Lecture 9 Cuban Revolution Flashcards
What was the relationship between Cuba and Spain before the Spanish-American War?
Cuba was a Spanish possession from the 16th century, despite periodic nationalist rebellions like those led by José Martí in the late 19th century.
What was the U.S. role in Cuba by the 1890s?
The U.S., concerned about instability and with investments totaling $30–50 million in Cuban industries, began opposing Spanish control and supporting Cuban insurgents.
What was the outcome of the Spanish-American War (1898) for Cuba?
Cuba gained independence from Spain with U.S. support, but effectively traded Spanish control for U.S. influence.
What did the Teller Amendment (1898) promise?
The Teller Amendment promised that the U.S. would not annex Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War
How did the Platt Amendment (1901) impact Cuba?
It gave the U.S. a naval base at Guantanamo Bay, the right to intervene if its interests were threatened, and required its inclusion in the Cuban constitution as a condition for ending U.S. occupation.
When did the U.S. first intervene in Cuba under the Platt Amendment?
The U.S. intervened to change the Cuban government in 1906 under the Platt Amendment.
When was the Platt Amendment formally renounced, and by whom?
President Franklin Roosevelt formally renounced the Platt Amendment in 1934.
Who was José Martí?
José Martí (1853–1895) was a 19th-century Cuban nationalist who organized resistance to Spanish control and advocated for Cuban independence with the slogan “Cuba Libre!”
What did the 1898 political cartoon “The Duty of the Hour” depict?
The cartoon suggested that the United States had an obligation to save the Cuban people not only from Spanish rule but also from a descent into anarchy after Spanish power was removed.
How did the cartoon “The Duty of the Hour” reflect U.S. views on Cuba?
It reflected the belief that the U.S. had a moral duty to intervene in Cuba to provide stability and prevent chaos after Spanish rule.
What role did Fulgencio Batista play in the “Sergeant’s Plot”?
Batista led the “Sergeant’s Plot” on September 5, 1933, overthrowing the ruling government and promoting himself to Colonel, becoming the behind-the-scenes power-broker in Cuba.
When did Fulgencio Batista first become President of Cuba?
Batista became the first non-white President of Cuba in October 1940.
What happened in Batista’s political career after his presidency ended in 1944?
Batista returned as a senator in 1948 and positioned himself for another presidential run in 1952, but staged a bloodless coup on March 10, 1952, when he believed he would lose the election.
How did the U.S. react to Batista’s 1952 coup?
The U.S. government tacitly approved Batista’s bloodless coup on March 10, 1952.
How did Fulgencio Batista’s regime from 1952-1959 differ from his earlier presidency?
Batista’s later regime suspended the 1940 Constitution, imposed strict press censorship, and relied on secret police who killed 10,000-20,000 people.
What were Batista’s main sources of power during his rule?
Batista ruled through control of the Cuban army, support from white landowners, and accommodating U.S. business interests (both legal and illegal).
How significant was U.S. economic influence in Cuba by the 1950s?
U.S. interests owned all of Cuba’s petroleum refining, 90% of the mines, 80% of public utilities, 50% of railways, 40% of sugar production, and 25% of bank deposits.
What social and political problems arose in Cuba during Batista’s regime?
Problems included unemployment, an increasing gap between rich and poor, gangsterism, corruption, reliance on sugar, U.S. economic domination, and poor health care and education.
What event marked the start of Fidel Castro’s July 26 Movement?
The July 26, 1953, raid on the Moncada barracks marked the start of Fidel Castro’s movement.
What famous phrase did Fidel Castro use during his defense after the Moncada raid?
“History will absolve me.”
What role did organized crime play in Cuba under Batista’s regime?
U.S. gangsters like Meyer Lansky, Charles Luciano, and Santo Trafficante, Jr., profited from their ties with Batista, controlling Cuba’s gambling, narcotics, and prostitution rackets.
When did organized crime begin its operations in Cuba?
Mafia figures started running rum from Cuba in the 1920s and established ties with Colonel Batista after the 1933 Sergeants Plot.
How did the mafia’s influence in Cuba evolve during Batista’s rule?
As Batista’s power increased in the 1950s, the mafia expanded its influence, dominating key illicit industries in Cuba.
What was Havana’s nickname due to its mob-run casinos?
Havana was known as the “Latin Las Vegas” because of its mob-run casinos catering to U.S. tourists.
What is an example of a famous mob-run casino in Havana?
The Tropicana was a famous mob-run casino in Havana.
What industry played a major role in Cuba’s reputation during Batista’s rule?
Mob-run casinos and entertainment, catering largely to U.S. tourists, established Cuba’s reputation.
What happened to the Cuban middle class as Cuba became a playground for the rich and famous?
The disparities between rich and poor grew, virtually wiping out the Cuban middle class.
What were living conditions like for the poor in Cuba during the 1950s?
Many lived in slums, such as those outside Havana’s baseball stadium or in Oriente Province, with limited resources and extreme poverty.
How did American journalist David Detzer describe Cuba in the 1950s?
Detzer described Cuba as corrupt and broken, with flourishing brothels and a major industry around prostitution, involving bribes and protection money for officials and police.
How many prostitutes were estimated to be working in Havana during the 1950s?
It was estimated that 11,500 prostitutes worked in Havana during the 1950s.
What was life like beyond Havana’s outskirts in the 1950s?
Beyond Havana’s slot machines and luxury, the countryside was among the poorest regions in Cuba.
What did Fidel Castro say about imprisonment during his trial on October 16, 1953?
Castro declared that imprisonment would be harder for him than for anyone else, filled with threats and cruelty, but he did not fear it.
