About this episode
The episode discusses the historical context of Cuba's relationship with the US, including the Cold War and the Platt Amendment.
This week we talk about the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and decapitation attacks. We also discuss Venezuela, Iran, and the Platt Amendment. Recommended Book: The Will of the Many by James Islington Transcript Cuba is a large island nation, about the same size as the US state of Tennessee, which formally gained its independence from Spain in late 1898, following three wars of independence, the last of which brought the US, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines into play against the Spanish when the Spanish military sunk the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, triggering the Spanish-American War. That conflict, which Spain lost, led to the US’s acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and it led to a piece of US legislation called the Platt Amendment, which redefined the relationship between the US and Cuba, following the war, making Cuba a protectorate of the United States, the US promising to leave, withdrawing its troops from Cuban soil, only if seven conditions were met, and an additional provision that Cuba sign a treaty indicating they would continue to adhere to these conditions moving forward—making them permanent. Most of these conditions relate to Cuba’s ability…
People in this episode
Host: Colin Wright
Topics covered
- Cuban history
- Cold War
- military intervention
- international relations
- US foreign policy
Keywords
- Cuba
- Cold War
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Platt Amendment
- US foreign policy
- Venezuela
- Iran
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: United States, Spain, Puerto Rico, Philippines, US
Books & works: The Will of the Many, Platt Amendment
Places: Cuba, Venezuela, Iran
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