Both Castro and Kennedy strove (or claimed to strive) for the same ultimate goal - peace and prosperity in Latin America, though through vastly different means. What were these means, and how were they different?

Authors Avatar

Aaron Monson

HIS-160

November 26, 2003

        On Monday, September 26, 1960, Fidel Castro, the new prime minister of Cuba, gave a speech to the United Nations concerning the current state of Cuba both socially and economically.  His speech outlined the terrible condition of his nation and proposed several methods necessary for returning Cuban enterprises to Cuban people.  The following year, President John F. Kennedy proposed the creation of the Alliance for Progress, an organization dedicated to satisfying “the basic needs of the American people” (Holden and Zolov, p. 227).  Both Castro and Kennedy strove (or claimed to strive) for the same ultimate goal – peace and prosperity in Latin America, though through vastly different means.  What were these means, and how were they different?  What were the most crucial issues facing not only Cuba, but also all of Latin America?  What were some possible solutions?  Whose means, Kennedy’s or Castro’s, would better serve the Latin American people?

        Fidel Castro’s speech to the United Nations in 1960 brought to attention a number of social and economic problems occurring in several Latin American countries.  His bold claims included that much of the devastation and poverty in Latin America was a result of government-favored American monopolies on many of the most critical necessities, including electricity, telephone services, public services, mines, land ownership, and the notorious United Fruit Company.  Also, Castro argued that his Revolutionary Government was facing the ire of the United States based on the fact that his regime had come into power by force.  The United States opposed such insurgence despite the fact that Castro hailed it as necessary to improve living conditions in underdeveloped countries.

Join now!

        Indeed, according to Castro, the deplorable conditions in a plethora of Latin American societies (six hundred thousand unemployed Cubans, three million without electricity, three and a half million living in slums, thirty-seven percent illiterate, and ungodly high rent rates (Castro’s Speech at the United Nations, p. 5)) were caused in large part by the giant corporations controlling most, if not all of the nation’s industry.  The monopolies were supported and even granted special concessions by Fulgencio Batista, former Cuban dictator – another reason Castro’s government was oppressed by the United States.  Much of the capital produced and goods exported from ...

This is a preview of the whole essay