Exploring Cuba: The Opening of Cuba, 2008-Present (PDF)

By the time he stepped down as Cuba's president in 2008, Fidel Castro had been in power for half a century. During that time, for good or—as his many critics insist—for ill, Castro had completely transformed the country. Following the model of communism, he'd brought Cuba's economy under the complete control of the state. Businesses were nationalized and private property eliminated. Citizens were prohibited from leaving the country without the government's permission. Castro also earned the enmity of the United States, which imposed a crippling trade embargo and worked to isolate Cuba diplomatically. The years since Castro's departure have seen significant changes. Cuban citizens are now permitted to own certain small businesses, and to buy and sell real estate. Cubans may now travel abroad. And in 2015, Cuba and the United States restored full diplomatic relations, which had been severed in 1961. Where will these and other recent changes lead? What's in store for the island nation and its people? What might the future hold for U.S.-Cuba relations? This book explores those questions. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions—building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.