Explain the impact of the Cuban Revolution and what did the US do as a result of it?
What type of government and economy does Cuba have today?
The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, overthrew the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. The revolution had a significant impact on Cuba, as it transformed the country from a capitalist, US-aligned nation into a socialist state aligned with the Soviet Union.
The US responded to the Cuban Revolution with hostility, imposing economic sanctions and attempting to destabilize the Cuban government through various means, including the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and numerous assassination attempts on Castro. This led to decades of strained relations between the US and Cuba, including the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Today, Cuba has a socialist government with a one-party system led by the Cuban Communist Party. The economy is largely state-controlled, with limited private enterprise allowed in recent years to stimulate growth. The government provides free universal healthcare and education to its citizens, but the economy has struggled due to US sanctions and a lack of economic reforms. Cuba remains a socialist country with strong government control over the economy and society.