Fidel CastroFidel CastroThe Cuban RevolutionThe Cuban Revolution

Fidel CastroFidel Castro

Born into Cuban plantation elite Born into Cuban plantation elite

Exposed to activist politics while at University of Exposed to activist politics while at University of HavanaHavana

Advocate of Cuban nationalism, independence Advocate of Cuban nationalism, independence and anti-imperialismand anti-imperialism Socialist by ideology, rather than communistSocialist by ideology, rather than communist

Became dedicated to overthrow of Fulgencia Became dedicated to overthrow of Fulgencia BatistaBatista

Main allies included Raúl Castro and Ché GuevaraMain allies included Raúl Castro and Ché Guevara

Fulgencia BatistaFulgencia Batista

The Castros and The Castros and GueveraGuevera

Castro and RevolutionCastro and Revolution

Hoped to be elected to the Cuban Hoped to be elected to the Cuban Parliament in 1962Parliament in 1962

Batista canceled elections – driving Castro Batista canceled elections – driving Castro and others to become revolutionariesand others to become revolutionaries

2626thth July 1953 – Castro leads attack on July 1953 – Castro leads attack on Moncada military barracks near SantiagoMoncada military barracks near Santiago Fails: Castro and brother Raúl jailedFails: Castro and brother Raúl jailed Movimiento 26 de julio becomes name of Movimiento 26 de julio becomes name of

Castro’s revolutionary movement Castro’s revolutionary movement

Successful RevolutionSuccessful Revolution

Castros released from jailCastros released from jail

Worked for several years to build revolutionary Worked for several years to build revolutionary forceforce

Sustained guerilla war waged from Sierra Sustained guerilla war waged from Sierra Maestra Mountains spreads across islandMaestra Mountains spreads across island

NYT journalist Herbert Matthews covers NYT journalist Herbert Matthews covers “freedom fighters” and portrays them as noble “freedom fighters” and portrays them as noble rebelsrebels

Batista forced to flee January 1, 1959Batista forced to flee January 1, 1959

Rule of CastroRule of Castro

Does not start out as communist but conditions Does not start out as communist but conditions and U.S. pressure push Castro to declare and U.S. pressure push Castro to declare socialist revolution and later identifies Cuba as socialist revolution and later identifies Cuba as communistcommunist

Critics of revolution fled or were jailed and Critics of revolution fled or were jailed and sometimes killedsometimes killed

Caused an exodus of 1,000s of Cuba’s best and Caused an exodus of 1,000s of Cuba’s best and brightest to flee to the U.S. brightest to flee to the U.S.

Censorship and suppression of free press soon Censorship and suppression of free press soon followfollow

Troubles with U.S.Troubles with U.S.

U.S. oil companies refuse to sell oil to CubaU.S. oil companies refuse to sell oil to Cuba

Castro buys from Soviets insteadCastro buys from Soviets instead

U.S. refineries in Cuba nationalized for U.S. refineries in Cuba nationalized for refusing to process oilrefusing to process oil

U.S. cuts off sugar purchasesU.S. cuts off sugar purchases

Cuba seizes all U.S. propertyCuba seizes all U.S. property

Total embargo (except medicines) by U.S.Total embargo (except medicines) by U.S.

Reliance upon SugarReliance upon Sugar Castro wanted to diversify and reduce reliance on Castro wanted to diversify and reduce reliance on

sugarsugar

But $ from sugar would be needed to diversifyBut $ from sugar would be needed to diversify

High number of workers needed for sugar harvest High number of workers needed for sugar harvest would take workers away from factories, slowing would take workers away from factories, slowing expansion of new industriesexpansion of new industries

In 1963 Castro calls for a “ten million ton” harvest in In 1963 Castro calls for a “ten million ton” harvest in 1970 to earn the money to diversify 1970 to earn the money to diversify The “Year of Decisive Endeavor”The “Year of Decisive Endeavor” Effort fails but 8.5 million tons stirs prideEffort fails but 8.5 million tons stirs pride

Castro played the martyr – offered to resign but crowds Castro played the martyr – offered to resign but crowds say NOsay NO ““Let the shame be welcome!” Let the shame be welcome!”

Cult of Personality?Cult of Personality?

