What was life like after the Cuban Revolution under the government of Fidel Castro? Historians consider the question by examining the firsthand accounts of people living there and old newsreels of the Batista regime ouster. A video from Castro's funeral and a history professor talking about refugee policy adds additional perspectives.

Concepts

cuba, fidel castro, revolutions, communism, the caribbean islands

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

social studies

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Use clips to create a unit on the Cuban Revolution with discussion questions and links to related videos
• Ask pupils to conduct research on why people supported Castro during the Revolution to even out opinions expressed in the videos

Classroom Considerations

• Create a free account or use Username: students, Password: C-SPANCLASSROOM to access the materials

Pros

• Newsreels offer an engaging primary source of the Cuban Revolution
• Firsthand oral history of the revolution is interesting for students

Cons

• Voices express mostly an anti-Castro sentiment

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.4 RH.6-8.6 RH.6-8.9 RH.6-8.10 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.4 RH.9-10.6 RH.9-10.9 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.4 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.9 RH.11-12.10