For how many years was Cuba controlled by Spain? Who helped them gain their independence?

What was the goal of the Platt Amendment?

How do you think Cuba felt about the Platt Amendment?

Compare the Platt Amendment to the political cartoon. What is the message? Explain.

Describe Batista’s clothing. What message do you think he is trying to portray? Compare this to the description of his government.

Identify the causes of the Cuban revolution.

Compare and contrast the communist revolution in Cuba to the ones in China and Russia.

What does Raul Castro mean when he says “historical ills?”

What do you think he means by “Agrarian Reforms?” Who would own agriculture/farms in the newly communist Cuba? Explain.

Why might the US be concerned about Castro’s “Agrarian Reforms?”

Why do you think the US was concerned about Castro’s new government in Cuba? Discuss this from both an economic and foreign policy perspective.

How does the US respond to communism in Cuba? At first? Long-term?

What is Castro’s response to the Bay of Pigs and Kennedy?

What does Castro say he is doing to change Cuba?

Why do you think Castro requested nuclear weapons in Cuba?

Why was the US so concerned about this request? Does this contradict Castro’s 1961 speech? Explain.

Why did Cuba isolate itself from the US?

Why do you think Cuba aligned itself with China and the USSR? Why do you think Cuba aligned itself with South American nations?

Describe US-Cuba relations today. Have they “normalized?” Why or why not? Use evidence from your reading, including Castro’s 2014 speech.