How did the Cuban Revolution effect the United States?
First, politically, the fall of the Batista regime and the rise of an avowed communist (Fidel Castro) was seen as an ambarressment to the US and as a threat as well, since it put an ideological ally of the Soviet Union so very close to US shores. That threat grew, over time, and led to the deadly and very tense standoff of the Cuban Missile crisis. There was an economic aspect, as well. Many businesses in Cuba were owned in whole or part by Americans, and when Castro came to power, he “nationalized” all Cuban businesses, essentially siezing the businesses and assets of those Americans (and others). There were millions of dollars tied up in those businesses and assets, and this siezure hit certain US citizens very hard.
