The Cuban Refugee Waves From 1965 To 1973 And The U.S.Policy

Cuban revolution on January 1st,1959 overthrow the tyranny of Fulgencio Batista supported by USA. When Castro became the real leader of Cuba, the relationship between the U.S.and Cuba enterd a new stage.From then on,America treated Cuba that pursued an independent policy and finally chose the Socialist road as its greatest threat in the Western Hemisphere. America took measures to topple Castro regime and recover its traditional influence. But military attack and diplomatic isolation have unattracted,Cuban refugees and embargo are used by the U.S.Government to make up two pillars of its policy towards Cuban.Since Cuban Revolution succeeded,there have been four waves of Cuban immigration to the United States.The Cuban refugee wave from 1965 to 1973 is the longest one and it inherits past traditions and breaks new grounds for the future.The wave is a milestone which means changing refugee policies of the U.S.and Cuba,and it directly affects the following Cuban refugee waves.This text treats Cuban refugee wave from 1965 to 1973 as pointcut and analyzes its progress, subtle policy changes of the U.S.and its influence on the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba.Chapter One introduces the Cuba's first refugee wave before 1965 and the behave of the U.S. The phenomenon of Cuban immigrants to the U.S. has a long history.At that time,there were two motives:Stimulation of commercial factor and consideration of political factor——Cubans looked on America as natural'base'when they seeked to get rid of Spanish rule. There was the Cuba's first refugee wave from 1959 to 1962. Castro regime carried out radical policies at home and abroad which brought about not only unrest and fear in the upper and middle classes but also Ameica's resent and hostility.In this condition,the former chose to escape from Cuba and the latter made use of these Cubans to oppress Castro regime.The U.S.responded quickly and gave Cubans refugee status.From the President and the Congress to common people,the whole country paid high attention to the refugee wave.The U.S.Government gave them a warm welcome and waited on them hand and foot,which intertwined with American people's sympathy and worry.They laid the foundation of America's Cuban refugee policy and penetrated the following waves.On the whole,the American society supported the first refugee wave,their consideration derived not only from morality but also ideology.Chapter Two and Chapter Three are main parts.Chapter Three dicusses the first stage of Cuban refugee wave——Camarioca Boatlift from 1965 to 1973.Commercial flight between America and Cuba completely ended after Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.Cuba confronted with serious difficulties when it advanced along the socialist road.In September 1965,Castro unilaterally announced that he permitted Cubans to leave Cuba from Camarioca.At the beginning,the U.S.fell into confusion and hesitation.But then it quickly took action.America insist that it should adopt more orderly methods to bring Cuban refugees. Johnson administration immediately approved Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 which got the Congress's cooperation and support. On the one hand it reflects the powerful role of the ideological constraints in the context of the Cold War,on the other hand it indicates the U.S.has begun to reflect the question of Cuban refugee.America has to contact with Cuba——to prevent Cuban refugee wave from being out of control and to gain time for setting Cuban refugees.At last the U.S.and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 1965 in which both sides had an advantage. In fact this agreement is the outcome of compromise of different interest groups,which reflects the U.S.decision-makers are at the mercy of ideology in the first stage.The reason that they are willing to contact with Cuba is to blow Castro regime more effectively.Chapter Three deals with the second stage of Cuban refugee wave——Freedom Flight.Though Ameica continued to give Cubans refugee status,more and more Cubans enterd America because of economic considerations and they had a negative impact on the American people's normal life.At the same time, in the late 1960s and early 1970s the Cold War began alleviating and the U.S.fell into the mud of the Vietnam War in the world.At home, first Johnson administration devoted to carrying out the Greate Society and then America underwent the spread of economic crisis during the Nixon period.All of these were factors of urging the country to change its Cuban rfugee policy.From the Congress to common people,they critisized the administration's policy towards Cuban refugees.The White House had to stop Freedom Flight at last and the second Cuban refugee wave which lasted for 8 years ended.Chapter Four elaborates the relationship between the U.S.and Cuba which was influenced by the Cuba's refugee wave.There have been some new changes and characters since the refugee wave from 1965 to 1973,such as the overall vision of policy-making,limited contect and so on. But conflict never changes between the U.S. and Cuba.Meanwhile this wave directly influences the following Cuban immigrants.Chapter Five discusses the underlying causes of America's changing policy.In fact,it reflects the interaction between ideology and real national interest.The reason that the Cuban refugee wave from 1965 to 1973 becomes America's turning point are its changing national interst accompanied by the situations at home and abroad and the weakening of the ideological color.But the U.S.government never gives up making use of ideology to solve Cuba issues.As long as America doesn't chang its policy towards toppling Castro regime,it will display dual character on the Cuba issues.The Cuban refugee wave from 1965 to 1973 thoroughly reflects international background of the Cold War.The changing attitudes between the U.S.and Cuba actually are the results of battle between ideology and real national interest.