Methods used to establish the Authoritarian State in Cuba
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz
Born 1926, Oriente, Cuba. Son of wealthy landowner Ángel Castro and Lina Ruz. Born out of wedlock, later legitimized.
Upbringing: Raised in privilege on a sugar plantation, exposed to both wealth and rural inequalities.
Education: Attended elite Jesuit schools, including Colegio de Belén in Havana.
University of Havana (1945): Studied law, became politically active, joined reformist Partido Ortodoxo.
Skills: Known for charisma, sharp memory, and strong oratory, emerging as a student leader.
1952 coup: Planned to run for Congress, but Batista’s coup cancelled elections and radicalized him toward armed resistance.
Theory of Knowledge
Think about the personal history of Castro and us it to work with this prompt:
To what extent do our personal histories shape our political beliefs and decisions?
Note
The timeline for Castro’s revolution is as follows. Make sure you learn all these steps for the exam!
First revolutionary action: Moncada Barracks attack 1953. It was a failure militarily but a turning point in visibility.
His courtroom speech, "History Will Absolve Me," later on became a revolutionary manifesto.
After exile in Mexico, Castro returned in 1956 aboard the Granma in what was called the Granma expedition, with fellow revolutionaries, marking the beginning of the armed struggle.
Sierra Maestra campaign: from 1956–1959, Castro’s Rebel Army built popular support and gained momentum in rural areas, ultimately marching into Havana in January 1959 and toppling Batista’s regime.
The Moncada Assault (1953) and the Emergence of the 26th of July Movement
Attack (26 July 1953): Castro led ~140 rebels against Moncada Barracks in Santiago to spark uprising.
Plan: Timed with carnival for surprise; aimed to seize weapons.
Failure: Poor organization and resistance led to defeat; many rebels killed or tortured, Castro brothers captured.
Trial speech: Castro’s “History will absolve me” outlined five reforms (land, education, industry, housing, fairness).
Amnesty (1955): Batista released Castro under pressure; attack seen as ideological birth of 26 July Movement.
Legacy: Group named after Moncada date, honoring José Martí’s centenary.
Exile: Castro regrouped in Mexico with Raúl and Che, preparing for Granma expedition (1956).
Active recall
Castro had miscalculated the discontent towards Batista: the people did not join his rebellion.
This shows that the bad living conditions and general inequality were not sufficient to make the revolution successful.
It also shows that it was fundamental to achieve mass support to depose Batista and get to power.
Common Mistake
“La historia me absolverá” was transformed into an important piece of propaganda for Castro not during his trial, but after.
By 1954–1955, copies of the speech were widely circulated in Cuba as a political pamphlet, helping to build Castro’s reputation as a revolutionary leader even while he was still in prison.
Case study
Che Guevara
Born 1928, Rosario, Argentina, into a wealthy family; studied medicine at the University of Buenos Aires.
Latin America travels (1951–52): Witnessed poverty and repression, shaping his revolutionary outlook.
Joined Castro (1955): Met in Mexico, became key commander in 26th of July Movement.
Role in revolution: Distinguished at battles such as Santa Clara (1958), helping topple Batista.
Post-1959 Cuba: Held roles as National Bank president, Minister of Industries, and economic planner; promoted agrarian reform and moral incentives but policies were inefficient.
Internationalism: Tried to spread revolution in Congo (1965) and Bolivia (1966–67).
Death: Captured and executed in Bolivia with CIA support on 9 October 1967.
The Granma expedition (1956)
Departure (25 Nov 1956): Castro, Raúl, Che, Cienfuegos, and 79 rebels left Mexico on the overcrowded Granma yacht.
Problems: Overloaded, delayed by rough seas and poor navigation.
Landing (2 Dec 1956): Arrived late near Playa Las Coloradas; planned urban uprising in Santiago had already failed.
Ambush: Rebels landed in swamp, lost supplies, and were attacked at Alegría de Pío.
Outcome: Only 12 survived, retreating to Sierra Maestra to rebuild the movement.
