Article: History of

U.S.-Cuba Relations
This past December, President Obama announced the
decision to reopen diplomatic and economic relations

Vocabulary
ties = connections,
relationships

with Cuba. Diplomatic ties have been officially

severed = cut off

severed for decades, and the relationship of the U.S.

presidencies = time
periods of each
president

and Cuba has a long and confusing history. Through

eleven presidencies, Americans have watched the
countrys relationship with Cuba worsen, as both sides
have been reluctant to make concessions to the
other.

The Beginning
Fidel Castro first took power in Cuba in 1959. Later
that year, he visited the United States and met with
Vice President Nixon. At this time, both countries were
still establishing their diplomatic relationship, but the
American government was wary of some of Castros
communistic rhetoric.
Things took a decisive turn in 1960 when Castro not
only continued to strengthen his relationship with the
Soviet Union, but also nationalized all American
companies in Cuba and provided no compensation. It
was at this time that the U.S. cut relations and imposed
the first trade embargo on Cuba.

reluctant = not
willing to
make concessions =
give the other side
something it wants

wary = cautious,
slightly suspicious
rhetoric =
communication
things took a
decisive turn = things
began clearly going in
a particular direction

nationalized = made
them the property of
the national
government
trade embargo = a
barrier to importing
or exporting to/from
that country

The Bay of Pigs

In 1961, President Kennedy approved the Bay of Pigs
mission where the U.S. government helped support an
attempted invasion by Cuban exiles. Fidel Castro
easily defeated the U.S.-backed army and began more
openly supporting the Soviet Union. This became only
the first of eight U.S. attempts in the 1960s to oust
Castro. Each obviously ended in failure.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, Cuba and the Soviet Union agreed to house
Soviet nuclear missiles on the island. The U.S. released
photos of the missile silos and began an international
standoff with the Soviet Union. Though many feared a
nuclear war would begin, both sides were able to
deescalate the situation by agreeing to remove the
Soviet missiles in Cuba and the U.S. missiles in Turkey.

Mariel Boatlift
When the U.S. government said that it would welcome
Cuban refugees, it resulted in the Mariel boatlift of
1980. This was the largest arrival of Cuban refugees at
one time, as approximately 125,000 people arrived on
American shores. It is suspected that many of these
people were individuals who Castro willingly freed
from his prisons and mental institutions in order to
send them to the U.S.

Vocabulary
exiles = people who
were forced out of
the country
U.S.-backed =
supported by the
U.S.
oust = force
someone out of a
position of power
standoff = when two
forces of similar
power face each
other without taking
action
deescalate =
decrease the
intensity
refugees = people
who leave a country
because of war or
poverty
shores = the part of
the land near the
ocean

Wet Foot, Dry Foot

Eventually the U.S. government adopted the wet foot,
dry foot policy, which indicated that if refugees

Vocabulary

arrived on U.S. soil, they could stay. Refugees that

were caught before they reached the shore were sent
back.
Slight changes to refugee policies, cultural exchange,
and remittances have been made in the last twenty
years. Despite all these tweaks, the situation remained
the same as it has for over four decades.
President Obamas decision ushers in a new age for
U.S.-Cuba relations. This could mean greater cultural
and economic exchange as well as the improvement of
lives for the poorest in Cuba. However, it is still too
early to tell.

Read more about the history of U.S.-Cuba relations:

soil = in this context,

another word for
land or territory
remittances = the
sending of money to
someone at a
distance
tweaks = tiny
changes and
adjustments
ushers in a new age
= begins a new time
period
it is still too early to
tell = in this case,
tell means know
by observation

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/17/371405620/the-u-s-and-cuba-abrief-history-of-a-tortured-relationship

Comprehension Questions
1. The U.S. was suspicious because of Castro's...
a. desire to attack the U.S.
b. history of manipulation and violence
c. ideas and philosophy
2. Which country cut off the relations?
a. Cuba
b. The U.S.
c. The Soviet Union
3. The U.S. tried eight times to...
a. remove Castro from power
b. get spies into the Cuban government
c. break up the alliance between Cuba and the Soviet Union
4. The missile crisis in 1962 was resolved by...
a. agreeing to relax the economic sanctions
b. both sides agreeing to remove missiles
c. threatening nuclear war
5. U.S. policy said that Cubans could stay if...
a. they agreed never to go back
b. they stepped onto U.S. land
c. they renounced allegiance to Castro
6. The article concludes that because of the decision to re-establish
relations...
a. life will improve for Cubans soon
b. more U.S. citizens will visit Cuba
c. we dont know yet what the effects will be

