RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA
 
Introduction
             In the year 1492, Columbus set sail on his first voyage to prove that the earth was round. He tried to sail to India not knowing that there would be large continents blocking his path. The flow of the Atlantic Ocean’s current carried Columbus’s ships to Cuba. Therefore, Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain. Spain retained control of Cuba until they lost the Spanish-American War of 1898 and gave Cuba to the United States as a part of the Treaty of Paris.

        On May 20, 1902, the United States gave Cuba its independence following a fifty year struggle, making it the last Spanish-American colony to recieve its freedom.  However, the Platt Ammendment gave the United States the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to preserve Cuban independence and stability.  In turn, the Platt Ammendment ensured the stability of the United States.

        Cuba was an important country to the United States because of trade and military control. It was easy for ships to take goods into Cuba because of the typical Atlantic Ocean currents. Due to the Platt Ammendment, the United States and Cuba began years of interaction that involved big name players like John F. Kennedy and Fidel Castro, events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Bay of Pigs, and an important naval base at Guantanomo Bay.

 
  • Timeline
  •  Kennedy
  • Cuban Missile Crisis
  •  Sanctions
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    If you have comments or suggestions, email me at KRichard@mail.snu.edu
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