Fidel Castro's Rule in Cuba

Fidel Castro, a young lawyer, led the Communist revolution in Cuba against the unpopular United States backed dictator, General Fulgencio Batista, and overthrew him. Sets up first Communist country in the West.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors invites Fidel Castro to the United States but Eisenhower has no intentions of meeting with him and instead Castro gave a talk to the Council on Foreign Affairs and was confrontational during the session as well as angered by some of the audience's questions. This visit caused heightened tension between the United States and Cuba and caused relations to worsen.

Fidel Castro Nationalized Cuba, including all United States based businesses: specifically sugar refineries, which prompted the United States to end diplomatic relations with Cuba and impose a trade embargo which still stands today.

Fidel Castro delivers a four hour long speech to the United Nations General Assembley. He attacks the United States Presidential Candidates and speaks about his support for societ ideaology. He wants the Chinese to be admitted to the United Nations and meets with Soviet supporter Nikita Krushchev.

Cuba is heavily dependant on the Soviet Union for economic and military support, but the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, ending aid to Cuba and severly damaging the Cuban economy, an effect that is still seen today.

The United States attempt to remove Communist Fidel Castro from power. They funded and trained Cuban exiles to assasinate Castro but failed and were humiliated.

Soviet Nikita Krushchev built 42 secret missile sites in Cuba but Unted States spy planes found them so President Kennedy ordered their removal and quarantined Cuba. Krushchev refused to remove them until the United States promised not to invade Cuba if he removed the missiles.

Cuba was in need of supplies and and food because it is a small nation, so in December Fidel Castro agrees to release the American survivors of the Bay of Pigs in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine.

Fidel Castro attempts to help other countries spread Communism and fight against anti-Communism in Ethiopia by countering an invasion from Somalia. Castro also helps a movement with the same ideas in Angola.

President Bill Clinton ends the United States "open door" policy on Cuban refugees and says that Cubans caught at sea will be repatriated but those who reach land will be allowed to stay.