Cuban Embargo: The Castro Regime

The embargo will not eradicate Castro’s government, but it has economic effects that harms the people of Cuba. Historically the embargo has been an obstacle in the development of Cuba’s domestic economic activities. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Cuba lost their major means of economic support: An article published on the American Journal of Public Health confirms that in 1989 “The 60% Decline in Cuba's Gross domestic product is one of the steepest ever recorded” (Garfield and Santana 15). This drastic worsening of the economic conditions in Cuba was the catalyst for tightening the embargo: The Cuban Democracy Act was approved by Washington on 1992. This Act banned all trade of food and medications of USA companies with Cuba, and it prohibit ships from other countries to dock in American ports until six months after visiting the Island. The Act declares that severe monetary penalties will be implemented to those that violate the mentioned regulations. These economic sanctions are one of the causes why Cubans have had to deal with shortage, and high prices for food and other goods. Cuba could buy the majority of this products from the USA market, but instead has to pay higher transportation prices to get them from farther countries. An article published on the independent general medical journal The Lancet corroborates: “Tightening of the embargo lead to an abrupt cessation of supplies of food and medicine to Cuba

In 1959, Cubareceived 74 percent of its imports from the US, and the US received 65 percentof Cuba’s exports. On February 3, 1962, the United States imposed a fulltrade embargo on Cuba, completely ending any type of trade between the twocountries. This embargo remains in effect today, more than four decades later,and has grown ! to be a huge center of debate and controversy (DeVarona 8).Opponents to the embargo argue that the embargo does nothing more than hurt theCuban people, while proponents argue that the embargo places pressure on Castroto repair Cuba’s mismanaged and corrupt government. Both the supportersand the opponents of this embargo have strong arguments and evidence to supportthese

Cuba’s colorful history can be documented to before the days of the American Revolution in 1776, but today, American policy directly affects many Cubans’ lifestyles because of a nearly 45-year-old trade embargo that has been placed on the island nation. It is crucial to analyze the development of Cuba and its neighboring island nations in order to discern the reasons for Cuba’s current political situation with the United States. The following paper will discuss the events that shaped Cuba and larger Caribbean nations like Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica; next, a detailed description of Cuba’s turbulent history will help in explaining the Cuban transformation into a

The embargo that changed it all. Long before the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, the island realized that it really did need to count on its many tourists visit as a big process in developing their economic and social development but it wasn’t until the Cuban revolution in 1959, that really opened up the island into seeing that they need the tourism to grow in the future. The U.S. trade embargo was to stop any trading exports to go to Cuba, it was originally started by president Dwight D. Eisenhower’s State Department in October 19, 1960, where they wanted to stop all of U.S. exports to Cuba except for medicine and some food but then, in February 7, 1962 President John F. Kennedy made the embargo even worse by stop all trading with U.S. imports

“Change is hard in our own lives and in the lives of nations” President Obama said "Change is even harder when we carry the heavy weight of history on our shoulders. But today we are making these changes because it is the right thing to do"(cnn.com). The poor relations with Cuba and the United States have been like this since the cold war. Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba in 1959 by removing from power Fulgencio Batista who was in charge at the time. Castro taxed the United States hard on their imports. Which lead President Kennedy into a full economic embargo that included stringent travel restrictions that are still in effect today.

The U.S. imposed an Embargo against Cuba on Oct. 19, 1960. Has the time come to the United States to lift the five-decade embargo? The Embargo was a part of America’s Cold War strategy against the Soviet Union, imposed on the belief that Cuba was a threat to the U.S. since the Soviet Union was a danger to the National Security because of its 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 before any sanctions are removed.

ecently the United States and Cuba have been making news due to a possible reconciling between the two nations. In 2016 President Obama visited the leader of Cuba, Raúl Castro. This was a big deal because he was the first president to visit the country since Calvin Coolidge. Raul Castro took over office following the death of Fidel Castro. Fidel was a strong supporter of the communist party and many of his ideas regarding running Cuba were very radical and not supported by the United States. He was one of the main reasons the United States ended all ties with the country. For many years these two countries have been butting heads and been involved in a power struggle. During Obama's presidency, there was a shift in both the United States

