Non-Profit Organization

Founded in 1970s during

Iran Contra Scandal

Sends U.S. citizens to
Latin America to see how
U.S policy affects
countries.

 Ten Days in Cuba

Official meetings with

educators, economists,
health professionals,
musicians, artists, religious
figures, environmental
lawyer
Also gained informal
perspective by talking with
people on the street
Stayed in community
center in Havana, two day
home stay in rural
southern part of country.

 Learn about :
Cuban

Education
Cuban
Healthcare
Cuban
History
Cuban
Society
Effects of
U.S. Policy
on Cuba
Make Meaningful
people-to-people
connections with
Cubans of all walks of

 Period of Political

instability

U.S invasion and 3 year

occupation
Cuba becomes Americas
Backyard
Corruption rampant
High dependence on U.S.
Fulgencia Batista gains

power, retains it
undemocratically
U.S. support of Batista
Revolution

 Fidel Castro leads revolt(not

originally communist), pushes

out Batista.
U.S. is distrustful of Castro,
thinks he will turn communist.
Cuba turns to Soviet Union as
ally.
Castro nationalizes all foreign
businesses in Cuba
In response, the U.S. sets up
Embargo against Cuba

 Under Eisenhower

administration, U.S.
trained and armed Cuban
exiles to invade island.
Kennedy decided to launch
invasion
Believed that the rest of

Cuba would rise up and

help overthrow
government.
Invasion utter failure
The Cuban people do not
rise up in support
No backup sent

 Carter administration in 1977

established interest section.

Anti-Castro Cuban groups
engage in terrorism against
Cuba , sometimes with U.S.
knowledge/funding

Cubana de Aviacin Flight

455 (73 Dead)

Assassination attempts
against Castro

 Intervened in military

conflicts or provided
funding to:
Angola
Nicaragua
Congo
Ethiopia
Various Middle Eastern

Countries

 Mounting economic

problems in Cuba
Castro decides to let all
who want leave country to
Miami
Also sends 2,746 criminals,
mentally ill and other
unwanted
After 1994 policy change
Any Cubans caught

escaping by sea would be

detained at Guantanamo
and sent back to Cuba

 Cuban Democracy Act

Establishes that changes to embargo can only

happen after transition to democracy

Helms-Burton Act
Extended sanctions to affect other countries trading

with Cuba
Trade Sanction Reform and Export Enhancement

Act
Allows some exceptions(Food, medicine)
However, all of this trade must meet harsh and

strict regulations.

 Collapse of Soviet Union

Cubas economic lifeline

disappeared.
Huge oil shortages,
exports dropped,
economic contracted.
Not starvation, but food
shortages and some
health problems.
U.S. responded by
tightening embargo

 Liberalization of economy
Some increased, but controlled, small-scale capitalism
Increased tourism to bring cash into country

 Prisoner swap
Easing of travel restrictions
Cuba taken off list of State sponsor of terrorism list

Embassies re-opened
This change is mostly ceremonial

 Originally designed to economically collapse Castro

regime
For many decades Cuba could not buy basic supplies
from U.S.
Now it can, but only in cash and cant trade in return.

Shortages of medicine are common

Open trade with Cubas nearest major economy is

almost impossible
Creates a scapegoat for all of Cubas problems

 Most of countrys economy is still in states hands.

Very probably plays a significant role in Cubas

economic problems.
Internal Embargo or external embargo
But embargo plays some role as well, and more
importantly, it is a rallying point for anti-U.S.
sentiment

 U.S. companies highly restricted in trade and

investment in Cuba
Other countries are getting ahead already

U.S. citizens cant visit the country legally(with some

exceptions)
No other country(Except Israel) supports the Embargo
The UN has condmned it

 Humanitarian reasons
Gives Cuban government a rallying point against U.S.
If Embargo is repealed and economic problems persist,

then perhaps this will prove problems in Cuban system

and stimulate more change
Benefits for the U.S.