It is said that President John F. Kennedy secured nearly 1,200 Cuban cigars just hours before enacting the Cuban trade embargo in 1962. Many Americans probably wished they could have done this before all trade between the United States and Cuba ceased as the United States now marks the 55th year of an ongoing embargo against Cuba. On February 3, 1962 President Kennedy signed Proclamation 3447 to declare an embargo against all trade between the United States and Cuba. This embargo consists of trade, travel, and commerce restrictions for all people and companies under United States jurisdiction. The United States cut off all ties with this neighboring nation just ninety miles off the coast of Florida. This was Kennedy’s defense against communism, …show more content…
What do these countries have to do with Cuba? While despite these countries records of human rights violations and differing governments, the United States continues trade, travel and commerce with all of these nations. Wayne Smith explains how former President George W. Bush lifted trade sanctions on North Korea in 2008 even amidst concerns about the nations desire to develop nuclear weapons (Smith, Wayne). Cuba has tried to meet the high standards of the United States with no avail. After the CDA was passed in 1992, Havana initiated a number of reform measures in 1993, permitting farmers markets and small private enterprises, including private restaurants and repair shops, use of the U.S. dollar as legal daily tender, and more favorable terms for foreign investment. Americans are allowed to travel to other communist countries, nations known for human rights violations, and even places on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism but cannot travel to Cuba. The United States even trade with countries of differing governments and policies such as China, Venezuela, and Vietnam regardless of their opposing governments and Cuba should be no
After Fidel Castro’s revolution and nationalizing of the economy (and after a failed attempt of American trained Cubans to overthrow Castro at the Bay of Pigs), the United States imposed an economic embargo on Cuba. Ideologically motivated to curb the spread of communism, America refused to do business with Cuba unless it reformed politically. The failure of America’s ultimatum was due to the Soviets eventual backing of the communist government in Cuba. The Cubans were unhurt by America’s sanctions because the Russians were able to send enough money to keep Castro’s economy afloat.
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
Castro was not even aware of his impact on the people. In an interview with American journalist Liza Howard on April 30th 1963, Castro had given Liza “the impression that he was not completely aware of the extent to which terror had gripped Cuba” (United States. Central Intelligence Agency). The next strategy was to attack Cuba and Castro commercially, economically, and financially. Eisenhower administered the first trade embargo on Cuba on October 19th 1960. After working with the policy committees of US to Cuba, the White House had composed a document stating the regulations. This embargo covered all U.S. exports of good, but not medicines and certain foods. The States thought that creating this law against exporting would be taken as a form of more peaceful protest, to gain back the trading, Castro will need to step down from power. (United States. Presidential Directive). Castro also tried to restrict trading too, to get back at the U.S. to show that this was not a one way street. He created the Platt Amendment to stop Cuban sugar from being imported to the United States. In 1993 the US cracks down on Cuba intensifying the embargo in hopes of the economy failing. This soon forced Cuba into an agreement of allowing a certain amount of citizens to immigrate to either country per year. When Cuba shot down two U.S.
During the Cuban missile crisis there was a blockade that prevented the United States further trade with Cuba. “In 1992, congress passed the Cuban Democracy Act, which prohibits foreign-based subsidiaries of U.S. Companies from trading with Cuba but creates loopholes for travel to Cuba by a select group of U.S. Citizens” (History). The only thing the law allows regarding Cuba is that private groups can deliver food and medicine. This private group is the Trade Sanctions Reform Act (TSRA), passed by President Clinton in October of 2000. In the sixties, Americans were allowed to live in Cuba to help with the different industries they had but when the
There are many countries that the United States frequently traded with who are now under a set of economic sanctions today. The sanctions were designed to restrict a country to the resources of their country and their allies until they comply with specific request. The US-Cuban sanctions were suppose was supposed to be in place until democracy and human rights were restored in Cuba. One effect of the sanction resulted in Cuban citizens only being able to purchase vehicles made before 1958. Although this is a minor effect of sanction, can you imagine if you were only able to possess a microwave that was made before 1958?
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
The United States is known for being one of the greatest and strongest countries in the world looking at past events and in this day and age. What might strike some people as shocking is that the U.S. would not be as strong without close ties with other countries or allies. Examples would be France, England, and Canada, plus many more. What people don’t talk about is the U.S.’s rivals or countries that the U.S. has had trouble with in the past leading up to now. One of the most renowned countries is only ninety miles away from the southern tip of Florida and that is Cuba. Cuba is known for the fantastic beaches, some of the most well-known baseball players around, and, of course, Cuban cigars and rum. But, the past with Cuba is not as bright as the U.S. wants it to be because of historical events such as the embargo, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban missile crisis during World War II that caused the two countries to separate as allies and close tied nations. Over the past year the U.S. and Cuba have been trying to put the past behind them and have diplomatic and cultural relations once again.
