On October 19th 1960, in response to the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro, the United States of America declared that neither it nor its allies would any longer associate with the Republic of Cuba and its people due to a variety of political and economic differences. Many of these differences can be attributed to the regime of Fidel Castro and the communist party of Cuba. The U.S. and its allies would sever all ties with Cuba to instill one of the most extensive embargos ever conceived. This is a commercial, economic, financial and academic embargo that is upheld by the law and the military. During this embargo the people of Cuba have suffered through a stagnant economy, political uncertainty and perpetual isolation as a result of both the Castro regime and the strict guidelines of the embargo. Cuba no longer has sovereign function as the embargo has effectively cut them off from a majority of the market and global politics. The embargo is still in place today despite a growing movement for its lifting and support from prominent political figures such as President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. How can Americans, a people who place such emphasis on personal freedoms and Democracy continue to support the embargo with the knowledge of the hardships faced by the Cuban people as a result of the embargo? How can we continue to restrict the freedoms of another country when ours values the ideal of independence and democracy to the fullest extent of the definition? 

I find the topic of the embargo of Cuba to be very fascinating due to its volatile nature and expansive history. This is a topic that has troubled every American President and administration and will continue to until the situation is resolved. Every presidential election since the implementation of the embargo has involved this hot topic. As a question of freedom and independence this topic made me question my own definitions of these terms. I found myself debating what freedom and liberty mean to me and what they mean to my country. I had to take note of the opportunities and abilities I had as a result of our country's democratic nature and strong governing body. The question of the moral implications of the embargo added a depth to the conversation and also had an effect on how I defined these terms. I do not have personal experience regarding the lack of independence and economic freedom but I have lived my entire life with these freedoms. I appreciate these freedoms and understand the importance of the values to a society. I have followed the numerous debates, studies and stories about the impact of the embargo on the Cuban people for several years. This is also a heavily debated topic, this keeps the discussion and information current. Over the years I have developed my ideas of foreign policy regarding the embargo and the policies of the U.S. involving Cuba. I have followed the numerous political debates about this subject and I believe that I have compiled enough information to discuss and argue the moral and ethical implications of the embargo of Cuba.

In his review of the trade restrictions put into place in 2004, Remy Herrera outlines the strict regulations imposed with the embargo. He argues that the comprehensive trade and manufacturing restrictions placed on Cuba have had an extremely negative effect on the economy and wellbeing of Cuba. Herrera stresses the importance of economic and personal freedoms that are restricted by the embargo. The article also places an emphasis on the economic effects of the embargo on the Cuban people. This emphasis also includes a focus on the perceived attack on freedom through the Cuban economy. Herrera is a researcher in the field of development economics and has conducted similar studies in several other countries facing the same situation as well as those with strong and free economies. He has taken an obvious stance against the embargo and the policies involving Cuba. This stance can be found in his support for his claims and his focused discussion on the subject.

The Cuban revolution was one of the driving factors of the embargo as was the rise of Fidel Castro and his dangerous political ideals. In her exploratory piece, "With or Without Fidel Castro ... " Sujatha Fernandes examines the changes in culture that have occurred during the embargo and Cuban Revolution. In this piece, Fernandes explains the importance of a strong culture and society and what happens to a society when they go without these things. She highlights the values of creativity, education and personality. She expands on how the embargo has restricted the creativity of the people and how the embargo limits academic communication between the U.S. and Cuba. Fernandes is a professor of sociology who specializes in social theory. Her research focuses on different social movements namely the Cuban revolution. This article features a strong stance as Fernandes maintains a clear bias off the embargo and uses statistics and data to support this. 

Dr. Indira Rampersand discusses the scope of the anti-Cuban embargo movement in the U.S. and neighboring countries. In her article "The Anti-Cuban Embargo Movement in the United States", Rampersand discusses the broad spectrum of liberties that are suppressed by the embargo as well as the lasting effects that the embargo will have on Cuba. Rampersand discusses the values of freedom, human rights and independence. She stresses that these traditional American values should translate into foreign policy. In the article she mention several specific corporations such as PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, and Marriot that have come together to advance the anti-embargo movement. Dr. Rampersand is a researcher who holds several degrees that allow her to approach this topic from several different perspectives. This speaks to her credibility as an author as well as the sources used in her article. The information used on this article creates a bias against the embargo and support for the anti-embargo movement. 

As a question of foreign policy and ethics this is an argument that is easily made and supported. As a question of politics there are multiple arguments to be made in many different areas of discussion. Politicians will continue to debate the economic and moral aspects of the embargo until a common ground in found. All of the sources used in my research agree that the embargo diminishes the economy, culture and liberties of the Cuban people. The sources I used to research this topic each brought a new perspective to the discussion. The sources strengthened my understanding of the economic, political and cultural impact of the embargo. These sources also strengthened my understanding of the Cuban Revolution and the Castro regime. With this information I will need to revise my research question to focus on one particular aspect of the debate. 

