In five decades, the Cuban embargo has failed to achieve its objective, harmed American interests and affected the Cuban people. Since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, the country has been under communist rule. It has been more than 50 years since the United States imposed an embargo against Cuba. The embargo, also known as a “blockade,” imposes travel and trade restrictions on anyone within U.S. jurisdiction. One of the goals of the embargo was to make Cuba a democratic country and to fight for human rights. Nothing has changed and now Cuba blames the United States for its chronic famine and economic devastation. The United States has had relations with Cuba since the Spanish-American War of 1898. Since Spain was defeated by the Americans, Spain has signed the rights to its territories, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam have been transferred to the United States. They granted Cuba their own independence with the stipulation that the United States could intervene in the country's affairs if necessary. Then came the Cuban Revolution in 1951 and Fidel Castro's guerrillas took over the government from President General Batista. Castro's Marxist-Leninist methods took over the entire island and began to heavily tax the United States. President Eisenhower responded by imposing trade restrictions on everything except food and medical supplies. Castro then expanded trade with the Soviet Union, and the United States responded by cutting off all diplomatic relations. President John F. Kennedy signed a permanent embargo in 1962, just after ordering 1,200 Cuban cigars. Since then, Cuba and the United States have communicated via Switzerland. The aim of the embargo was to encourage democracy and fight for human rights. The country has been under communist rule since the start of the Castro regime. Nothing...... middle of paper ......gs we have in this world. We should all be united and share what we have. As a free country, we should be able to travel to Cuba. Why not? Other countries can travel there. We are a free country and I feel that by preventing us from traveling to Cuba it defeats the purpose of being a free country. How traveling to Cuba Would lifting the embargo benefit the United States financially and politically? Works Cited “Cuban Dissidents Call for Ending Embargo.” NYTimes.com Video Collection 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. December 9, 2013. Berrios, Ruben. “Why America should lift its embargo on Cuba.” Contemporary Review 265.1545 (1994): 182+. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. December 10, 2013. Katz, David. “Sanctioned State: The American Embargo on Cuba.” Harvard International Review 27.1 (2005): 8+. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. April 27. 2014.