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.
- 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?
- 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.
- First revolutionary action: Moncada Barracks attack 1953. It was a failure militarily but a turning point in visibility.
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).
- 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.
- “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.
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.
