Cuban Revolution

Question 1

Causes of the Revolution

Answer 1

• large gap between rich and poor
• high seasonal unemployment
• sugar plantations in the hands of foreign investors

Question 2

Unemployment under Batista

Answer 2

600,000 unemployed, 500,000 experiencing seasonal unemployment

Question 3

First Revolutionary Law

Answer 3

• return power to the people
• no electoral organisation
• revolutionary movement is the only legitimate source of power

Question 4

Second Revolutionary Law

Answer 4

• ownership of land to farmers, lessees and share croppers

Question 5

Third Revolutionary Law

Answer 5

• workers have rights to 30% of profits of large enterprises

Question 6

Fourth Revolutionary Law

Answer 6

• sugar planters have the right to share 55% of sugar production
• introduces a minimum quota for small farmers

Question 7

Fifth Revolutionary Law

Answer 7

• Confiscation of holdings and gains of those who had committed fraud
• recovered property would be used for hospitals, charitable organisations and retirement funds for workers

Question 8

Moncada Barracks Assault

Answer 8

• 26th July 1953
• failure for the rebels
• Raul and Fidel were captured
• 10:1 response by Batista

Question 9

Guerrilla Warfare

Answer 9

• conditions of terrain and climate are used to advantage
• employ against a more powerful aggressor
• must have sympathy and cooperation of the people

Question 10

Granma Boat Landing

Answer 10

• December 1956
• 82 men arrived with revolutionaries
• arrived two days late and were met by Batista’s men
• only 20 made it to sierra maestra

Question 11

Battle of La Plata

Answer 11

• 1957
• attack on a small army garrison
• castro fooled the guards to gain entry to the barracks

Question 12

Battle of Santa Clara

Answer 12

• final battle and complete victory for the rebels

- Batista fled cuba the day after the defeat

Question 13

Castro’s History Will Absolve Me Speech

Answer 13

• outlined inequality in Cuba and the disadvantage poor cubans faced
• blueprint for revolution through revolutionary laws

Question 14

Fidel Castro - Ideology

Answer 14

• socialist cuba
• revolutionary laws
• in favour of armed revolution

Question 15

Guerrilla Warfare Steps

Answer 15

1. arouse and organise the people
2. achieve internal unification politically
3. establish bases
4. equip forces
5. recover national strength
6. destroy enemy’s national strength
7. regain lost territories

Question 16

How did Castro’s History Will Absolve Me Speech outline his vision for Cuba?

Answer 16

• 5 revolutionary laws

- highlighted oppression under Batista

Question 17

Battle of Las Mercedes

Answer 17

• July-August 1958
• Guevara halted a force of 1,500 men attempting to destroy Castro’s forces
• last battle of operation verano
• ended in cease fire
• though technically not a victory, castro considered it a victory