Dec 14th Cuba class

12/14/2015

A lot of the discussion is mainly international relations

The Bloqueo (trade embargo) and the travel ban.
First imposed by Eisenhower and JFK in 60-61
Diplomatic relations severed
Travel ban imposed by Kennedy (1963)
Executive actions until the 90s
Embargocodified into law in the 90s
In 1992 Cuban Democracy Act
HelmsBurton Act 1996
In the 90s objectives to strengthen the trade embargo
Through the 1992 Democracy act
HelmsBurton Act 1996
o Intensify the pressure
1992 Cuban Democracy Act
I want to wreak havoc on the island
Banned foreign based US subsidiaries from trading with Cuba
Imposed sanctions on US trading partners
Imposed limits on remittances from the US
HelmsBurton Act 1996
Passed down after Cuba shot down a brothers of rescue act
Tittle 3 enabled US citizens and companies who had land
confiscated by the Cuban gov. to file lawsuits in US courts against
anyone who would traffic such property.
Protest by allies
Prompted Clinton and Bush to suspend title 3

US policy under bush

Swing state factor in US electoral politics
War on terror (Guantanamo)
Tightened travel res.
Growing critique of the embargo in the US
Cuba under Raul Castro
Fidel july 2006
Raul feb 2008 and 2013
Liberalizing policies
Self employment, cellphones, removing bans on hotels. Travel
Loosened state control of the econ
Castro with Chavez and Lula
Toward normalization under Obama
Shift in national electoral politics
Loosened Bush era restrictions
A new course (Dec 2014)
What does it mean for the people of Cuba and the US?
Restored diplomatic relations