Cuba was established as a
Spanish Colony in 1492 that lasted until 1899. Cuban Rebels declared
independence in 1868 and waged a war of independence in 1895. The US intervened
and won the Spanish American War in 1898. Cuba functioned as a democracy from
1902 to 1958.
In the decades
following United States' invasion
of Cuba in
1898, and formal independence from the U.S. on May
20, 1902, Cuba experienced a period of significant instability, enduring a
number of revolts, coups and a period of U.S. military
occupation.
Fulgencio Batista, a former soldier who had served as the elected president of
Cuba from 1940 to 1944, became president for the second time in 1952, after
seizing power in a military coup and canceling the 1952 elections.
Although Batista had been
relatively progressive during his first
term, in the 1950s he proved far more dictatorial and indifferent to
popular concerns. While Cuba remained plagued by high unemployment and
limited water infrastructure,
Batista antagonized the
population by forming lucrative links to organized crime and allowing American companies to dominate the Cuban
economy, especially sugar-cane plantations and other local resources.
Although the US armed and
politically supported the Batista dictatorship, later US presidents recognized
its corruption and the justifiability of removing it.
During his first term as
President, Batista had not been supported by the Communist Party of Cuba, but during his
second term he became strongly anti-communist. Batista developed a rather weak security bridge as an
attempt to silence political opponents.
In the months following
the March 1952 coup, Fidel Castro, then a young lawyer and activist, petitioned for the overthrow
of Batista, whom he accused of corruption and tyranny. However, Castro's
constitutional arguments were rejected by the Cuban courts. After deciding
that the Cuban regime could not be replaced through legal means, Castro
resolved to launch an armed revolution.
To this end, he and his
brother Raúl founded a
paramilitary organization known as "The Movement", stockpiling
weapons and recruiting around 1,200 followers from Havana's disgruntled working
class by the end of 1952. Batista was known as a corrupt leader and constantly
pampered himself with exotic foods and elegant women.
Cuba’s
Nominal Per Capita GDP in 2019 is $8.433 with a population of 11.5 million and
a land area of 42,426 square miles. Nominal GDP is $87 billion. Poverty is not
reported.
Cuba’s
support of Venezuela will have a long-term negative economic effect on their population
beginning in 2019. They are obviously propped up by China and Russia who are
being repaid for their $100 billion in loans to Venezuela with oil.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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