Depends upon which historian you believeDepends upon which historian you believe

Some say yes – his personal appearance in Some say yes – his personal appearance in fatigues with ragged beard and puffing a cigar fatigues with ragged beard and puffing a cigar was a cultivated imagewas a cultivated image

Viewed as man in control – one who could be Viewed as man in control – one who could be trusted to defend Cuba and the revolutiontrusted to defend Cuba and the revolution

But Ché’s image is the one seen everywhere But Ché’s image is the one seen everywhere throughout Cubathroughout Cuba What does that mean?What does that mean?

Challenges for CastroChallenges for Castro

Bay of Pigs invasion 1961Bay of Pigs invasion 1961

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Potential Soviet dominationPotential Soviet domination

Spreading revolution elsewhereSpreading revolution elsewhere

Diversification of economyDiversification of economy

Different social agendasDifferent social agendas

Social and Cultural Social and Cultural DevelopmentsDevelopments

Multiple emigration waves including Mariel Multiple emigration waves including Mariel BoatliftBoatlift Cubans fleeing authoritarian govt.Cubans fleeing authoritarian govt. Castro benefits by potential revolutionaries leavingCastro benefits by potential revolutionaries leaving

Counter-culture movement in 1960sCounter-culture movement in 1960s Criticism limitedCriticism limited Regulated artistic protests – artists allowed to vent Regulated artistic protests – artists allowed to vent

frustrations but not too farfrustrations but not too far

Women given far greater access to education and Women given far greater access to education and employmentemployment Also 1975 Egalitarian Family codeAlso 1975 Egalitarian Family code Legislates more equality in the homeLegislates more equality in the home

Education and Education and HealthcareHealthcare

Mobilized 100,000 teachers to rural areasMobilized 100,000 teachers to rural areas

Cuba developed one of highest literacy rates in Latin Cuba developed one of highest literacy rates in Latin Am.Am.

Castro believed education would breed Cuban Castro believed education would breed Cuban nationalismnationalism

# of teachers and schools soared – education free for # of teachers and schools soared – education free for allall

Healthcare another top priority – 1,000s of new doctorsHealthcare another top priority – 1,000s of new doctors

More hospitals, lower infant mortality, higher levels of More hospitals, lower infant mortality, higher levels of nutrition, food supply and adequate housingnutrition, food supply and adequate housing

1970s – Cuba guaranteed entitlement of all citizens 1970s – Cuba guaranteed entitlement of all citizens regardless of gender and ethnicity to equal wages, regardless of gender and ethnicity to equal wages, education, healthcare and merit hiringeducation, healthcare and merit hiring

Impact of Cuban Rev. on Impact of Cuban Rev. on RegionRegion

Efforts to spread revolution were blunted by Efforts to spread revolution were blunted by hard-line responses by governmentshard-line responses by governments Anti-communist military governments establishedAnti-communist military governments established Supported by grants, mainly from the U.S., to train Supported by grants, mainly from the U.S., to train

and arm counter-insurgency forcesand arm counter-insurgency forces

Only 3 revolutionary movements took hold and Only 3 revolutionary movements took hold and none survivednone survived Chile, Nicaragua, and GrenadaChile, Nicaragua, and Grenada

Cuba isolated – expelled from OASCuba isolated – expelled from OAS

Alliance for Progress funds mainly went to Alliance for Progress funds mainly went to regimes friendly to the U.S.regimes friendly to the U.S.

Reliance on Soviet BlocReliance on Soviet Bloc

Cuba came to rely on the USSR and its allies in the Cuba came to rely on the USSR and its allies in the communist bloc nations of Central and Eastern Europecommunist bloc nations of Central and Eastern Europe

High trade deficits and foreign loans required Castro to High trade deficits and foreign loans required Castro to stay within the Soviet orbitstay within the Soviet orbit

Acts by Cuba that ran counter to Soviet policies caused Acts by Cuba that ran counter to Soviet policies caused tensiontension

Fall of communism and the collapse of the USSR in the late Fall of communism and the collapse of the USSR in the late 1980s and early 1990s left Cuba without guaranteed 1980s and early 1990s left Cuba without guaranteed markets and financingmarkets and financing

Cuba went through great troubles in the 1990s but is no Cuba went through great troubles in the 1990s but is no experiencing a modest improvementexperiencing a modest improvement

An important new ally – Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)An important new ally – Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)