In five decades, the Cuban embargo has failed to achieve its purpose, harmed United States interests, and affected the Cuban people. Since the year 1959, when Fidel Castro conquered Cuba, the country has been under communist rule. It has been more than 50 years since the United States imposed an embargo against Cuba. The embargo also known as “the blockade” imposes travel and trade restrictions on anyone under the jurisdiction of the United States. One of the purposes of the embargo was to transform Cuba into a democratic country and fight for human rights. Nothing has changed and now Cuba blames the United States for chronic hunger and economic devastation. The United States has had relations with Cuba since the Spanish-American War of 1898. Since Spain was defeated by the Americans, Spain signed the rights to its territories, including Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam pass to the United States. He granted Cuba its independence with the stipulation that the United States could intervene in the country's affairs if necessary. Then came the Cuban revolution in 1951 and Fidel Castro's guerrillas took control of President General Batista's government. Castro's Marxist-Leninist methods took control of the entire island and began to tax the United States heavily. President Eisenhower responded by imposing trade restrictions on everything except food and medical supplies. Castro then expanded his trade with the Soviet Union and the United States responded by cutting all diplomatic ties. President John F Kennedy signed a permanent embargo in 1962, soon after ordering 1,200 Cuban cigars. Since then, Cuba and the United States have communicated through Switzerland. The purpose of the embargo was to encourage democracy and fight for human rights. The country has been under communist rule since the beginning of Castro's regime. Nothing... middle of paper... that we have in this world. We should all be united and share what we have. As a free country we should be able to travel to Cuba. Why not? Other countries can travel there. We are a free country and I believe that limiting ourselves to traveling to Cuba defeats the purpose of being a free country. How to travel to Cuba? Lifting the embargo would be beneficial to the United States financially and politically. Works quoted "Cuban dissidents call for end to embargo." NYTimes.com Video Collection 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Network. December 9, 2013.Berrios, Ruben. “Why America Should Lift the Cuban Embargo.” Contemporary Review 265.1545 (1994): 182+. Opposing points of view in context. Network. December 10, 2013.Katz, David. “Sanctioned State: The US Embargo on Cuba.” Harvard International Review 27.1 (2005): 8+. Opposing points of view in context. Network. April 27. 2014.