The Cuban Revolution and its consequences
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the consequences of the Cuban Revolution.
Key learning points
- The USA was closely interested in Cuba in the mid-20th century.
- The Batista government was very unpopular in Cuba.
- Fidel Castro gained power in Cuba after a revolution.
- The US opposed many of the actions of the Castro government.
- Cuba increasingly developed trade and security relations with the USSR.
Keywords
Sphere of influence - a region of the world in which one state is dominant
Nationalised - when the government takes control of a business or property
Embargo - an official ban on trade with another country
Common misconception
Castro immediately turned to the USSR for support after the Cuban Revolution.
Castro mainly turned to the USSR for support in 1960, after the USA had already begun restricting trade with Cuba.
Teacher tip
Share extracts of JFK's October 1960 speech on Cuba. At the time, he was running to be president. Students should discuss whether the speech suggests American policy was successful at the time. Students may also consider potential issues with the source provenance.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. A is someone who is forced to flee from their own country for their own safety.
Q2.Which satellite state suffered from a 'brain drain' between 1949 and 1961?
Q3.How mnay East Germans crossed the border to the West between 1949 and 1958?
Q4.Where was the Berlin Wall built?
Q5.Who claimed that "a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war"?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an official ban on trade with another country called?
Q2.Who became leader of Cuba in 1959 after its revolution?
Q3.How close is Cuba to the USA?
Q4.Which country did Cuba increasingly cooperate with after the USA began restricting trade with it?
Q5.Which action in 1959 increased US suspicions that Castro might be a communist?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Cuban Revolution and its consequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Cuban Revolution and its consequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.