Why did U.S. get involved with cuba?

Question: Why did U!.S!. get involved with cuba!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Being only 90 miles off the Florida coast, the U!.S!. did not want Cuba to become a communist country!. It would be dangerous to the U!.S!. to have an enemy's missile base so close!.

But it would depend on which era of involvement you want to know!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The United States got involved with Cuba because of the proximity of the island nation, but also because it was rich with natural resources and people willing to buy!. The United States and Cuba had good relations until the revolution when all of the businesses of the United States were taken over and the US citizens were kicked out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The BBC has an interesting timeline here: http://news!.bbc!.co!.uk/2/hi/americas/3182!.!.!.

Here are some highlights:

1898: US declares war on Spain!.

1898: US defeats Spain, which gives up all claims to Cuba and cedes it to the US!.

1902: Cuba becomes independent with Tomas Estrada Palma as its president!. But the Platt Amendment keeps the island under US protection and gives the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs!.

1912: US forces return to Cuba to help put down black protests against discrimination!.

1933: Gerardo Machado overthrown in a coup led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista

1934: The US abandons its right to intervene in Cuba's internal affairs, revises Cuba's sugar quota and changes tariffs to favour Cuba!.

1953: Fidel Castro leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Batista regime!.

1956: Castro lands in eastern Cuba from Mexico and takes to the Sierra Maestra mountains where, aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara, he wages a guerrilla war!.

1958: The US withdraws military aid to Batista!.

1959: Castro leads a 9,000-strong guerrilla army into Havana, forcing Batista to flee!. Castro becomes prime minister

1960: All US businesses in Cuba are nationalised without compensation; US breaks off diplomatic relations with Havana and imposes a trade embargo in response to Castro's reforms!.

1961: US backs an abortive invasion by Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs; Castro proclaims Cuba a communist state and begins to ally it with the USSR!.

1961: The CIA begins to make plans to assassinate Castro as part of Operation Mongoose!. At least five plans to kill the Cuban leader were drawn up between 1961 and 1963!.

1962: Cuban missile crisis ignites when, fearing a US invasion, Castro agrees to allow the USSR to deploy nuclear missiles on the island!.

!.!.!.and it goes on!. History is fascinating, especially when you're old enough to have lived through quite a bit of it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962!.

US spy planes were flying over Cuba, when they spotted buildings in which nuclear bombs can be made!. They figured out that Communist USSR was trying to put Nucs in Cuba, which is only 90 miles from Florida, and can easily reach Washington DC!.

So, it was the fear of a Nuclear Holocaust, and the Reds!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba!. At first, the US thought that the Spanish blew up the Maine, we know that isnt true now!. But, we decided to invade Cuba to liberate them from the Spanish, and to teach the Spaniards a lessonWww@QuestionHome@Com

Imperialism:
during that time frame it was made known that anything on the western hemisphere was America's business!. Therefore, any harm to people U!.S!. was going to step in!. U!.S!. took the opportunity when there was unrule in Cuba over spansih rule!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

coz they stick their nose into everyones businessWww@QuestionHome@Com