On an island far, far, away, are oppressed, poor, and hopeless people who have been under the subjugate control of a regime of communist dictators for over half a century. A body of people, who for almost 55 years, have been given the cold shoulder by one of the world’s biggest superpower and the only superpower in close proximity to their own island. The U.S. implemented sanctions on Cuba in 1960 and 1961, with President John F. Kennedy making the embargo official in 1962. The embargo was placed on Cuba during the reign of Fidel Castro because Cuba nationalized American owned Cuban oil refineries without compensation as well as instigated several national security conflicts, such as the Cuban missile crisis, which was spurred by their alliance with the Soviet Union. The issue now stands today on whether America should lift the embargo on Cuba. The lift of this embargo will affect the United States’ international diplomacy, cause an economic boost in Cuba due to the new import and export of goods with the United States. Along with a possible immigration reform for Cubans wanting to move to the United States, and Americans wanting to emigrate to Cuba. There are an incredible amount of problems for the people of Cuba, a lift of the embargo would greatly improve their quality of life. The United States should lift the embargo with the communist state of Cuba,
U.S. wanted Cuba to meet special requirements in order for the embargo to go into effect, including rules such as: transition to a democracy, demand Havana support small businesses in exchange for sheathing restrictions on remittances, denounce presence of either Fidel or Raul Castro in Cuban government, better living conditions for all Cuban citizens, absolutely no travel to Cuba, and promote human rights. Cuba has not yet met all requirements, but is currently working on them. Obama reversed some of these polices, such as, allowing U.S. citizens to send remittances to non-family members in Cuba and travel under license of religious or educational purposes. As of today United States citizens may travel to Cuba with only special reasons like religious or
The United States has had a long history with Cuba. Within that long history came many arguments and accusations, such as the demand that Castro request that the U.S. embassy staff be reduced. Following that request came an outrageous accusation stating that the embassy was being used as a foundation for spies. This made U.S. officials think that Castro’s government was too anti-American to be trusted. Castro started nationalizing foreign property and companies as a response to the U.S., so the United States decided to cutback trades with Cuba. America tried to resolve the differences with Castro’s government through diplomacy. Seeing that they could not come to an agreement the united states decide to embargo trade with Cuba. Two months later, President John F. Kennedy unleashed the Cuban exile force which caused Castro’s military to kill or capture the exile troops.
The Embargo on Cuba in 1958 was different from North Korea in a number of ways even though it had poor human rights records; for example, Cuba owes the United States over 6 Billon dollars moreover, the embargo and restrictions against Cuba have started too lax and American citizens have even started to
Cuba and the Affects of the Embargo The island nation of Cuba, located just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, is home to 11 million people and has one of the few remaining communist regimes in the world. Cuba’s leader, Fidel Castro, came to power in 1959 and immediately instituted a communist program of sweeping economic and social changes. Castro allied his government with the Soviet Union and seized and nationalized billions of dollars of American property. U.S. relations with Cuba have been strained ever since. A trade embargo against Cuba that was imposed in 1960 is still in place today. Despite severe economic suffering and increasing isolation from the world community, Castro remains committed to communism. (Close Up
The Cuban people have been under the harsh dictatorship of both Felgenico Batista and Fidel Castro. They both had very strict policies and gave the Cuban people limited or no freedom at all. Batista and Castro were similar but yet different. One major difference that they had was that Batista was friendly with the United States and he had respect for American interest. On the other hand Fidel Castro hasn’t been as friendly with the United States, so the U.S has a trade embargo that restricts and American company to do business with Cuba and also U.S citizens are prohibited from traveling to Cuba unless for special circumstances.
On one of the following days, Kennedy asked if the Air Force could take out all of the missiles in Cuba. The Air Force then told the President that with that process there would be 10-20,000 civilian casualties. Kennedy then decided to set up a blockade around Cuba. US ships prepared for a quarantine. The press then learned about the nuclear missles and questioned them about it, the President asked the reporters not to reveal the news so he could announce it to the American people on TV. The Soviets had instrustion to launch the missiles within minutes of Kennedy’s speech. After Castro listened to the President’s speech he moblized all of Cuba’s military forces.
Able to weather a variety of political leaders, economic events, and historical eras, the U.S. embargo of Cuba is the longest and harshest embargo by one state against another in modern history. Following Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government in 1959 and threats to incite revolutions elsewhere in Latin America, the Unites State cancelled its trade agreement to buy Cuban sugar. Then, following a series of increasing hostile events, the United States severed diplomatic relations and initiated a full trade embargo in 1962. Trade between the United States and Cuba stopped. Spurred by the collapse of communism more than thirty years later, Congress