9.29.2 Communism and Latin America

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Cuba

Since 1934, under the regime of Fulgencio Batista

Cuba prospered economically because of the close relationship with the United States

the relationship began to change

July 26, 1953

Fidel Castro began a revolution against Batista’s government

The attempted coup resulted in Castro’s imprisonment for two years, but he soon went to Mexico upon his release where he organized a small force known as the “26th of July Movement.”

December 1956

Castro invaded Cuba, and this invasion was portrayed by American journalists as a war of liberation

This characterization caused the support of Batista’s government to wane

Castro took control in January 1959

Castro

began to initiate social reform in Cuba

included...

the seizure of American-owned businesses in Cuba

the execution of potential political rivals

the establishment of a Communist state

began to receive support from the Soviet Union

The United States was concerned with a communist nation just ninety miles off their coast

1961

the United States broke diplomatic relations with Cuba due to the actions of Castro

United States President John F. Kennedy

promised the anti-Castro revolutionary group American support if the revolutionaries attempted to overthrow Castro

promised air support for the coup

April 17, 1961

at the landing of Bay of Pigs in Cuba

the American-trained Cuban rebels did not receive the air support

The rebellion was brutally defeated

This event caused Castro to execute all remaining political enemies left in Cuba

May 1961

Castro official declared Cuba a Communist state

September 1962

the Soviet Union

issued a statement that they would provide weapons to Cuba to protect them from United States' imperialism

October 1962

United States spy planes photographed Soviet missiles based in Cuba

Kennedy issued an ultimatum to the Cubans for the missiles to be removed and then placed a "quarantine" or blockade around Cuba

The United States stated that the missiles will be removed from Cuba, by force, if necessary

Soviet leader Khrushchev ordered the missiles to prepare for an attack

The world believed this was the year the two superpowers would finally clash in violent fashion

Kennedy and Khrushchev avoided cataclysmic disaster

the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles if the United States agreed not attack Cuba and to remove the US missiles from Turkey that could strike the Soviet Union

Castro

decreed a strict government control that caused many Christians and church leaders to flee Cuba to avoid persecution

communist policies

resulted in starvation and housing shortages

1981

Castro began to introduce capitalistic ideas into the economy and allowed anyone who wished to leave Cuba permission to do so

South America and Communism

Argentina

Juan and Eva Peron

overthrew the government

pursued a socialist regime

called for the nationalization of businesses and an increase in the power of the government

1955

a military coup ousted Peron and he went to Spain

remained in chaos until 1973

Peron returned from exile and was elected President

His third wife, Isabel Peron, was elected vice president and succeeded her husband and became the first female to head a government in the Western Hemisphere

Brazil

thrived economically until political tension led the government to seek aid from the Soviets

1964

an anti-communist force of military leaders took control of the Brazilian government to prevent a Communist takeover

The Brazilian government then began to make efforts to privatize property and businesses

1990

the military returned governmental control to the civilians

Chile

saw a socialist come to power through a legitimate elective process

Salvador Allende

supported by the Communists and socialists of Chile

established relations with Cuba and Communist China

nationalized businesses and redistributed private property to the lower classes

policies led to economic chaosme1973

an anti-Communist coup was executed

Allende was removed from power

The new leader, Augusto Pinochet, established a free market and broke relations with Cuba and China