Fidel Castro The Cuban Revolution

Fidel Castro Born into Cuban plantation elite Born into Cuban plantation elite Exposed to activist politics while at University of Havana Exposed to activist politics while at University of Havana Advocate of Cuban nationalism, independence and anti- imperialism Advocate of Cuban nationalism, independence and anti- imperialism Socialist by ideology, rather than communist Socialist by ideology, rather than communist Became dedicated to overthrow of Fulgencia Batista Became dedicated to overthrow of Fulgencia Batista Main allies included Raúl Castro and Ché Guevara Main allies included Raúl Castro and Ché Guevara

Fulgencia Batista

The Castros and Guevera

Castro and Revolution Hoped to be elected to the Cuban Parliament in 1962 Hoped to be elected to the Cuban Parliament in 1962 Batista canceled elections – driving Castro and others to become revolutionaries Batista canceled elections – driving Castro and others to become revolutionaries 26 th July 1953 – Castro leads attack on Moncada military barracks near Santiago 26 th July 1953 – Castro leads attack on Moncada military barracks near Santiago Fails: Castro and brother Raúl jailed Fails: Castro and brother Raúl jailed Movimiento 26 de julio becomes name of Castro’s revolutionary movement Movimiento 26 de julio becomes name of Castro’s revolutionary movement

Successful Revolution Castros released from jail Castros released from jail Worked for several years to build revolutionary force Worked for several years to build revolutionary force Sustained guerilla war waged from Sierra Maestra Mountains spreads across island Sustained guerilla war waged from Sierra Maestra Mountains spreads across island NYT journalist Herbert Matthews covers “freedom fighters” and portrays them as noble rebels NYT journalist Herbert Matthews covers “freedom fighters” and portrays them as noble rebels Batista forced to flee January 1, 1959 Batista forced to flee January 1, 1959

Rule of Castro Does not start out as communist but conditions and U.S. pressure push Castro to declare socialist revolution and later identifies Cuba as communist Does not start out as communist but conditions and U.S. pressure push Castro to declare socialist revolution and later identifies Cuba as communist Critics of revolution fled or were jailed and sometimes killed Critics of revolution fled or were jailed and sometimes killed Caused an exodus of 1,000s of Cuba’s best and brightest to flee to the U.S. Caused an exodus of 1,000s of Cuba’s best and brightest to flee to the U.S. Censorship and suppression of free press soon follow Censorship and suppression of free press soon follow

Troubles with U.S. U.S. oil companies refuse to sell oil to Cuba U.S. oil companies refuse to sell oil to Cuba Castro buys from Soviets instead Castro buys from Soviets instead U.S. refineries in Cuba nationalized for refusing to process oil U.S. refineries in Cuba nationalized for refusing to process oil U.S. cuts off sugar purchases U.S. cuts off sugar purchases Cuba seizes all U.S. property Cuba seizes all U.S. property Total embargo (except medicines) by U.S. Total embargo (except medicines) by U.S.

Reliance upon Sugar Castro wanted to diversify and reduce reliance on sugar Castro wanted to diversify and reduce reliance on sugar But $ from sugar would be needed to diversify But $ from sugar would be needed to diversify High number of workers needed for sugar harvest would take workers away from factories, slowing expansion of new industries High number of workers needed for sugar harvest would take workers away from factories, slowing expansion of new industries In 1963 Castro calls for a “ten million ton” harvest in 1970 to earn the money to diversify In 1963 Castro calls for a “ten million ton” harvest in 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 pride Effort fails but 8.5 million tons stirs pride Castro played the martyr – offered to resign but crowds say NO Castro played the martyr – offered to resign but crowds say NO “Let the shame be welcome!” “Let the shame be welcome!”

