Countries use embargoes as a way to cut off all ties with another country. Dictionary.com defines an embargo as a restriction that a government imposes upon commerce with another country. In 1959 a guerrilla resistance movement overthrew the Cuban government and began to take actions that were bad for the American economy. In October of 1960, the United States put an embargo on trade with Cuba because of the actions from the new government put into place and controlled by Fidel Castro. Tensions with the country raised after they became allies with the communist Soviet Union, who at the time was an enemy of the United States (Cuba). The embargo is still in place today and it causes controversy over what should be done about relations with Cuba.
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An embargo is a law that is passed by the Legislative, as they are in charge of making the laws. Because an embargo is a law however, the Executive branch is in charge of enforcing the law. Essentially the Cuban embargo is a statement that congress agreed on that states that the United States will not engage with Cuba economically, diplomatically, or in any other way. US citizens will not travel to Cuba and Cuban citizens will not come to America. The Executive branch and Legislative work together on enforcing the embargo and both branches have the power to modify the rules of the embargo. If the embargo is to ever be lifted, the Executive and Legislative branches will both have to work on agreeing that it is time to begin relations with Cuba again (Schroeder). The greatest way citizens can impact the fate of the Cuban embargo is by participating in elections. The greatest power of an American citizen is the right to choose who makes and enforces their laws. Electing officials gives citizens an indirect way to influence the government (UShistory.org). For those with a strong opinion about the Cuban embargo, the most important thing they can do is put someone in power to represent them who shares the same opinion about the embargo. Another way one can get their opinion heard by the right people is by joining interest groups who have similar ideas as them. Interest groups are more easily heard by officials because they are a larger, more organized group of people that represent a larger part of the
An embargo is a law that is passed by the Legislative, as they are in charge of making the laws. Because an embargo is a law however, the Executive branch is in charge of enforcing the law. Essentially the Cuban embargo is a statement that congress agreed on that states that the United States will not engage with Cuba economically, diplomatically, or in any other way. US citizens will not travel to Cuba and Cuban citizens will not come to America. The Executive branch and Legislative work together on enforcing the embargo and both branches have the power to modify the rules of the embargo. If the embargo is to ever be lifted, the Executive and Legislative branches will both have to work on agreeing that it is time to begin relations with Cuba again (Schroeder). The greatest way citizens can impact the fate of the Cuban embargo is by participating in elections. The greatest power of an American citizen is the right to choose who makes and enforces their laws. Electing officials gives citizens an indirect way to influence the government (UShistory.org). For those with a strong opinion about the Cuban embargo, the most important thing they can do is put someone in power to represent them who shares the same opinion about the embargo. Another way one can get their opinion heard by the right people is by joining interest groups who have similar ideas as them. Interest groups are more easily heard by officials because they are a larger, more organized group of people that represent a larger part of the