Cuban Embargo

677 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Foreign policy us and cuba

The United States embargo against Cuba began on October 19, 1960. In that time, the U.S. placed an embargo on exports to Cuba after Cuba nationalized American-owned Cuban oil refineries without compensation. Exceptions to the embargo were food and medicine. Cuba nationalized the factories following President Dwight D. Eisenhower's decision to cancel 700,000 tons of sugar imports from Cuba to the U.S. and refused to export oil to the island, leaving it reliant on Russian crude oil. All American oil companies refused to refine Russian oil, leading the Cuban government to nationalize the factories.
Ever since December 2014, President Obama has been working on improving relations with Cuba. Now the U.S and Cuban embassies have been reopened in …show more content…

Hostages were exchanged shortly after. The Cuban Embargo Act that was placed nearly 55 years ago due to the acts of Fidel Castro has finally come to its slow demise. With the help of President Barack Obama, the lifting of the Embargo is in the works. In addition to the hostage exchange, the United States agreed to further ease restrictions on transfers, travel, and banking. Cuba then also agreed to release the prisoners that the United States had classified as political nonconformists. United States officials confirmed in January of 2015 that all the prisoners were released. The United States and Cuba reopened their embassies in each other's capitals effectively restoring full diplomatic ties. The Cuban Embargo Act that was placed nearly 55 years ago due to the acts of Fidel Castro has finally come to its slow demise. With the help of President Barack Obama, the lifting of the Embargo is in the works. Front runners for the office, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, also support Obama’s efforts to raise the Embargo. Although it may take some time for this act to vanish completely, with the efforts of future Presidents we may possibly be able to trade with Cuba once

Show More
Related

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Cuban Adjustment Act

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Unilateral Decision: The Naval Blockade on Cuba

    1134 Words  | 3 Pages

    The time of the Cuban Naval Blockade the Unites States was at war with the Soviet Union, the war already preexisting for almost twenty years. The war already had United States and all its citizens at the edge of their seats. The rise of nuclear weapons was relevant and a high scare factor for everyone.

    Read More

  • Americans and Cubans Approaches to the Platt Amendment

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Platt Amendment, Castro’s rise, The Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile Crisis and the trade embargo that the U.S. imposed on Cuba have all served intensify the suspicions between the two countries. Because of the rocky past between the U.S. and Cuba, it is doubtful that there is peace for the two countries in the future.

    Read More

  • Three Main Causes of the War of 1898

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Americans were losing patience over the whole Cuban affair because Spain cut shipping and economic interests from Cuba. Americans wanted the economic situation resolved so they could get back to the economic fortunes they were used to; therefore, the worsening economy was one of the main causes of the War of 1898. When the United States finally denounced the dominance of the Spanish government in Cuba, Spain cut its economic ties with the United States. Trade for the United States was impacted greatly. Due to the sharp drop of sugar prices that took place from early 1884, the old Cuban “sugar nobility,” unable to mechanize and cut costs, began to disintegrate and lose its dominant role in the island’s economy and society (Hernandez). This facilitated the United States’ penetration of the Cuban economy, and the United States took over sugar estates and mining interests. It was American machinery, technicians, and capital that helped save the Cuban sugar mills.

    Read More

  • Should the Cuban Embargo be Lifted?

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Should the United States Lift the Embargo on Cuba?

    1425 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States embargo of Cuba has its roots planted in 1960, 53 years ago, when “the United States Congress authorized President Eisenhower to cut off the yearly quota of sugar to be imported from Cuba under the Sugar act of 1948… by 95 percent” (Hass 1998, 37). This was done in response to a growing number of anti-American developments during the height of the cold war, including the “expropriation of United States-owned properties on the island… [and] the Soviet Union [agreeing] to purchase sugar from Cuba and to supply Cuba with crude oil” (Hass 1998, 37). Bad sentiments continued to pile up as Cuba imposed restrictions on the United States Embassy and especially when, after the United States “officially broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba, and travel by United States citizens to Cuba was forbidden ... Castro openly proclaimed his revolution to be ‘socialist’” (Hass 1998, 38). The day after this, the Bay of Pigs invasion occurred, but it failed in its job to topple Castro (Hass 1998, 38). Left with no diplomatic options and a failed military attempt, the United States decided that the only way to end Castro’s socialist regime was to sever all ties, and from 1961 to 1996, a series of acts were passed prohibiting the majority of trade and interaction with Cuba. (Hass 1998, 38).

