Communist Cuba

Fidel Castro, a lawyer and a radical guerrilla leader, overthrew Batista in 1959. Castro's political opponents were jailed or executed. Many Cubans fled the island, settling mostly in the United States. Foreign-owned properties were confiscated. It became more and more evident that the new regime was pursuing Communist policies. Land was distributed to peasants, and most private businesses were taken over by the government. Soviet aid and influence grew.

In January, 1961, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba. In April, about 1,500 anti-Castro Cuban exiles—armed and trained with American invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs but were defeated within hours. In 1962 the discovery of Soviet missile bases in Cuba was followed by a United States naval blockade of the island. A possible war between the United States and the Soviet Union was averted when the Soviets dismantled their bases.

Meanwhile, Cuba sought to foment revolutions in other Latin American countries. In 1964 the Organization of American States (OAS) required its members to end trade and diplomatic relations with Cuba. In 1967, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, a top Castro lieutenant, was killed while leading guerrillas in Bolivia.

In 1967 the government took over all privately owned farms, and in 1968 it nationalized all remaining private businesses. The economy remained depressed, and there were scarcities of food and consumer items. Cuba made great strides, however, in raising the educational level and improving the health of its people. In 1972 the country joined the Communist bloc's Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON).