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HIST 4359, Sec. 001

Lecture Questions

Lecture 1:

Cuba’s Colonial Past

What are some of the most important features of the colonial system in Cuba? Why was Cuba unique among other Spanish colonies in the Americas? Why did Cuba not win independence in the early nineteenth century when the mainland colonies broke away from Spain? How might the nature of the colonial system create problems for Cuba after independence?

Lecture 2:

Cuban Independence

How did the aftermath of the Ten Years’ War lead to a new war for independence? What was different about the movement for Cuban independence in the 1890s? What role did the United States play in Cuban independence? How did the United States become so influential in Cuba after the war was over?

Lecture 3:

The Rise of Dictatorship

Explain the rise of dictatorship in Cuba in the first half of the twentieth century. How was the United States involved in Cuban politics? How did Fulgencio Batista establish himself initially as a populist and a protector of constitutional liberties?

Lecture 4:

The Rise of Revolutionaries

How did Batista justify his military coup and his increasingly repressive regime? How did Cuba seem to be benefitting from political stability? What underlying problems did perceived wealth in the cities hide? How did Fidel Castro justify his anti-Batista activities? What indications were there that a major insurrection was brewing?

Lecture 5:

Rebellion in Cuba

How would you describe Castro’s revolutionary movement in its early years? How did Castro use the media to gain support for his cause? What helped turn the tide in Castro’s favor?

Lecture 6:

The Delicate Diplomatic Dance

How did Castro and his supporters attempt to create a new government immediately after the fall of Batista? How would you describe the initial reforms? What led to the escalating between Cuba and the United States? How did Cuba react to U.S. economic sanctions? How would you describe the enemies of Castro’s regime?

Lecture 7:

Missiles and Attempted Murder

How did the United States attempt to destabilize and/or overthrow the Castro regime in the 1960s? How is the failed Bay of Pigs invasion such an important turning point in U.S.-Cuban relations? What impact did the attempted invasion have on later U.S. and Soviet policies? How is it tied to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Lecture 8:

The Emergence of Socialism

How did the Cuban government attempt to impose a socialist economic system in Cuba throughout the 1960s? How effective were those measures and what complications did they bring? How did the government attempt to “institutionalize” socialism in the 1970s?

Lecture 9:

The Culture of the Cuban Revolution

What impact did the Cuban Revolution have on cultural issues such as race, gender, and homosexuality? How did the government’s reaction reflect the influence of Marxism? Why did the revolution bring more immediate reform for some and not for others?