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Cuba Becomes Independent
Cuba gains formal independence with Tomas Estrada Palma as its president. But the Platt Amendment keeps the island under US protection and gives the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. -
Jose Miguel Gomez Elected President
From 1906-1909 President Estrada resigned, and the US occupied Cuban territory following a rebellion led by Jose Miguel Gomez. In 1909 Gomez is elected president in a US supervised election. -
Revolution of 1933
Dictator Gerado Machado is overthrown in a coup led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, and replaced with Carlos Miguel de Céspedes, who was not very popular in Cuba. -
Castro Leads an Unsuccessful Revolt
Fidel Castro attempted to attack on the Moncada Barracks to overthrough Batista, but failed horribly. At the trail he gave his famous "History will Absolve Me" speech, and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment. -
Period: to
The Cuban Revolution
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Castro Wages War
Castro lands in eastern Cuba from Mexico and takes to the Sierra Maestra mountains where, aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara, he wages a guerrilla war against Batista. -
U.S. Wthdraws Mlitary Aid
The United States withdraws military aid to Batista. -
Castro Becomes Prime Minister
Castro leads a 9,000-strong guerrilla army into Havana, forcing Batista to flee. Findel Castro becomes the Prime Minister of Cuba. -
Castro Visits Washington
Findel Castro visits Washington and New York univited. President Eisenhower refuses to see hime, but Castro does get to meet with Vice President Richard Nixon. -
U.S. Imposes Trade Embargo
The US imposes a trade imbargo on Cuba in responce to Castro's reforms. All US businesses in Cuba are nationalised without compensation; US breaks off diplomatic relations with Havana and imposes a trade embargo in response to Castro's reforms. US oil companies in Cuba refuse to refine Soviet Oil. -
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Operation Pedro Pan
Parents in Cuba that wanted their children to avoid Marxist-Leninist indoctrination sent their kids to the United States. During this two year period more than fourteen thousand youths arrived alone in the U.S. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The U.S. supports an invasion of cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs. They fail, and Castro declares Cuba a communist state and allies with the USSR. -
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Operation Mongoose
Operation Mongoose was a plan made by the U.S. for covert action of sabotage and subversion against Cuba. There were several attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro that fail. The project was brought to an end in 1964. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days; from October 14th to 28th. The USSR was putting nuclear missiles in Cuba. This led to the most intense part of the cold war; it was the closest that the U.S. had ever come to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. -
U.S. Tightens Embargo on Cuba
The US tightens its embargo on Cuba, which introduces some market reforms in order to stem the deterioration of its economy. These include the legalisation of the US dollar, and the legalisation of limited individual private enterprise. -
U.S. Trade Embargo made Permanent
Two civilian piloted aircraft are shot down by Cuban military pilots. The U.S. responds to to the attack by making the Trade Embargo Permanent. -
U.S. Exports Food to Cuba
The U.S. exports food to Cuba for the first time in 40 years after a request from the Cuban government to help them cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Michelle. -
Raul Castro Takes Over as President
In 2006 Fidel Castro undergoes sugery and hands over power to his brother Raul. Raul doesn't officially take office until 2008.
