Cuban Missile Crisis

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How did tensions arising between Cuba and the USA become part of the cold war?

Significance of Cuba to the USA

Cuba is the largest of Caribbean islands

Its capital,Havana was a centre of commerce and culture

Cuba was also a major producer of sugar and tobacco,which were in high demand in Europe and then USA

Hence USA became more interested in Cuba because of its strategic importance and economic value

USA was greatly concerned with expanding its own territory as well as its security

Monroe Doctrine:Attempts by European powers to colonise in the Americas will be regard as 'acts of aggression' against the USA.European powers such as Spain and France,would reassert colonial rule over the newly independent Latin American states.Hence,USA pledged to avoid involvment in the political affairs of Europe,as well as those of the European colonies still in the Americas.However,USA lacked a credible army and navy and the Monroe Doctrine was not taken seriously by the European powers.In the late 1800,USA have enough power to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.American president Theodore Roosevelt amended it with the Roosevelt Corollary,giving USA thr right of unilateral military intervention in Latin America.

USA viewed Americas as its own sphere of influence

Cuba is near America and is the gateway to the Caribbean Islands is therefore seen to be extremely important for the security of USA

USA intervened in the Cuban War of Independence,supporting Cuban independence fighters against Spain in 1898

After Spain's defeat,USA set up a pro-American government in Cuba

This government is not allowed to make alliances with other countries without USA's approval

Encouraged American companies to invest heavily in Cuba's Tobacco and sugar industries,hence became the backbone of Cuba's economy

By 1926,American companies owned 60% of the Cuban sugar industry

USA was also a major market for its sugar and tobacco produce

USA also invested in the construction of railways and telephone networks among range of other enterprise

However,majority of the Cubans resented the economic dominance of the USA over Cuba

Heavy reliance on Sugar cause sudden and drastic changes in the price of sugar

Furthermore,most of the sugar and tobacco plantations were also owned by wealthy upper-class Cuban who worked with American investors

Difference in income gap between the rich and poor in Cuba

Tensions between the USA and Cuba

USA frequently intervened with Cuban politics

In 1912,the American ambassador to Cuba became administrator,whose views were as eagerly sought after as those of the Cuban President himself

in 1933,American ambassador Sumner Welles conspired with Cuban generals to overthrow the Cuban president at that time

Hence,the Cuban nationalists increasingly resented American actions of installing a series of 'puppet presidents' to guard its own interests in Cuba

Colonel Fulgencio Batista's rule became increasingly corrupt and dictatorial

He exploited Cuba's commercial interests by establishing with the American mafia,who controlled illegal business n Havana,as well as with the large American coporations which invested heavily in Cuba

He made use of his secret police o repress the Cuban people and the opponents of his regime,using violence.

However the American government was reluctant to stop Batista because of the Cold war rivalry with Soviet Union,USA feared that the opposition might bring the communists to power in an area it perceived to be its own backyard

Batista's dictatorial rule cause Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution to rise to power