Chapter 15

EXPLORING THE CARIBBEAN

SECTION 1

CUBA: Clinging to Communism

Reasons to Leave Cuba

Bad economy Starvation Clothing, medicine, and other necessities are hard

to get Desire for freedom

No voice in the gov’t

Cuba-History

Small Size of Pennsylvania

Fertile farmland 3rd largest sugar producer in the world

Good harbors, location Gulf of Mexico Haven’t been on good terms with countries, this doesn’t

promote trade

Independence

Spanish Colony U.S. beat spain in Spanish-American War

Cuba became free.

Traded with the U.S. - prospered Some people did well, others earned low wages Over the years, they had many harsh rulers Dictator - a ruler who has complete power over

the country

Communism 1950’s- Fulgencio Batista - rebel groups removed

him from power. Fidel Castro - 1959 - overthrew Batista and took

control of the country. Communist - gov’t ownership of business and land Many fled the country, came to U.S. and other

caribbean islands. Soviet Union, communist, helped Cuba out.

Not friends with U.S. U.S. relationship with Cuba deteriates, we start

welcoming refugees.

Leaving Cuba, Returning to Cuba Exile - a person who leaves his or her homeland for

another country because of political problems. Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

No longer helped out Cuba Food and supplies became scarce Tensions with U.S. heightened

1960-1970’s - Castro overhauled the school system. Many were illiterate - unable to read and write. Today - 96% literacy rate Uncertain future of the country??????????

Section 2Section 2Haiti - The Road to DemocracyHaiti - The Road to Democracy

Struggle from the BeginningStruggle from the Beginning

Haiti - only country in the Americas formed Haiti - only country in the Americas formed from a successful revolt of enslaved from a successful revolt of enslaved AfricansAfricans

Once a colony of FranceOnce a colony of France 1790’s slave revolts began1790’s slave revolts began Leader - Tousaint L’OuvertureLeader - Tousaint L’Ouverture

Helped banish slavery from Haiti in 1801Helped banish slavery from Haiti in 1801

Troubled YearsTroubled Years

Many presidents became dictators when Many presidents became dictators when they came into power.they came into power.

One of the worstOne of the worst 1957 - Francois Duvalier - Papa Doc1957 - Francois Duvalier - Papa Doc 1971 - Jean-Claude Duvalier - Baby Doc1971 - Jean-Claude Duvalier - Baby Doc

Forced to leave in 1986, but was followed by the Forced to leave in 1986, but was followed by the same type of leaderssame type of leaders

During their rule Haiti became the poorest During their rule Haiti became the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.country in the Western hemisphere.

LifeLife

Many try to make their living on the farm.Many try to make their living on the farm. Small plotsSmall plots Over used landOver used land

Creole - people of mixed ancestryCreole - people of mixed ancestry Haitian culture blends African, French and West Indian Haitian culture blends African, French and West Indian

traditiontradition

Creole - Also refers to the dialect that is spoken in Creole - Also refers to the dialect that is spoken in HaitiHaiti A different version of a language that is spoken in a A different version of a language that is spoken in a

particular regionparticular region Creole dialect is based on both African and French Creole dialect is based on both African and French

languageslanguages

LifeLife

City LifeCity Life Port-au-Prince - Haiti’s capitalPort-au-Prince - Haiti’s capital Wealthy live on the hills in wooden housesWealthy live on the hills in wooden houses Middle class also live fairly wellMiddle class also live fairly well Poor live in tiny home made of crumbling Poor live in tiny home made of crumbling

concrete.concrete.

FutureFuture

1990 - Jean-Bertrand Aristide - elected 1990 - Jean-Bertrand Aristide - elected president, long defended the rights of the president, long defended the rights of the poorpoor

7 months later the military forced Aristide 7 months later the military forced Aristide to leave. to leave. Attacked his supporters, fledAttacked his supporters, fled Many came to the U.S., a lot kidsMany came to the U.S., a lot kids

Many were turned backMany were turned back

Good and BadGood and Bad

1994 - Aristide came back to Haiti1994 - Aristide came back to Haiti Many thought this would turn things aroundMany thought this would turn things around

1998 - Rene Preval was president, bad 1998 - Rene Preval was president, bad times ensued.times ensued.

2001 - Aristide came back into power.2001 - Aristide came back into power. 2006 - Preval was again elected.2006 - Preval was again elected.

Section 3Section 3

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

A Cultural Identity of a PeopleA Cultural Identity of a People

Puerto Rico and the U.S.Puerto Rico and the U.S. Puerto Ricans are U.S. CitizensPuerto Ricans are U.S. Citizens

Individuals with certain rights and Individuals with certain rights and responsibilities under a particular governmentresponsibilities under a particular government

Can’t vote in presidential electionCan’t vote in presidential election Don’t pay taxesDon’t pay taxes Only a non-voting member in CongressOnly a non-voting member in Congress

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the Unites States.Unites States. A place that has its own government but also A place that has its own government but also

has strong ties to another country.has strong ties to another country. Can move to and from the U.S. as they Can move to and from the U.S. as they

please.please.

LifeLife

70% of people live in cities70% of people live in cities Many work in factories or tourism industryMany work in factories or tourism industry San Juan - capital citySan Juan - capital city

Luxury hotels - Skyscrapers - Old Spanish Luxury hotels - Skyscrapers - Old Spanish style buildings - 450 year old Spanish Catholic style buildings - 450 year old Spanish Catholic ChurchChurch

CommonwealthCommonwealth

1951 - Puerto Ricans adopted their own 1951 - Puerto Ricans adopted their own constitutionconstitution A statement of a country’s basic laws and A statement of a country’s basic laws and

valuesvalues Gave them their own lawmakers, but they Gave them their own lawmakers, but they

were still bound to the Unites States lawswere still bound to the Unites States laws

What to do?What to do? Many Puerto Ricans feel torn between the U.S. Many Puerto Ricans feel torn between the U.S.

and Puerto Ricoand Puerto Rico Some think statehood is the way to goSome think statehood is the way to go

GoodGood Vote in U.S. elections, earn more moneyVote in U.S. elections, earn more money

BadBad Would be the poorest state in the unionWould be the poorest state in the union Would have to pay taxesWould have to pay taxes

Puerto Ricans voted in 1993 and 1998 Puerto Ricans voted in 1993 and 1998 NOTNOT to to become a statebecome a state

Some Puerto Ricans would like independenceSome Puerto Ricans would like independence Their own countryTheir own country

BENEFITSBENEFITS DRAWBACKSDRAWBACKS

COMMON-COMMON-WEALTHWEALTH

U.S. aid, investment, U.S. aid, investment, no federal taxesno federal taxes

Confused cultural Confused cultural identity, second class identity, second class citizenshipcitizenship

STATEHOODSTATEHOOD

More U.S. investment, More U.S. investment, congressional congressional representation, more representation, more political powerpolitical power

Might lose Spanish Might lose Spanish language and culture, language and culture, high federal taxes high federal taxes would lower incomeswould lower incomes

NATIONHOODNATIONHOOD

Keep separate Keep separate identity, Spanish identity, Spanish language and culture, language and culture, stronger cultural ties stronger cultural ties to Caribbeanto Caribbean

Weak nation without Weak nation without U.S. defense, might U.S. defense, might lose U.S. investment lose U.S. investment and aidand aid