Cuba / Miami Worksheet
Nombre: ______________________________________________ Clase: _______
A. Read the information below and then answer the questions.
Cuba's independence from Spain came about when the United States won the Spanish American
War in 1898 and granted Cuba independence in 1902 after four years of U.S. occupation. The
Platt Amendment was the price the Cuban rebels paid to get a withdrawal of U.S. troops. This
amendment, grafted into the Cuban constitution of 1902, guaranteed the right of the U.S. to
intervene in Cuban affairs to protect U.S. interests on the island. During the next 32 years the
U.S. continuously intervened in Cuban internal affairs.
On January 1, 1959 Fidel Castro takes over Cuba's government. During the next year and a half
Fidel Castro consolidates power and seizes properties. Castro allies himself with the Soviet
Union. Due to the residual anti-Americanism left over from the Platt-Amendment the Cuban
people enthusiastically support Castro's independence from the United States. In 1961 Cuban
exiles trained and armed by the C.I.A. formed Brigade 2506 which landed at the "Playa de
Giron" otherwise known as the Bay of Pigs. Due to leaks within the State Department, the Cuban
government had foreknowledge of the invasion. In addition, to preserve "plausible deniability"
the Kennedy administration reneged on its pledge of air and naval support. Cuban exile troops
were left on the beaches to get shot up and or imprisoned. A number of American pilots refused
to abandon them and died in action. Due to this fiasco and the Kennedy administration's
perceived or actual indecisiveness, the USSR believed that it could place offensive missiles in
Cuba. This would alter the strategic balance of power. In 1962, Soviet nuclear missiles could
only reach Western Europe; while the United States had ICBM's capable of targeting Soviet
territory in the United States as well medium range weapons in Turkey. Missiles in Cuba would
give the USSR the ability to accurately target U.S. assets and population centers.
The result of these developments was the Cuban Missile Crisis and the resulting KennedyKruschev pact which guaranteed Castro's rule for the next 30 years. In 1966 the Cuban
Adjustment Act was signed into law. Over a million and a half Cubans sought political refuge in
the United States, building an enclave of economic and cultural power in Miami which has
changed the face of South Florida.
In Miami, the Spanish language was spoken to a larger extent than in other cities with large
Hispanic populations; also it was spoken in more diverse settings in Miami than any other city.
Furthermore, the 1970 census confirmed that Miami's Spanish-speaking population was 24
percent. The Spanish language was becoming a norm in Miami as it was more extensively
spoken by Miami's Cuban elite. Language became increasingly important in 20th century Miami
as a result of the Cuban influx and this had impacts on other non-Latin communities.
1. When did anti-American sentiment begin in Cuba? What caused it? ______________
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2. Who is the current president of Cuba? How long has he been in power? ___________
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3. What happened at the Bay of Pigs? ________________________________________
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4. Why would Cubans want to leave their homes and move to the U.S.? _____________
________________________________________________________________________
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5. Why would Cubans in Miami want to speak Spanish? __________________________
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6. Why do you think people other than Latinos would not like Spanish being spoken so much in
Miami? __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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B. Answer the Para comprender questions on page 137:
1. What sports are popular at Danny’s school? What sports does he participate in?
________________________________________________________________________
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2. By how much did Danny’s team win in the last game? _________________________
3. According to Luis, what are the most popular sports in Spain?
________________________________________________________________________
4. How did things go for Luis in his last game?
________________________________________________________________________
5. What are some of the favorite sports at your school? Do you go to the games/competitions
often? Why or why not?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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Cuba and Miami
Across
2. type of government in Cuba
5. Person who speaks two languages
8. Leader of Cuba for 45 years +
11. Capital of Cuba
12. Terrorists taken here after 2001
13. Wanted to put offensive missiles in Cuba
Down
1. U.S. president during missile crisis
2. Celebrates Cuba's past
3. Language spoken in Miami
4. Miami is not the capital
6. This festival celebrates Hispanics
7. Famous Italian explorer's name in Spanish (Columbus)
9. Game played by Cubans in Miami
10. Country that is just over 200 miles from Miami
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