Cuban Revolution (nov 25, 1956 – jan 1, 1959)

Description:

Upon the yacht: Granma, Castro and the 26th of July movement returned to Cuba and started a long guerrilla warfare campaign against the Batista regime. Slowly their power grew and Batista's diminished until it eventually collapsed 1.1.59.
Castro entered Havana the next day and declared a new Cuba.
Despite being willing to work with the Americans, Eisenhower refused to meet with him.
Castro made Cuba into a one party communist state and took all business and industry into public ownership - including those owned by American businesses and so the Americans became hostile - declaring an embargo (trade ban) with Cuba.
The USSR provided loans and oil to Cuba as a natural ally (especially so close to the USA) and so Cuba aligned totally with them politically and became economically dependant.

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