How did Castro describe the tyrant responsible for the deaths of his comrades?
He referred to the tyrant as “miserable” and responsible for the deaths of 70 of his comrades.
What were Fidel Castro’s final words in his October 16, 1953 speech?
“Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.”
Where were Fidel and Raúl Castro sent after serving 11 months in prison?
They were sent into exile in Mexico, where Fidel began assembling a revolutionary force under the July 26th Movement.
Who did Fidel Castro meet while in exile in Mexico, and what role did they play?
He met Argentine physician Ernesto (Che) Guevara, who joined the July 26th Movement and helped plan their return to Cuba.
How did Castro and his revolutionary band return to Cuba?
They returned aboard a leaky yacht, The Granma, on December 2, 1956, but were immediately attacked and fled into the Sierra Maestra mountains.
How did the July 26th Movement wage war against Batista?
They waged a guerrilla war in rural Cuba, supported by urban unrest through protests, strikes, and demonstrations that eroded Batista’s support.
How large was the July 26th Movement’s guerrilla force?
Approximately 350 guerrillas joined the movement.
What was the social composition of the July 26th Movement?
It was largely a middle-class movement, with some peasants, but none in leadership positions.
What critical developments occurred in 1958 that weakened Batista’s regime?
The U.S. began withdrawing support for Batista.
Batista cracked down on reform groups but became increasingly ineffective.
Batista fled Cuba on December 31, 1958.
What was Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s profession before becoming involved in revolutionary activities?
He was a medical doctor by training.
What did Che Guevara believe could alleviate the poverty and suffering of the population?
He believed that the only way to alleviate poverty and suffering was through violent revolution.
What event in Guatemala influenced Che Guevara’s revolutionary beliefs?
In 1953, Guevara supported the government of Jacobo Arbenz, which was overthrown by the CIA. This convinced Guevara that the U.S. would oppose any leftist regime.
How did Che Guevara end up joining the 26th of July Movement?
After leaving Guatemala, Guevara traveled to Mexico, where he met Fidel and Raúl Castro and joined the July 26th Movement.
Why did Fidel Castro invite New York Times reporter Herbert Matthews to report on his guerrilla war?
Castro was acutely aware of the need to appeal to U.S. public opinion and sought to gain support for his cause.
Which relationship did Fidel Castro model his relationship with Herbert Matthews after?
He modeled it after Mao Zedong’s relationship with journalist Edgar Snow.
What did Herbert Matthews contribute to the Cuban Revolution?
Matthews filed reports on Castro’s guerrilla war against Batista, helping to shape international perception of Castro’s struggle.
What was the middle-class nature of the Cuban Revolution?
While there were some communists in leadership positions, the Cuban Revolution had more liberal and nationalist characteristics.
What did Fidel Castro believe was necessary to complete Cuba’s independence?
Castro believed that overturning U.S. economic dominance was essential to complete Cuba’s independence.
How did Fidel Castro’s policies change after his trip to New York in April 1959?
After his trip to New York, Castro began implementing socialist reforms and working more closely with the Cuban Communist Party.
What happened to the anticommunist elements in the July 26th Movement?
They were isolated by Castro’s shift to socialism and began leaving Cuba.
How did U.S. policies react to Cuba’s socialist reforms?
U.S. policies led to rounds of retaliation, culminating in the breaking of all ties by President Eisenhower.
How did the USSR support Castro’s Cuba?
The USSR increased its aid to Latin America, from $200 million in 1957 to $450 million in 1960, and supported wars of national liberation.
What was the significance of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961?
The invasion enabled Castro to consolidate his hold over Cuba and strengthened his ties with Moscow due to fears of continued U.S. attempts to overthrow his regime.
How did Fidel Castro defend Cuba after the Bay of Pigs Invasion?
Castro embraced a newfound role as a defender of Cuba against U.S. aggression.
What is Foco Theory of Revolution?
A theory developed by Che Guevara that emphasizes small, mobile guerrilla groups (“focos”) sparking revolutionary conditions, especially in rural areas, without waiting for all conditions to be ideal.
How did Cuba’s international stance change after the missile crisis?
Cuba accelerated its aid and encouragement of revolutions in Latin America and Africa, seeing it as a duty and a way to deflect U.S. focus.
What motivated Castro’s support for global revolutionary movements?
Castro saw it as a duty to support revolutions, driven by his ego and as an “offensive-defense” to keep the U.S. occupied globally.
What are the three key principles of Che Guevara’s foco theory?
1.Popular (guerrilla) forces can defeat an army.
2.Insurrection can create the conditions for revolution.
3.In Latin America, the countryside is the primary area for conflict.
What setbacks did guerrilla movements in Latin America face by 1964?
By 1964, all guerrilla movements in Latin America suffered significant setbacks.
What changes in U.S. policy contributed to the failure of guerrilla movements?
The U.S. introduced the Alliance for Progress (1961) and a new strategic doctrine emphasizing counterinsurgency and civic action programs.
How much did the U.S. spend on counterinsurgency efforts in Latin America between 1961-1969?
The U.S. spent just under $1 billion on counterinsurgency efforts during this period.
How much did the U.S. allocate for civic action training for Latin American police forces?
The U.S. spent $43.6 million on civic action training for Latin American police forces.
Why did Latin Americans respect Castro?
Many Latin Americans respected Castro for his nationalism rather than his communism.
What caused tensions between Cuba and the USSR?
The USSR increasingly regarded Cuba’s revolutionary activities as misguided and costly, leading to tensions.
How did Latin American communist parties align politically during this time?
Latin American communist parties remained loyal to Moscow’s line, rather than supporting Cuba’s revolutionary approach.
