IB DP History: Cuba & Castro – Complete Authoritarian Rule Unit (Paper 2-Aligned)

Save dozens of hours of planning with this comprehensive, ready-to-use PowerPoint unit for the IB Diploma Programme History curriculum. This resource provides an in-depth case study on Castro’s Cuba for the Authoritarian States (Paper 2) topic, fully aligned with the new curriculum’s focus on concepts, perspectives, and synthesis.

What’s Included:

Three Structured PowerPoint Outlines totalling 45+ slides, ready for immediate classroom use.

Complete Chronological Coverage: From Spanish colonialism & US influence to the Cuban Revolution, the Cold War, the Special Period, and Castro’s legacy.

Key Curriculum Concepts: Explicit analysis of Causation, Continuity & Change, Perspectives, and Significance woven throughout.

Source Integration & TOK Links: Includes analysis of Castro’s “History will absolve me” speech, propaganda, and discussions on revolutionary justice.

Internal & External Challenge Analysis: Detailed sections on the Escambray Rebellion, Bay of Pigs, Missile Crisis, and the Varela Project.

Social Impact Evaluation: Balanced examination of reforms in healthcare, education, and gender/race, alongside repression, censorship, and migration.

Perfect for IBDP Teachers, this unit:

Saves Time: Provides a clear, logical framework for 2-3 weeks of instruction.

Promotes Critical Thinking: Encourages students to evaluate different historical perspectives and assess the complex legacy of authoritarian rule.

Builds Exam Skills: Content is structured to help students craft comparative essays for Paper 2.

Engages Students: Includes discussion prompts, concept connection activities, and visual sources.

Keywords: IB History, DP History, Paper 2, Authoritarian States, Castro, Cuba, Cuban Revolution, Cold War, IBDP, History Lesson, Complete Unit, Teaching PPT, Fidel Castro, Batista, Missile Crisis.