Is holding back our country from countless opportunities worth keeping an embargo that is no longer justifiable? The United States embargo on Cuba is doing this. The United States should lift its embargo against Cuba in totality because it has failed to work by creating harm to the United States and Cuba and is now a relic of the past. Our country needs to look towards a unified future where the Cuba and United States can cooperate.
For decades the United States has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba. The embargo placed in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy restricts trade, prohibits the sale of food and medicine, and makes travel to Cuba illegal (Berrios 182). The purpose of this law was to isolate Cuba by creating sanctions on other nations
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While may seem true to a person of limited understanding, this is not true. People may argue that the country is still communist so the embargo should stay in place. However, we trade with many other communist countries such as China so Cuba should not be an exception (Griswold). The demise of the communism in Cuba is also inevitable. Communism will end and transition just like it has other countries such as Poland and Latvia (Schunk). The embargo is also not going to achieve its objectives because it has failed the past few decades so there is no reason to think it will ever work in the future. As history has shown us, economic sanctions rarely work. Examples of this are shown in sanctions against Burma, Iran, and North Korea (Weinmann). Economic sanctions against these countries have failed to change the behavior of any of those oppressive regimes. The U.S. embargo on Cuba is an outdated policy that only restricts the United States and hurts the Cuban people. The United States needs to listen to its people and lift the embargo. Recent surveys at the Washington Post showed that about 60 percent of Americans support lifting the embargo and travel restrictions (Schunk). Even the majority of Cuban Americans support lifting the embargo (Weinmann). As Americans, we a have the duty to stop this useless embargo by writing to Congress in order to show them that America wants the embargo to be lifted (“End the Book Embargo against
The 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act grants Cubans a unique place in U.S. Immigration Law and Policy by declaring that all those who arrive in the United States are accepted as political refugees, and are eligible to become legal permanent residents after one year (Marc R.). It was created to offer protection to Cubans escaping oppression from their Communist government. As might be expected, this law is always the debate of Cubans who think about coming to America seeking freedom and a better life. For many Cubans to reach American territory is all a dream, mostly because of the chances of attaining a better economic situation for themselves and their families. A lot of them also pursue to reunite with their families in the United States after many years of separation. Some others are opponents of the Castro regime. Because they don’t have freedom of speech and can see their lives threatened if they speak out against the government, seek for more political freedom and a democratic form of government, in a land of capitalism where there are fewer restrictions and more opportunities.
economic growth comes from agriculture and exports to and from Europe. Since America has had an embargo on Cuba since 1962 neither countries trade with each other because of many disagreements about governing techniques and Fidel's unwillingness to comply with U.S. instructions. Cuba’s long history and culture has contributed to many economic and social growth through out the world, but Cuba is still struggling to try to stable their economy.
The naval blockade of Cuba was retaliation from John F Kennedy finding out about the Soviet Union creating secret nuclear missiles on Cuba. The time is October 22, 1962; the State of Union is not at peace. The United States and Soviet Union are in what is known as The Cold War, which lasted from 1945-91. The war leads to international crisis with alliances, naval battles and the Soviet Union, our biggest threat.
The U.S.’s relationship with Cuba has been arduous and stained with mutual suspicion and obstinateness, and the repeated U.S. interventions. The Platt agreement and Castro’s rise to power, served to introduce the years of difficulty to come, while, the embargo the U.S. placed on Cuba, enforced the harsh feelings. The two major events that caused the most problems were the Bays of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis.
Is the Cuban Embargo a cruel reminder of the Cold war, or is it an important factor of American Democracy fighting the spread of Communism? The Cuban Embargo was a declaration issued by American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The embargo was issued because of the threat that the Communist government of Cuba, led by Fidel Castro in 1959, had on American security, assets and democracy at the height of the Cold War. Some 1.8 billion worth of industrial assets were lost with Cuban communist nationalization. (Mr. D’Angelo personal interview) In support, constant influence of the Soviet Union during the early 1960s, particularly the time between 1961 and 1962, led to the creation of the embargo. In addition, the Soviet Union had planned to build a missile base on the island, which drove the Cold War to its height and made nuclear destruction a real possibility. Consequently, The Embargo called for total economic sanctions for Cuba and the institution of a blockade around the island, as shown by the seven-day stand off that followed the embargo with the USSR. Unfortunately, this blockade completely restricted any trade to foreign countries and even restricted travel to and from the island. The shattering of The USSR, or Soviet Union, should have called for the end of the embargo, but instead the federal government, in 1992, further restricted the embargo with the 1992 Cuba Democracy Act and the 1996 Helms-Burton Act. The Cuban Democracy Act was a bill presented by U.S. Congressman Robert Torricelli and passed in 1992, which prohibited foreign-based subsidiaries of U.S. companies from trading with Cuba, travel to Cuba by U.S citizens, and family remittances to Cuba (Lee). Most importantly, the Helms-Burton Act extended the territoria...
