feb 16, 1959 - Fidel Castro becomes leader of Cuba
Description:
Description: Fidel Castro established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere after leading an overthrow of the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959.Significance: This event cut off trade with US, left the door open for Soviets to swoop in and fill economic void in exchange for setting up nuclear testing facilities, and led to Cuban missile crisis.
Added to timeline:
Date:
feb 16, 1959
Now
~ 66 years ago