Cult of Personality? Depends upon which historian you believe Depends upon which historian you believe Some say yes – his personal appearance in fatigues with ragged beard and puffing a cigar was a cultivated image Some say yes – his personal appearance in fatigues with ragged beard and puffing a cigar was a cultivated image Viewed as man in control – one who could be trusted to defend Cuba and the revolution Viewed as man in control – one who could be trusted to defend Cuba and the revolution But Ché’s image is the one seen everywhere throughout Cuba But Ché’s image is the one seen everywhere throughout Cuba What does that mean? What does that mean?

Challenges for Castro Bay of Pigs invasion 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Potential Soviet domination Potential Soviet domination Spreading revolution elsewhere Spreading revolution elsewhere Diversification of economy Diversification of economy Different social agendas Different social agendas

Social and Cultural Developments Multiple emigration waves including Mariel Boatlift Multiple emigration waves including Mariel Boatlift Cubans fleeing authoritarian govt. Cubans fleeing authoritarian govt. Castro benefits by potential revolutionaries leaving Castro benefits by potential revolutionaries leaving Counter-culture movement in 1960s Counter-culture movement in 1960s Criticism limited Criticism limited Regulated artistic protests – artists allowed to vent frustrations but not too far Regulated artistic protests – artists allowed to vent frustrations but not too far Women given far greater access to education and employment Women given far greater access to education and employment Also 1975 Egalitarian Family code Also 1975 Egalitarian Family code Legislates more equality in the home Legislates more equality in the home

Education and Healthcare Mobilized 100,000 teachers to rural areas Mobilized 100,000 teachers to rural areas Cuba developed one of highest literacy rates in Latin Am. Cuba developed one of highest literacy rates in Latin Am. Castro believed education would breed Cuban nationalism Castro believed education would breed Cuban nationalism # of teachers and schools soared – education free for all # of teachers and schools soared – education free for all Healthcare another top priority – 1,000s of new doctors Healthcare another top priority – 1,000s of new doctors More hospitals, lower infant mortality, higher levels of nutrition, food supply and adequate housing More hospitals, lower infant mortality, higher levels of nutrition, food supply and adequate housing 1970s – Cuba guaranteed entitlement of all citizens regardless of gender and ethnicity to equal wages, education, healthcare and merit hiring 1970s – Cuba guaranteed entitlement of all citizens regardless of gender and ethnicity to equal wages, education, healthcare and merit hiring

Impact of Cuban Rev. on Region Efforts to spread revolution were blunted by hard-line responses by governments Efforts to spread revolution were blunted by hard-line responses by governments Anti-communist military governments established Anti-communist military governments established Supported by grants, mainly from the U.S., to train and arm counter- insurgency forces Supported by grants, mainly from the U.S., to train and arm counter- insurgency forces Only 3 revolutionary movements took hold and none survived Only 3 revolutionary movements took hold and none survived Chile, Nicaragua, and Grenada Chile, Nicaragua, and Grenada Cuba isolated – expelled from OAS Cuba isolated – expelled from OAS Alliance for Progress funds mainly went to regimes friendly to the U.S. Alliance for Progress funds mainly went to regimes friendly to the U.S.

Reliance on Soviet Bloc Cuba came to rely on the USSR and its allies in the communist bloc nations of Central and Eastern Europe Cuba came to rely on the USSR and its allies in the communist bloc nations of Central and Eastern Europe High trade deficits and foreign loans required Castro to stay within the Soviet orbit High trade deficits and foreign loans required Castro to stay within the Soviet orbit Acts by Cuba that ran counter to Soviet policies caused tension Acts by Cuba that ran counter to Soviet policies caused tension Fall of communism and the collapse of the USSR in the late 1980s and early 1990s left Cuba without guaranteed markets and financing Fall of communism and the collapse of the USSR in the late 1980s and early 1990s left Cuba without guaranteed markets and financing Cuba went through great troubles in the 1990s but is no experiencing a modest improvement Cuba went through great troubles in the 1990s but is no experiencing a modest improvement An important new ally – Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) An important new ally – Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)