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Question: To what extent was American influence the reason for the Cuban Revolution.
The 1898 Spanish-America War marked the beginning of America's direct control over Cuba. During this time America introduced various western vices, made little attempt to improve the terrible living conditions for the majority of Cuban's, which had festered during the Spanish rule in Cuba and siphoned all of Cuba's wealth. This western influence boiled unrest in Cuba and lasted until the 1960's when Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista government. However, the Cuban revolution wasn't only a product of American influence as Batista played a key role.
America wasted no time in implementing certain measures to increase its wealth and to maintain its influence in Cuba. After the signing of the Paris Treaty in 1899 the US had already begun cutting tariffs on US goods entering Cuba but didn't grant the same rights to Cuban goods entering the US. This was the start of US interests being valued higher over those of Cuba's, as domestic Cuban industries were not protected from foreign competition. Thus, since there was a reduction in demand for Cuban made goods, unemployment climbed impacting all Cuban industries. This led to a reduction in the standard of living for most Cuban's, which bred crime and disease throughout the island. It was this rampant unemployment, destitute living standards and valued US imperialism, which angered Castro and ensured him a revolution was necessary.
The 1898 Spanish-America War marked the beginning of America's direct control over Cuba. During this time America introduced various western vices, made little attempt to improve the terrible living conditions for the majority of Cuban's, which had festered during the Spanish rule in Cuba and siphoned all of Cuba's wealth. This western influence boiled unrest in Cuba and lasted until the 1960's when Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista government. However, the Cuban revolution wasn't only a product of American influence as Batista played a key role.
America wasted no time in implementing certain measures to increase its wealth and to maintain its influence in Cuba. After the signing of the Paris Treaty in 1899 the US had already begun cutting tariffs on US goods entering Cuba but didn't grant the same rights to Cuban goods entering the US. This was the start of US interests being valued higher over those of Cuba's, as domestic Cuban industries were not protected from foreign competition. Thus, since there was a reduction in demand for Cuban made goods, unemployment climbed impacting all Cuban industries. This led to a reduction in the standard of living for most Cuban's, which bred crime and disease throughout the island. It was this rampant unemployment, destitute living standards and valued US imperialism, which angered Castro and ensured him a revolution was necessary.