Prior to Castro's rise to power - Cuba's economy was relatively strong
Cuba's economy was largely based on sugar farming
USA was main consumer of Cuban sugar in the first half of the twentieth century
Cuba depended on US imports of their sugar
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 negatively impacted Cuba - reduce limits on US imports
Cuba's economic dependence on USA seen by many as holding the country back and gave voice to opposition
Long term cause was the impact of the Spanish American War
Cuba had been under the colonial control of Spain since 1492
1898 Spanish-American War led to Spain giving up all claims to Cuba
The USA replaced the Spanish by stipulating a range of terms for Cuban independence
Platt Amendments of 1901 and 1093 - US could intervene militarily in Cuba
Cuba allied with the USA during WWII which brought them closer
Cuban Revolution was an uprising against the government of Batista
Batista had ruled Cuba as president between 1940-1944
Batista also ruled Cuba from 1952 to 1959 after taking power in a military coup
Batista suspended the Cuban constitution
Batista's policies favoured the rich - he did little to provide for the poor in the 1950s
Corruption increased in Cuba under Batista - who had connections with US Mafia
Batista's government repressed civil liberties and used violence against opposition
Batista's regime lost favour with the USA due to corruption
Batista's regime exacerbated the social divisions in Cuban society
Cuba was a comparatively wealthy country in Latin America - but the ruling class took most of the riches.
Batista's policies in the 1950s favoured the wealthy making society uneven.
Cuban society was racially divided with the richer Spanish and white Cubans enjoying the most privileges whilst black Cubans lived in poverty.
Opposition to Batista's regime was connected to social division, and there was an increasing interest in socialism and communism.
Farm workers were also a source of opposition especially given the huge profits that were made by the plantation owners.
