follow the Cuban Constitution

  • He allowed US businesses and rich Cubans to thrive while ignoring the struggles of the poor in society

  • American mobsters began illegal businesses in Cuba, which Batista allowed

    • This increased American tourism to Cuba

• The USA ignored Batista's corruption

  • US businesses were profiting from his rule

    • As a result, the US government provided Batista with weapons to maintain control of Cuba

Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution

• In November 1956, revolutionary Fidel Castro began an uprising against Batista

  • He recruited Che Guevara to join his uprising

  • Castro began a guerrilla warfare campaign against the Cuban government

• In 1958, the international media supported the Cuban revolutionaries

  • At this stage, the US government stopped giving money and soldiers to Batista's government

• On 1st January 1959, Castro and Guevara's forces defeated Batista

  • The rebels reached Cuba's capital city, Havana

  • Batista fled from Cuba to the Dominican Republic

• Castro formed a new government in 1959

US issues with the Cuban Revolution

• These issues affected the USA's relationship with Cuba in the 1960s

  • Eisenhower reduced trade with Cuba

    • In July 1960, the USA bought less sugar from Cuba

    • By October, Eisenhower began a trade embargo with Cuba

  • By 1961, US-Cuban relations had broken down

    • The US government ended their diplomatic relationship with Cuba

  • Cuba was pushed much closer to the Soviet Union

    • They relied on the Soviet Union, rather than the USA, for protection and trade