A History of 53 years of conflict
January 1, 1959 Fidel and Raúl Castro end the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and take power
1951 The Agrarian Reform Act is approved. Large landholders lose their properties and relations with the US begin to deteriorate.
1960 The United States begins a commercial embargo against Cuba
January 3, 1961 the United States and Cuba break off diplomatic relations
April 1961 the Bay of Pigs Invasion takes place to overthrow the Castro regime. It fails and Castro announces the Marixist-Lennist style Revolution
February 3, 1962 The Organization of American States (OEA) orders a total embargo against Cuba
1965 marks the beginning of the Camarioca Exodus which allows 100, 000 people to emigrate for 8 years.
1966 the United States approves a new law whereby any Cuban who reaches the US territory can stay in the country and work.
1980 130 Cubans arrive in the US and the country tightens the Cuban embargo.
1981 President Ronald Reagan increases hostilities towards Cuba
1990 The Cuban government decrees “The Special Period in times of peace” and institutes economic restrictions.
1994 Cuban Balsero (rafters) Crisis begins with 37,000 Cubans trying to reach the U.S. on rafts.
1996 The Helms-Burton Law is passed to punish anyone who doing business with Cuba.
2000 President Clinton authorizes the sale of foods and medicine to Cuba if paid for in cash
2001 President George tries to tighten the embargo against Cuba
2008 Fidel Castro announces his retirement and names his brother Raúl as his successor.
2009 Obama removes restrictions for family members to visit Cuba, for them to send money to their families there and announces a “new beginning” in relations between the two countries.
2010 President Obama makes it easier for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba
2013 Cuba and the U.S. meet to reestablish mail service between the two countries which has been suspended since 1963.
December 17, 2014 as a result to the freeing of Alan Gross and three Cubans incarcerated in the United States, diplomatic relations are restored between the two countries.