American international relations with Cuba have almost always been tense. The cold war solidified the growing negative relations, and the embargo embodied it. But now that the cold war is over, as is the Cuban missile crisis, we’re left to wonder if the embargo is really necessary. Should the United States lift the embargo of Cuba? All of the evidence, be it economic, diplomatic, or social, points to yes. We should lift the embargo.
Griswold, Daniel T. “No: The embargo harms Cubans and gives Castro an excuse for the policy failures of his regime.” 4 September 2003
The United States Government tried various schemes to assassinate Fidel Castro and continues to economically isolate Cuba. The CIA even tried to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs to remove Fidel Castro from power, but the Cubans successfully fought it off.
Countries that were once colonies went through various stages of evolution in order to develop economically, politically, and culturally while gaining independence. Cuba, a former colony of Spain, has changed drastically throughout the years. Although in some cases, colonialism has had a positive effect on the country in the area regarding education and health care and on the other hand, has created an economic gap between the citizens. The government, social structure, and economy in the country can be compared and contrasted throughout the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial years.
The Cuban Revolution, lasting from 1953 to 1959, imposed a communist regime onto a republic-turned dictatorial government, a change that resulted in the US trade embargo against Cuba in 1960. Fidel Castro, a prominent leader of the revolution, sought to overthrow the U.S.- backed president, Fulgencio Batista, in order to implement a communist government in Cuba. He proved victorious in this effort and further antagonized the U.S. by establishing a relationship with the Soviet Union. These developments compelled U.S. president Eisenhower to place an economic embargo on Cuba. This transformation in diplomatic relations placed Cuba in a perpetual state of poverty as it was cut off from its neighbor, the most powerful country in the world. Photographer
... the majority of which sought refuge in the United States. With the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba now stands at a crossroads. The battle cry has changed from “ Socialism or death to Resist, struggle and win” (Castro’s Cuba II). Hopefully, Castro and/or Cuba will not be forced into a market-based economy and all the materialistic commodities that go along with capitalism. In my opinion, Castro should hold out for as long as possible griping to the former battle cry “Socialism or death”. Only time will tell what the fate of Castro’s Cuba will be. Trade might once again flourish the economy, tourism might open up new economic opportunities and foreign investments from Italy, France and Spain could possibly dig Cuba out the current economic hole it’s in. Until then however, the battle against capitalism must not lose any of its vigor.
American settlers in East and West Florida declare independence and rebel against Spain for control of land.
It is with deep concern that I, as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the committee to develop a plan to overthrow Castro, so early on in your new presidency need to bring to your attention our uneasiness over the increasing strength of Cuba and Fidel Castro’s forceful move towards communism. The matter is urgent and the time to act has come. Cuba requires your immediate attention.
The U.S. imposed an Embargo on Cuba on Oct. 19, 1960. Has the time come for the United States to lift the 5-decade embargo? The Embargo on Cuba was a part of America’s Cold War strategy against the Soviet Union, imposed on the basis that Cuba was a threat to the U.S. National Security because of their alliance with the Soviet Union. Although Cuba would like the U.S to terminate the embargo against their country, the U.S. wants Cuba to make their situation a better living environment and to promote human rights for its citizens.
During this crisis, it was clear that the United States had a lot more principles than practices. Cuba is recovering from the Bay of Pigs invasion. They held off the American forces and were able to avoid the invasion. They weren’t sure if the United States would attack again. Cuba’s dictator Castro wanted to convert Cuba into communism.