Cuba is the largest of Caribbean islands
Its capital,Havana was a centre of commerce and culture
Cuba was also a major producer of sugar and tobacco,which were in high demand in Europe and then USA
Hence USA became more interested in Cuba because of its strategic importance and economic value
USA was greatly concerned with expanding its own territory as well as its security
Monroe Doctrine:Attempts by European powers to colonise in the Americas will be regard as 'acts of aggression' against the USA.European powers such as Spain and France,would reassert colonial rule over the newly independent Latin American states.Hence,USA pledged to avoid involvment in the political affairs of Europe,as well as those of the European colonies still in the Americas.However,USA lacked a credible army and navy and the Monroe Doctrine was not taken seriously by the European powers.In the late 1800,USA have enough power to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.American president Theodore Roosevelt amended it with the Roosevelt Corollary,giving USA thr right of unilateral military intervention in Latin America.
USA viewed Americas as its own sphere of influence
Cuba is near America and is the gateway to the Caribbean Islands is therefore seen to be extremely important for the security of USA
USA intervened in the Cuban War of Independence,supporting Cuban independence fighters against Spain in 1898
After Spain's defeat,USA set up a pro-American government in Cuba
This government is not allowed to make alliances with other countries without USA's approval
Encouraged American companies to invest heavily in Cuba's Tobacco and sugar industries,hence became the backbone of Cuba's economy
By 1926,American companies owned 60% of the Cuban sugar industry
USA was also a major market for its sugar and tobacco produce
USA also invested in the construction of railways and telephone networks among range of other enterprise
However,majority of the Cubans resented the economic dominance of the USA over Cuba
Heavy reliance on Sugar cause sudden and drastic changes in the price of sugar
Furthermore,most of the sugar and tobacco plantations were also owned by wealthy upper-class Cuban who worked with American investors
Difference in income gap between the rich and poor in Cuba

	Created by Hui Yuan about 8 years ago

O level Humanities (Elective History) Note on Cuban Missile Crisis, created by Hui Yuan on 23/06/2016.