Expert: Paul Walcutt - 4/1/2002

Question
I would like to know what the econmoic situation was in Cuba from before the revolution of Fidel Castro. And can give me some sites where this is also descibed?

Thanks in advance

Answer
The economy was directly tied to the international price of sugar.  US business interests owned 75% of the arable land on the island before 1959 and controlled 40% of the country's sugar production.  Thsi more or less made Cuba a economic colony of the US with Bautista as the puppet leader.  This relationship led to the widespread popular support amongst Cubans who gravitated towards Castro's movement.

http://www.historyofcuba.com/cuba.htm

You can find plenty of more using Google....

(This is all from Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro: The History of the Caribbean 1492-1969, Vintage Books, New York, 1984. )