Authoritarian States

Question 1

Economic conditions in which Authoritarian Cuba emerged:

Answer 1

• sugar was Cuba’s main export
• By 1825, Cuba was producing more than 25 million tons of sugar
• there were many American corporations that had invested in the Cuban sugar industry, but all this was lost once the Great Depression occurred
• Smoot-Hawley Tariff: passed in 1930; shifted US market away from foreign territories to domestic products
• loss of income led to increased opposition against the current dictator, General Gerardo Machado y Morales

Question 2

Social Division that led to Authoritarian Cuba:

Answer 2

• slavery was abolished in 1886, but there was still a social divide
• Fulgencio Batista was the first mixed-race leader of Cuba and garnered much support from the oriente region, the poorest region of Cuba
• Batista’s policies furthered the divide between capitalists and communists

Question 3

Impact of War that led to Authoritarian Cuba:

Answer 3

• Spanish-Cuban conflicts (Independence from Spain) led to US occupations because the US didn’t want interests in Cuba to be lost
• WWI: wanted the US to win so aided the Allies
• Cuban Revolution of 1933-1934: purpose was to rid Cuba of General Machado y Morales
• WWII: boosted demands for Cuban sugar and increased exports; blessing for Batista’s government