    Read More

  • Lift the Cuban Embargo

    2503 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1959, revolutionaries nationalized Cuba’s wealth and did not compensate U.S. companies for our efforts to fight against the rebels. They did, however, repay corporations from nations that did not fight. Because of this seizure of our property, the Cuban embargo was put into action. In fact, Cuba is the only country in the western

    Read More

  • Bay of Pigs Invasion

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1959, Fidel Castro had become the powerful leader of Cuba. Castro was a communist and became hostile to the Unite States two years after he became Cuba’s leader (Encarta). People associated with Castro had taken ownership over United States companies and Eisenhower was forced to put in place a trade embargo. Cubans during this time had gone to the United States to escape the communist leadership that Castro was imposing on people. When Eisenhower had told the CIA to train Cuban exiles, they were planning on an invasion when Kennedy became president (Encarta).

    Read More

  • A Very Brief History of Cuba

    2159 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ns elected Cuba to join the Human Rights Council in November of 2013. On another note, in May of 2013, Cuba declared that it would consider allowing the U.N. investigators to examine accusations of torture and repression, and allowing the Red Cross officials to access the prisons in the country for the first time in nearly 25 years.

    Read More

  • The Themes Of The Cuban Revolution

    880 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Cuban Revolution

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Cuban revolution was one that transformed Cuba into an independent socialist society. This revolution sent a message around the globe. The message: “ Socialism can be achieved and capitalism, with its culture stripping mechanism’s can be supplemented”. However, the revolution did leave its mark on Cuba. This can be seen in the events that took place during the early stages of the revolution. The effects of the revolution were positive for certain sections of the population and negative for others.

    Read More

  • Fidel Castro And The Cuban Revolution

    2000 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. military ruled Cuba when the island became a republic. Throughout the 1800’s, Cubans were revolting against Spanish rule, and in 1898, America helped defeat the Spanish. Since the United States and Cuba were so close, the U.S often intervened with Cuba’s domestic affairs. In 1959, Fidel Castro influenced a revolution, overthrowing Batista. Fidel Castro then switched Cuba’s government to communism and became close with the Soviet Union, which restricted ties with the U.S. Soon after, the United States terminated diplomatic interactions, minimizing their economic relations with Cuba. After the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro Ruz became the new leader of Cuba- and still is today. Relations between the U.S. and Cuba are still sparse. Travelers from the United States are still not allowed to vacation to Cuba du...

    Read More

  • Embargo on Cuba

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Cuban Embargo, also known as “el bloqueo” to Cuban citizens, was declared by the United States in 1960 to eliminate imports of Cuban goods. When the embargo was first set, it was only to eliminate food and medicine, but then on Feb. 7th, 1962 the embargo was extended to all exports. President Kennedy announced the embargo citing, “the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet communism with which the government of Cuba is publicly aligned” (Galeano). “We have a hemispheric commitment to freedom and democracy and respect for human rights”, said Jose Cardenas, a former National Security Council staffer on Cuba. With only 90 miles of sea between the U.S. and Cuba the embargo chokes off Cuba’s number one trade partner and tourism of the island.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Cuban Missile Crisis

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Cuban Revolution

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    A revolution is no piece of cake. To make a revolution, there are a few necessary ingredients, like a reason to revolt, a well organized battle plan, and a powerful leader. Mix these all together, and there it is. A powerful Revolution. There are two specific revolutions that were very similar, and very successful. The american revolution was about the Colonists from Britain being treated unfairly from British Parliament. America was still under Britain Rule, and King George III was raising the taxes for the people for no reason. The colonists had no choice but revolt. The Cuban revolution was for a very similar cause. Ruler of cuba Fulgencio Batista was destroying Cuba’s economy, and the people were very angered by this. The organization was also very similar. And both countries got what they wanted, too. America got freedom from Britain, and Fidel Castro and his team overthrew Batista and took over the government. These two revolutions were both very effective.The Cuban Revolution and the American Revolution were both for the good of the people, and both revolts got what they wanted-a new, better government.

    Read More

More about Cuban Embargo

Open Document