Background
- Before 1959, Cuba was one of the most unequal societies in Latin America.
- The island’s economy was dominated by the United States, especially in sugar, tourism, and banking.
- Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship (1952–1959) was marked by corruption, censorship, and violent repression of dissent.
- These conditions created widespread frustration among peasants, students, and middle-class reformers, setting the stage for revolutionary change.
Political Causes
- Batista ruled as a military dictator, suspending the constitution and canceling elections in 1952.
- His regime relied on police brutality, censorship, and torture to silence opponents.
- The Auténtico and Ortodoxo parties, once symbols of democracy, were discredited by corruption.
- Fidel Castro, a young lawyer and nationalist, emerged as a critic of Batista’s illegal seizure of power.
- Cuba’s close relationship with the United States angered nationalists who viewed Batista as a puppet of foreign interests.
- Political institutions had lost credibility, and peaceful reform seemed impossible, leading to armed resistance.
Fidel Castro (Cuba)
Rise to Power
- Born in 1926, Fidel Castro studied law and became active in student politics.
- Opposed the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, who had taken power in 1952.
- In 1953, Castro led a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks, was captured, and imprisoned.
- After his release, he went into exile in Mexico, where he met Che Guevara and planned a revolution.
- Returned to Cuba in 1956 with 82 men on the Granma yacht, starting a guerrilla war from the Sierra Maestra Mountains.
- Gained support from peasants and students, promising land reform, education, and independence.
- Overthrew Batista on January 1, 1959, becoming Cuba’s new leader.
Policies and Reforms
- Nationalized U.S.-owned businesses, banks, and industries to reduce foreign control.
- Launched land reform, redistributing large estates to poor farmers.
- Created free education and healthcare systems, improving literacy and life expectancy.
- Promoted social equality, especially for women and Afro-Cubans.
- Established a one-party state, banned opposition, and controlled the media.
- Formed close ties with the Soviet Union, especially after the U.S. imposed a trade embargo in 1960.
Impact and Legacy
- Improved living standards through better healthcare and education.
- Ended U.S. economic dominance and inspired other revolutionary movements in Latin America.
- Caused tension with the United States, leading to events like the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
- Critics argue that he restricted freedom of speech and used imprisonment to silence political opponents.
- Stayed in power for nearly 50 years, shaping Cuba’s identity as a communist state.
Definition
Guerrilla Warfare
- Small-group fighting against a larger army.
Definition
Communism
- Political system where the state controls the economy and promotes equality.
