Cuban Revolution 1925-1959 Flashcards
How did the 1929 Great Depression impact Cuba?
1930 collapse of US economy, Cuban trade reliant on US buyer, drop in sugar/tobacco trade, Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, prevents other countries exporting to US, very high tariff barrier. Lots of protests in Cuba, 1925 Communist Party founded in Cuba, also joined protests.
Who was H. Machalo?
President of Cuba, good first four years, infrastructure boom, continued trade with US, University of Cuba, economic boom (sugar, tobacco, rum), prosperous elite (bourgeoise), businessmen get a say on policy, started banks.
How did Machalo decide to respond to these protests?
Crack down on protests, drop in popularity, led to more protests, triggered attempts at coup d’état.
How did FDR’s Presidency effect Cuba?
Elected 1933, Good Neighbour Policy, not going to intervene in other countries militarily, give up restrictions put on several Latin American countries. 1934 dissolved Platt Amendment. FDR would recognise Cuba if they control the protestors and police/army.
Who was Sumner Wells?
Ambassador sent by FDR to try and settle Cuban revolts. Interviewed people to try and find the cause, people hated Machalo, eventually overthrown, Wells had tried to convince Machalo to resign.
Who was Batista?
Coup d’état in 1933, sociable, very influential in the army, acts as their man in Havana, had a good reputation in 1930s, protected the new president.
How did US tariffs change in 1934/5? How did it impact Cuba?
Gradual economic recovery beginning, Congress introduced quotas that countries could import to the US, allowed Cuba to restore some of their trade. FDR’s Export Import Bank, creates money to buy US products, created for Russia but it was spurned by Stalin, given to Cuba instead, allowed Batista to stabilise the country more, gave women the vote, universities got more autonomy, allowed Communist Party to move more freely.
How popular was Batista’s Presidency?
Had lots of support in Cuba, elected President in 1940s, gave Cuba a liberal constitution that was similar to the USA’s, 4 year term, willingly steps down voluntarily, moves to Miami for retirement.
Economically and politically how did Cuba develop post-WW2?
More economic growth, booming trade, corruption in government and society, open corruption, economy on edge, can lose jobs/savings, depends too much on the USA’s economic booms, movements to reform.
How did Batista react to the growing corruption in Cuba?
1952 decides to run for Presidency again, realises he won’t win, contacts army, contacts army, deposes President, puts himself in charge, come back in as “saviour” for Cuba, no one believed him, see him as power hungry, dictator, hated figure.
How did Cubans react to Batista’s dictatorship in 1953? How did Fidel and Raul Castro react?
Band of revolutionaries organised an attack, 26 July 1953, 100 revolutionaries, mostly students attacked barracks at Santiago, Fidel Castro and Raul Castro led revolution, disaster, captured, half killed, rest sent to jail, Fidel made speech for his defence, made promises to people, sentenced to jail for 15 years.
How did Fidel and Raul Castro get out of jail? What did they do after their pardon?
Batista pardoned Fidel and Raul Castro and several others on the condition they leave Cuba, ended up in Mexico City, recruited Argentinian Che Guevara, got financing from Mexico, invaded Cuba, Batista knew they were coming and captured them, prevented revolts in Cuba.
How did the Cuban Revolution begin?
Twelve of them escaped and went into mountains to start classic guerrilla campaigns, got support, 1958 several hundred soldiers, very effect guerrilla force.
How did the US initially react to Fidel Castro? When did Castro come to power?
Prior to the revolution the press coverage for Castro was favourable. Batista unpopular nationwide, fell January 1959. Thought this was the signs of democracy starting in Cuba. US government was wary of situation in Cuba.
How did Castro come to power?
Guevara took control of capital, took army HQ, talked to revolutionaries in Havana to help take full control. Castro in East Cuba marched to Havana over a week, arrived 7 January 1959, met with local revolutionaries along the way, left his lieutenants over cities he passed along to establish control across the island. Lieutenants executed Batista supporters. Tentative, army of around 1,000, vulnerable to counterattack by Batista supporters.
