CUBAN REVOLUTION World History/Geo

Today Review 7-stages of revolution in Cuba Thinking Critically Could the U.S. have interacted differently with Cuba to prevent the poor relationship we have today? Do you think that Cuba ever transitioned into stage 7 “Thermidorian Reaction”?

Aims Understand the interactions and interdependence of individuals, societies and environments in different contexts Objectives Analyze concepts, events, issues, models and arguments using the 7-stages of revolution

Background Columbus arrived October 28, 1492 Spanish colony ‘till 1898 when America defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. US helped to improve the lives of the Cubans US ended Spanish economic dominance but only so they could then dominate Cuba’s economy single crop economy, produced 1/3 of the world’s sugar (Wolfe)

Causes “paradise for the rich – a playground particularly for American tourists – but a nightmare for the workers and the peasants” (Taaffe) 54% of rural population no toilets at all Malaria, tuberculosis, and syphilis were common 25% illiteracy and unemployment Land was owned by a few (8% owned 71% of the land) American monopolies controlled most of the economy. (90% telephone/electric services, 50% public services, 40% in raw sugar) US supported President Batista-corrupt, dictator (killed nearly 20,000 people between ) (Taffee)

Stage One-Normalcy Batista held the power from (either formally or from behind the scenes) 1952 Batista seized formal power in a coup (Wolfe)

Stage Two-Criticisms of Existing Regime Batista’s 1952 coup caused opposition from students and intellectuals Fidel and Raul Castro led this opposition Attack on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953 Failed and imprisoned, later released, spent next three years in Mexico organizing guerilla forces to return to Cuba (Taffee)

Stage Three-Widespread Dissatisfaction Castro returns to Cuba (Dec. 1956) Castro and his rebel forces gain support from peasants in the mountains and those in the cities Opposition to Batista’s dictatorship increased (onwar.com)

Stage Five-Civil War Castro and his rebels were based in the Sierra Maestra Mountains Guerilla fighting from May 24, 1958, Operacion Verano-Batista sent 17 battalions, tanks, planes, and ships into the Sierra Maestras (defeated by rebels) (thinkquest.org) In 1958 the rebel’s opened two more fronts. Raul Castro, Fidel’s brother moved north west and Che Guevara headed east. (Ruis) Dec Che and his rebels capture Santa Clara

Stage Four-Transfer of Power Begins as Castro gains support from peasants and urbanites US stops supplying arms to Batista Batista flees to the Dominican Republic on December 31, 1958 Castro’s rebels enter Havana January 1, 1959 Castro enters Cuba on January 7, 1959 Castro becomes Prime Minister on Feb. 16, 1959 (Wolfe) ion

Stage Six-Reign of Terror Jailed hundreds that opposed him Public trials and executions of Batista supporters Wv2Q Wv2Q

Stage Seven-Thermidorian Reaction Castro maintained his power until he turned over control to Raul Castro Nationalized all American businesses and did not compensate Americans Many still live in poverty Many civil rights violations Restricts Cubans’ access to the internet and digital videos

Did it fit? The stages of revolution helped me truly analyze all of the events in the revolution. I not only had to understand the key events, but had to evaluate which part of the revolution they fit best in. I did think that stages 4 and 5 needed to be switched to show the Cuban Revolution Overall, I found this process helped me gain a better understanding of both the stages of revolution as well as the Cuban Revolution.

US Foreign Policy “helps” Cuba achieve their independence (Ruis) Platt Amendment-give US the “right” to interfere in Cuba (1901) (Wolfe) 70% of Cuba was owned by USA by 1933 (Ruis) US “puppet” Presidents in Cuba from (Ruis) US initially supported Batista (Wolfe) 1958 US places arms embargo on Cuba (Wolfe) Did not directly assist Castro, but initially supported the democratic changes that he promised once he became communist, all support ended

Sources You would cite all THREE of your sources here in MLA format as well as any other sources you used. 1-Encyclopedia/Book 1-online source retrieved from a database 1-online source (not Wikipedia)

Think Critically Could the U.S. have interacted differently with Cuba to prevent the poor relationship we have today? Do you think that Cuba ever transitioned into stage 7 “Thermidorian Reaction”? Grading Criterion C: Thinking Critically

Criterion C: Thinking Critically Student synthesizes information about the Cuban Revolution to make a well supported argument Student synthesizes information about the Cuban Revolution to make valid arguments Makes connections between information about the Cuban Revolution.5-1 Student makes connections between information and makes a limited attempt to make arguments