CHOOSE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING TO ANSWER IN TWO THREE LEVEL (Arguments, evidence, analysis) PAPER 3 OUTLINES
Discuss the impact of US-Cuban relations on the leadership of Fidel Castro.
The impact of US involvement in Cuban affairs during the 1950’s and 60’s caused frustrations among Cubans and
influenced Fidel Castro’s political ideologies and caused his glorified image, which consolidated his power.
BT1: The United States continued political and economic influence in Cuba caused Castro’s spread of anti-
American policies and rhetoric, which revitalized Cuban nationalism.
● In order to bring social justice to the Cuban poor and working classes, Castro implemented
the Agrarian Reform laws, which nationalized large landholdings and redistributed the land
to over 200,000 peasants
o Castro’s implementation of these laws is inherently nationalist because it changes
the power structure as it takes power away from the US and instead towards Cuba.
This threatens US businesses for the betterment of the Cuban working class,
demonstrating the de-influencing of America rooted in Pro-Cubanism.
● In a televised broadcast, Castro resigned as Prime Minister, blaming President Urrutia’s
unwillingness to implement reforms that benefit the poor and accusing him of aligning
with the United States and planning treason. This action caused a large number of
protests.
o Castro’s utilization of the United States as a method of encouraging dissent
amongst the public establishes his Anti-American ideology and its widespread
acceptance.
o The accusation of a leader being American leaning and being successful in garnering
a response from the public not only reveals the widespread anti-American
sentiment but also the power held by Castro as a consequence.
BT2: Castro’s political shift towards communism was a consequence of US hostility and fears of US-backed
interventions.
● The United States 1959 trade embargo on Cuba caused Castro to turn to the USSR for trade
in oil and weapons
o The increased dependence of Cuba on the Soviet Union symbolized Cuba’s
progression of radical leanings and caused implications that they were communist.
The embargo led to Cuba siding with the enemy.
● To prevent US intervention efforts like the CIA coup in Guatemala, Castro banned political
parties in an effort to stabilize Cuba after the revolution. While this was intended to be
temporary, it continued much longer.
o Creating stability in order to protect the country from US threat caused the
initiation for a single party state in Cuba, which is reflective of its communist
leanings.
● Castro declared Cuba a Communist State after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion
o Although there were other causes of this declaration, this showed how US
intervention was a catalyst to this decision and established a fear that the United
States would continue intervention efforts.
● The Cuban Missile Crisis, where soviet missiles were shipped to Cuba, was a consequence
of Castro’s fear of a US intervention
Discuss the impact of US-Cuban relations on the leadership of Fidel Castro.
The impact of US involvement in Cuban affairs during the 1950’s and 60’s caused frustrations among Cubans and
influenced Fidel Castro’s political ideologies and caused his glorified image, which consolidated his power.
BT1: The United States continued political and economic influence in Cuba caused Castro’s spread of anti-
American policies and rhetoric, which revitalized Cuban nationalism.
● In order to bring social justice to the Cuban poor and working classes, Castro implemented
the Agrarian Reform laws, which nationalized large landholdings and redistributed the land
to over 200,000 peasants
o Castro’s implementation of these laws is inherently nationalist because it changes
the power structure as it takes power away from the US and instead towards Cuba.
This threatens US businesses for the betterment of the Cuban working class,
demonstrating the de-influencing of America rooted in Pro-Cubanism.
● In a televised broadcast, Castro resigned as Prime Minister, blaming President Urrutia’s
unwillingness to implement reforms that benefit the poor and accusing him of aligning
with the United States and planning treason. This action caused a large number of
protests.
o Castro’s utilization of the United States as a method of encouraging dissent
amongst the public establishes his Anti-American ideology and its widespread
acceptance.
o The accusation of a leader being American leaning and being successful in garnering
a response from the public not only reveals the widespread anti-American
sentiment but also the power held by Castro as a consequence.
BT2: Castro’s political shift towards communism was a consequence of US hostility and fears of US-backed
interventions.
● The United States 1959 trade embargo on Cuba caused Castro to turn to the USSR for trade
in oil and weapons
o The increased dependence of Cuba on the Soviet Union symbolized Cuba’s
progression of radical leanings and caused implications that they were communist.
The embargo led to Cuba siding with the enemy.
● To prevent US intervention efforts like the CIA coup in Guatemala, Castro banned political
parties in an effort to stabilize Cuba after the revolution. While this was intended to be
temporary, it continued much longer.
o Creating stability in order to protect the country from US threat caused the
initiation for a single party state in Cuba, which is reflective of its communist
leanings.
● Castro declared Cuba a Communist State after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion
o Although there were other causes of this declaration, this showed how US
intervention was a catalyst to this decision and established a fear that the United
States would continue intervention efforts.
● The Cuban Missile Crisis, where soviet missiles were shipped to Cuba, was a consequence
of Castro’s fear of a US intervention