Vocabulary Quiz
Complete the sentences with words from the box:

backed

reluctant

ties

concessions

severed

tweaks

presidencies

shore

wary

refugees
1. ___________________ from the war are pouring into neighboring countries.
2. Doctors are ___________________ of this new weight-loss drug; it hasn't been
thoroughly tested yet.
3. Don't swim too far out - stay close to ___________________.
4. He survived the accident, but his left leg was ___________________ below the knee.
5. She was adopted as a baby and she has no ___________________ with her
biological parents.
6. The economy has been strong throughout the past three ___________________.
7. The editor would like to make a few ___________________ to the article before
publication.
8. This is a big decision; I'm ___________________ to make it until I have more
information.
9. This organization is very strong. It's ___________________ by a number of
influential politicians.
10. You can't have your own way all the time when you're in a relationship. You
have to make some ___________________ to your partner.

Listening Practice
Fill in the boxes as you listen. Then check your answers with the full article text.
This past December, President Obama ___________________________ the decision to
reopen diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba. Diplomatic ties have been
officially severed for decades, and the relationship of the U.S. and Cuba has a long
and ___________________________ history. Through eleven presidencies, Americans have
watched the countrys relationship with Cuba ___________________________, as both sides
have been reluctant to make concessions to the other.

The Beginning
Fidel Castro first ___________________________ power in Cuba in 1959. Later that year, he
visited the United States and met with Vice President Nixon. At this time, both
countries were still ___________________________ their diplomatic relationship, but the
American government was wary of some of Castros communistic rhetoric.
Things took a decisive turn in 1960 when Castro not only continued to
___________________________ his relationship with the Soviet Union, but also nationalized
all American companies in Cuba and provided no ___________________________. It was at
this time that the U.S. cut relations and imposed the first trade embargo on Cuba.

The Bay of Pigs

In 1961, President Kennedy approved the Bay of Pigs ___________________________
where the U.S. government helped support an attempted invasion by Cuban exiles.
Fidel Castro easily ___________________________ the U.S.-backed army and began more
openly supporting the Soviet Union. This became only the first of eight U.S. attempts
in the 1960s to oust Castro. Each obviously ended in ___________________________.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, Cuba and the Soviet Union ___________________________ to house Soviet nuclear
missiles on the island. The U.S. released photos of the missile silos and began an
international standoff with the Soviet Union. Though many ___________________________
a nuclear war would begin, both sides were able to deescalate the situation by
agreeing to remove the Soviet missiles in Cuba and the U.S. missiles in Turkey.

Mariel Boatlift
When the U.S. government said that it would welcome Cuban refugees, it
___________________________ in the Mariel boatlift of 1980. This was the largest arrival of
Cuban refugees at one time, as approximately 125,000 people arrived on American
shores. It is suspected that many of these people were individuals who Castro
willingly freed from his ___________________________ and mental institutions in order to
send them to the U.S.

Wet Foot, Dry Foot

Eventually the U.S. government ___________________________ the wet foot, dry foot
policy, which indicated that if refugees arrived on U.S. soil, they could stay. Refugees
that were ___________________________ before they reached the shore were sent back.
Slight changes to refugee policies, cultural ___________________________, and remittances
have been made in the last twenty years. Despite all these tweaks, the situation
___________________________ the same as it has for over four decades.
President Obamas decision ushers in a new age for U.S.-Cuba relations. This could
mean greater cultural and ___________________________ exchange as well as the
improvement of lives for the poorest in Cuba. However, it is still too early to tell.

Writing Task
The U.S., which is strongly capitalistic, was concerned about Castros communistic
beliefs. What are the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism and
communism/socialism? Which philosophy do you tend to prefer, and why?
Write 2-3 paragraphs, then send me your text at shayna@espressoenglish.net for
feedback and correction!

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Answers
Comprehension Questions
1. c
2. b

Vocabulary Quiz
1. refugees
2. wary

3.
4.
5.
6.

a
b
b
c

3. shore
4. severed
5. ties
6. presidencies
7. tweaks
8. reluctant
9. backed
10. concessions