The Sierra Maestra (1956-1959)
Sierra Maestra (1956–59): Rebel Army rebuilt strength while contrasting Batista’s brutality.
Ethical conduct: Paid peasants for supplies, promoted literacy, and provided medical aid, earning rural support.
Rural loyalty: Gained through promises of land reform and respectful treatment.
Radio Rebelde (1958): Countered censorship, spread revolutionary goals, and built collective identity with simple, emotional language.
Political education: Castro used informal talks to promote land reform, social justice, and anti-imperialism, framing the fight as a moral and national struggle.
Herbert Matthews interview (Feb 1957): Castro proved alive, staged strength, and used propaganda to exaggerate rebel numbers.
Impact: Portrayed as anti-Batista democrat (not communist), gaining U.S. sympathy and discrediting Batista.
Urban militancy: Sabotage of infrastructure (trains, mills, power stations) eroded Batista’s authority and spread fear.
Opposition unity: Pact of Caracas (1958) consolidated anti-Batista forces under Castro, isolating Batista politically.
Common Mistake
Castro turned the revolution communist after 1961, but at the beginning the ideological proposal was one of nationalism and social justice.
Active recall
Note how in 1958, Castro has been able to get mass support and has made agreements with other opposition parties to be the sole leader against Batista.
It is only now that the bad living conditions and general discontent can be channeled into a successful revolution.
The Role of Batista in Castro’s Rise to Power
The Batista regime’s harsh counterinsurgency strategy including mass arrests, torture, forced relocations, and the burning of crops alienated the rural population.
These indiscriminate actions were intended to deter support for the guerrillas but instead drove civilians to side with the rebels out of anger and despair.
1958 election: Fraudulent, Batista backed Andrés Rivero Agüero; widespread ballot tampering and intimidation.
Impact: Discredited constitutional reform, boosted rebel legitimacy; U.S. refused to recognize Rivero.
Arms embargo (March 1958): U.S. cut military aid over Batista’s brutality, weakening and demoralizing the army.
Diplomatic failure: Batista rejected U.S. proposals for a caretaker transition, closing alternatives to Castro’s rise.
Case study
Operación Verano
Operación Verano (July 1958): Batista launched offensive with 12,000 troops, tanks, and aircraft against ~300 rebels in Sierra Maestra.
Weak government forces: Poor training, low morale, desertions, and unfamiliarity with terrain.
Rebel tactics: Guerrilla ambushes inflicted heavy losses; rebels captured weapons from retreating troops.
Outcome: Offensive collapsed by August; rebels counterattacked and seized initiative.
Significance: Turning point exposing Batista’s weakness and boosting Castro’s national and international reputation.
The Triumph of the Revolution
Late 1958 offensives: Castro sent Camilo Cienfuegos, Raúl Castro, and Che Guevara to lead campaigns across Cuba.
Santa Clara victory (Dec 1958): Guevara captured key transport hub, crippling Batista’s control.
Nationwide pressure: Rebels advanced on Santiago; sabotage escalated in Havana.
Collapse of regime: Politically isolated and losing military support, Batista fled on Jan 1, 1959.
Aftermath: Army stopped fighting; Castro’s forces entered Havana and formed a provisional government.
Active recall
How did the Moncada Assault (1953) shape Castro’s revolutionary ideology and help launch the 26th of July Movement despite its failure?
Why was the Granma expedition of 1956 both a near disaster and a pivotal moment in the consolidation of the rebel movement?
In what ways did the rebels’ conduct in the Sierra Maestra win rural support and contrast with Batista’s counterinsurgency tactics?
How did propaganda tools like Radio Rebelde and the Herbert Matthews interview strengthen the rebels’ legitimacy nationally and internationally?
What role did urban militancy and the Pact of Caracas (1958) play in broadening the anti-Batista coalition?
How did Batista’s repression, electoral fraud, and loss of U.S. support contribute to Castro’s eventual success?
Why was the victory at Santa Clara in December 1958 a decisive moment in the triumph of the revolution?