1. The Cuban Revolution

2. What was the Cuban Revolution?
A communist revolution led by Fidel Castro that removed the corrupt Batista regime and aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union.

3. Causes Large gap between rural peasants and growing middle class.
Educated Cubans saw limited opportunity in Cuba.
Batista government promised but failed to provide land reform and other changes.
Growing US investment and support for Batista.

4. The Revolution Lawyer Fidel Castro jailed in 1953 for failed revolt.
Exiled Castro and Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara launched guerrilla campaign in 1956.
Had support of students, unions, and peasants.
By 1959 the Batista government was overthrown.

5. The New Cuba Economic Change Nationalized Foreign property.
Collectivization of farms.
Command economy was created with Five Year Plans.
Strong relationship with the Soviet Union: sugar for oil.

6. Social Change
Dissidents imprisoned, freedoms limited: freedoms of speech and press abolished.
Government monitored citizens.
Improved education, literacy, and healthcare.

7. Influence on other Regions:
Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
Hugo Chaves in Venezuela.
The Shining Path in Peru
Grenada in the Caribbean.
African countries.
Liberation theology.