Big Brother Is At It Again:
A Look At U.S. Imperialism In
Cuba
In 1898,
Cuba had formally gained their independence from Spain as a result from the
Spanish-American War. Although, just two years later, the U.S. through an act
of Congress, proceeded to exercise a degree of imperial colonialism over Cuba
and continued to have that stronghold until Fulgencio Batista, a puppet for the
U.S. government, was over thrown by the Castro brothers and Che Geuvara during
the late 1950s.
Throughout
the 1950s-60s, the US and Soviet Union participated in who can stare down who
the longest contest, AKA the Cold War. While these two super powers were busy
seeing who was bigger and badder, just 90 miles away from the tip of Florida,
the Cubans are in an all out uprising. In 1953, Fulgencio Batista was put into
power by the US government to protect their trade businesses and interests.
However, by employing Batista; who was widely hated amongst the people, the US
inadvertently kick-started the Cuban Revolution.
Historically, Cuba’s predominant source of revenue had
been in the sugar industry. This commodity was very much in popular demand in
the U.S., as well as the world market (http://revcom.us/a/056/cubahist-en.html).
Such sheer dependence on one revenue source created a weakness in Cuba’s
economy, which was easily exploited by their neighbors to the north. The sugar
industry offered those in power the ability to remain in power. However, the
workers were stuck in low paying jobs without the ability to better themselves
(http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=23761).
This reality led to the uprising of the middle class, and as a result the
uprising of Marxist theorists brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro who came from a
wealthy sugar planting family.
Meanwhile in Argentina, another revolutionary by the name
of Ernesto “Che” Geuvara became enamored with Marxist and revolutionary
theories after witnessing the destitute peoples of Latin America as a result of
U.S. imperialism. Geuvara traveled throughout South America while studying to
become a physician. It was while he was in México City that he met the Castro
brothers, with whom he shared a vision of anti-imperialism and aiding the lower
class Latin Americans. With the encouragement of the Castro brothers, Geuvara
accompanied them back to Cuba and helped lead guerrilla warfare in the
mountains against Batista’s military regime.
Finally on January 1, 1959 the Cuban rebels led by the
Castro brothers and Geuvara marched into Havana and began to secure their hold
over Batista and his government. The U.S. had originally supported Fidel, but
he refused to appease the U.S. concerns over the spread of communism. As a
result of this in 1961 the U.S. attempted to invade Cuba through the Bay of
Pigs under the Kennedy Administration. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a
disaster for the U.S. and forced Cuba into an alliance with the then Soviet
Union.
Cuba’s economy became wholly tied to and dependent upon
the Soviet Union. This alliance was strengthened when the U.S. blocked trade
between Cuba and U.S. allies and essentially isolated and crippled their trade.
Despite the U.S. trade blockade, Batista’s dictatorship, and world-wide
pressure, Fidel Castro succeeded with his revolution and altering the Cuban
economy and mindset for decades to come.
The Cuban Revolution became a worldwide symbol of
resistance and true independence of U.S. imperialism. Castro implemented
important social achievements such as: increase in literacy, medical care,
improved housing, an end to racist practices, and became a leader in Latin
American culture.
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