Fidel Castro and his Communist leaders took over Cuba in January 1959, after an intense struggle for power with Fulgencio Batista and the Nationalist government, who was backed by the United States.
After Castro became the leader of Cuba, he:
1. nationalised various American companies and factories
2. nationalised private schools
3. took control of lands and farms from the American companies or Cuban ruling class and redistributed them to the peasants.
4. Provided schooling for the poor.
What he did seemed to the Americans as communist actions, and the US blockaded Cuba economically in retaliation. To the horror of the US, ties between Cuba and USSR grew closer. On 1 May 1961, Castro officially declared himself and thereby the whole country communist.
Thus, Cuba and US are not on good terms with each other, ever since Castro took over. And it became worse after the "snatching" of American properties, the attack of the Bay of Pigs, and the close relations of Cuba and USSR. This was one of the factors that led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