President John F. Kennedy signed the Proclamation 3477 of 1962 concerning the embargo of Cuba because of the fear that Communist threats and influences would inspire the American people. Also, much fear stemmed from losing America’s reputation among other countries due to the association with a Communist state. In order for the embargo to be lifted, Cuba must establish free and fair election and grant freedom of the press, respect for human right, establish labor unions, in order to demonstrate and representative democracy. America does not want to look weak among other county and by taking away the embargo, we look weak in the eye of the other super powers. Many presidents tried to lessen the rule associated with the embargo, but Cuba did

Embroiled in opposing political points of view, the United States and Cuba have historically had a complicated relationship with each of them cognizant of how to bear a grudge. When Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, relations between the two countries quickly devolved into bitter arguments, political grandstanding and the occasional international crisis, even though things started out pleasant enough. Fidel Castro, full name Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, seized power in Cuba on January 1st, 1959, overthrowing the corrupt and right-wing military dictatorship of Batista. Curiously, in April of that year, he visited Washington, D.C. receiving a warm welcome from Vice President Richard Nixon. However, soon after all U.S. businesses in Cuba were

I think that the Embargo act of Cuba should not be uplifted simply because they do not meet the requirements of business in the trade industry. The embargo also known as the blockade signed by President Kennedy Feb. 3, 1962, consist of economic sanctions against Cuba and restrictions on Cuba travel and commerce for all people and business under the U.S jurisdiction (Cuba-embargo.procon.org) and acts of communist powers. It will only benefit the Government of Cuba and not be beneficial to the citizens within the Island meaning that the money of financial gain only supports the Government and overall not the biggest satisfaction of the society in the Cuban Island. The political viewpoint of the perspective is that the United States having more than 75 countries they do trade with around the world, Cuba that only has done trade with just about 7 countries such as companies of Canada, Europe, and Latin America, those countries have not enjoyed economic relationship. I personally think that their will be no difference if the president was to uplift the act against Cuba they have failed to meet the expectations of deliberately honoring their commitment as a friend or business to relay on. In 2012 Cuba was deeply in debt and owed $13.6 billion although few countries still remain to import and export goods with them. For over 55 years the Unites States has had restrictions hold against Cuba since 1982 the

Hubert Humphrey once said “National isolation breeds national neurosis”. The island country of Cuba has been under an embargo banning trade to and from the U.S. for over 54 years. Subsequently the country of Cuba has faced debt and poverty. The embargo on Cuba is controversial because the U.N. has called to end the embargo, but the U.S has rejected their advice.

A very historical period for the U.S and Cuba, which still affects our country today was the Mariel boatlift. Fidel Castro was a very cruel and strong dictator. In the country of Cuba, immigration policies were extremely strict. The process of being able to leave and come into Cuba was very long and difficult. In 1980, these policies were temporarily lifted. Castro allowed any Cubans who hoped to live the American dream, to emigrate to the U.S. He provided boats for them in Mariel, Cuba launching the Mariel boatlift.

The United States and Cuba have had a rocky history since 1959 during the Cold War. Fidel Castro is a Cuban politician who governed Cuba as a Prime Minister and then as a President from 1976 to 2008. Under Castro’s administration Cuba became a one-party communist state. Castro came to power by overthrowing Fulgencio Batista. The United States recognized his government, however as his regime increased trade with the Soviet Union, U.S. owned properties and high taxes on imports, the U.S. responded with and economic retaliation. Congress instituted a ban on almost all exports to Cuba, President John F. Kennedy expanded on the ban by turning it into a full economic embargo that also included strict travel restrictions.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba that has been going on since the 1950s is coming to an end. It clearly never achieved its aims as one of the Castro brothers is still in charge on this island and Fidel was in charge until ill health, not our embargo, forced him out. The Obama Administration has already lifted certain travel restrictions to the island nation, and CNN is reporting that it will be announced on Wednesday July 1 that embassies will be reopened in our respective countries for the first time in over 50 years.

In our study we considered many angles and the possible effect that the Castro brother’s varying ideologies influenced the relations between the neighboring states, as well as an impact on Cuba’s economy.