Cuban Revolution Flashcards
Spanish American War
Cuba was fighting Spain for independence and the US wanted to have influence in Cuba. Cuba was winning but the US decided to help them. The USS Marine blew up and the US blamed it on Spain so the US could join the war. Within three months, Spain was defeated.
Platt Amendment
Gave the US the right to intervene in Cuba whenever they wanted.
Batista
He ruled behind the scenes for 6 years before being elected in 1940. He helped to write a very progressive constitution and supported the Platt Amendment. Cuba and the US became very close which stimulated the Cuban economy. He staged a coup to stay in power after the president after him failed. He suspended large parts of his own constitution. Many people were poor and suffering. Havana became a vacation site for rich Americans.
Attack on the Moncada Barracks
July 26th, 1953- 165 men and women, including Castro and his brother, stormed army barracks in eastern Cuba. They failed, many were killed and the rest were jailed except for Castro and his brother who were able to escape. They turned themselves in to protect the people who had fought with them. Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released after 2 years because Batista wanted to seem forgiving.
Castro released
He gave a speech “History will Absolve me” where he stated what he wanted to change. He said he wanted to follow the constitution, give back land, distribute 30% of industrial profits to workers,and give 55% of sugar profits to workers.
26th of July movement
He met Che and they started planning the second phase of the Cuban revolution.
Fundamental Law of the Republic
Gave all executive power to Castro.
Committee for he Defense of the Revolution
500,000 volunteers became soldiers to fight against opposing forces to the Revolution.
Trial of Major Huber Matos
1959- criticized Castro and was jailed for 15 years. Intellectuals fear Castro will repress them so they flee to the US.
Ministry for the Recovery of Stolen Property
Castro began seizing land from intellectuals/ upper class and giving them away to the poor.
Bay of Pigs
April 15th, 1961- Castro declares that he is leading a socialist revolution and creates the Cuban Communist Party with himself as the leader. Forms an alliance with the USSR.
Agrarian Reform Law
1959- Nationalizes large privately owned land, most of which belonged to US companies. Castro said he would reimburse those companies in a bond over 20 years.
US Embargo on Cuba
Cuba is allowed to buy medicine from the US but all other trade is off. This ruins Cubans economy because the US bought the majority of their sugar crop which was their main export.
Second Agrarian Law
1963- Government owns 70% of the land. The government determines what crops can be grown on privately owned land. The Catholic loses land and turns against Castro.
Year of the Decisive Endeavor
In 1963 Castro said that 1970 would produce 10 million tons of sugar while at this time Cuba was producing an average of 5 million tons. This failed.
