Impacts of the Cuban Revolution

In 1952, Cuba was ruled by a dictator named Fulgencio Batista. Under Batista’s

dictatorship, citizens of Cuba faced high rates of unemployment and very poor conditions.

There was great conflict happening in Cuba during this time. This conflict eventually led to

change: The Cuban Revolution. In 1959, Fidel Castro seized power of Cuba. He eventually

declared Cuba a communist state.

There were immediate impacts of the Cuban Revolution. Military and government

workers who were loyal to Batista were either exiled. executed, or imprisoned. Initially,

the new government was progressive. There were improved education policies and

improved healthcare. However, in 1960 Castro actively pursued communist ideals. Civil

rights were severely restricted. All land, businesses, farmland, and factories became

property of the state. Media outlets were shutdown, and even churches were closed.

There were also some long-term impacts of the Cuban Revolution. The Cuban

Revolution inspired some other countries in Latin America, like Chile and Nicaragua, to

have their own political revolutions. In addition, Cuba made strong alliances with the

Soviet Union, which brought conflict with the United States. Lastly, over 500,000 Cuban

citizens migrated to the United States because of the conditions after the Cuban

Revolution.

Cuba and the United States have had a complicated relationship. Even though

conditions for citizens were poor in Cuba during Batista’s rule, its relationship with the

United States was friendly. The U.S. was especially invested in Cuba’s sugar industry. The

turning point in Cuba’s relationship with the U.S. happened once Castro took over and

alliances were made with the Soviet Union. The U.S. placed embargos on Cuba. This

eliminated trade between Cuba and the U.S. The relationship between Cuba and the U.S.

got even more complicated when Castro allowed Khrushchev, the Soviet Union’s leader,

to build a missile launching pad and a house for missiles on the island. This was a major threat to the United States because Cuba is only 90 miles away. This was called the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Kennedy was able to diffuse the Cuban Missile Crisis with

Cuba and the Soviet Union. However, Cuba’s relationship with the United States has still

been tense. It wasn’t until 2009 that the U.S. loosened travel restrictions to Cuba for

family members. The relationship is continuing to improve. In 2015 the U.S. and Cuba

opened embassies in each country. President Obama was the first U.S. president in 88

years to visit Cuba in 2016. Cuba’s relationship with the United States is slowly recovering.

There were significant impacts of the Cuban Revolution. The citizens of Cuba felt

immediate impacts, while some long-term impacts left Cuba with a strained relationship

with the United States.

• I read the passage.

• I did not read the passage.

Match the following

• Dictator of Cuba after 1959

• President Obama

• President of the U.S. during Cuban Missi

• Embargo

• 1st President to visit Cuba in 88 years

• Fidel Castro

• Leader of the Soviet Union during Cuban

• President Kennedy

• Economic block of trade

• Khrushchev

In 1959, _________ seized power of Cuba

• Batista

• Castro

• Khrushchev

• Kennedy

List three immediate impacts of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba made strong alliances with ____________, which created conflict with the

United States.

• China

• Spain

• Haiti

• The Soviet Union

The United States placed ___________ as a trade barrier with Cuba,

• embargos

• trariffs

• quotas

• all of the above

Which best describes the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Cuba did not allow the Soviet Union to store their missiles on Cuba

• The US allowed the Soviet Union to store their missiles in the States.

• Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to store their missiles on Cuba

• none of the above

Which is a sign that Cuba’s relationship with the U.S. is improving?

• Embassies have been opened in each country

• A U.S. President has recently visited Cuba

• Travel restrictions from the U.S. to Cuba have been loosened

• all of the above

In 4-5 sentences, describe the impacts of the Cuban Revolution. Use the following

vocabulary words in your response.

Castro, Civil Rights, Alliance, Embargo, and Conflict.

A common theme in Social Studies is ”conflict leads to change”. Explain how Cuba is

an example of conflict leading to change. In your answer, identify the conflict and

identify the change.