BackgroundCuban RevolutionIn 1952 General Fulgencio Batista became ruler of Cuba by overthrowing President Carlos Prio Socarras and canceling all elections. Fidel Castro, who was a young lawyer at the time, spent the next seven years attempting to overthrow Batista. In July 1953, Castro led an attack against the military in Santiago but was defeated. Castro was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison; however Batista freed him in 1955. Living in Mexico, Castro regrouped and attacked Batista again in December 1956. He was again defeated and fled the country. Using guerrilla tactics, he continued to attack Batista's armed forces and with the help of other rebels across the country he eventually won. Batista was forced to resign and fled the country on January 1, 1959. Castro became Prime Minister and Batista's associates were executed. One of the first things Castro did was suspend all elections and name himself “President for Life.” By incarcerating or executing all those who opposed him, Castro became dictator and established a communist government. Batista was considered an ally of the United States and its business interests in Cuba. At the time, American interests controlled much of Cuba's sugar plantations; as well as most of its cattle ranches, mines and utilities. Batista allowed them to operate with little interference. He was also anti-communist. Castro on the other hand soon established relations with Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union, which were of great concern to the United States. Castro disapproved of American business interests and wanted Cuba to regain control of much of his nation. When Castro established relations with the Soviet Union, the United States responded by banning the import of Cuban sugar. To avoid the collapse of the Cuban economy, the Soviet Union agreed to purchase