The Cold War
1959
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Introduction Political Events Scientific-Technical Developments Economic Changes and Conditions Social Conditions and Developments Books, Movies, Art and the Media Contact Information |
Cuba 1959 was a very significant year in the evolution of the Cold War. It all began on January 1st, when the Cuban guerilla campaign, the July 26 Movement, effectively overthrew the government of General Fulgencio Batista. It was not long before Fidel Castro, would take over the presidency of Cuba and set in motion a chain of events which would align the tiny island with the USSR; automatically catagorizing Cuba as a communist nation and Castro, as a sworn enemy of the United States. Americans were literally terrified by these new developments and watched in horror as the ever-expanding communist empire gained a foothold in their hemisphere, just miles off the coast of Florida! The U.S. had no basis for understanding this new relationship between Castro and the Soviets; the series of misperceptions and miscommuniction that followed, was inevitable. Thus the stage was set for the economic sanctions America would impose against Cuba, the Cuban Missile Crisis and other conflicts which would soon follow and continue well in to the next century.
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