The Cuban Revolution Flashcards
Cause 1 - Batista was a corrupt leader who angered the Cuban people
Batista angered the working classes of Cuba by making profits from organized crime and allowing American companies to dominate the Cuban economy, especially sugar-cane plantations.
Cause 2 - Batista rejected democratic protest so Fidel Castro took up weapons
Castro’s arguments were rejected by the Cuban courts. After deciding that the Cuban regime could not be replaced through legal means, Castro resolved to launch an armed revolution. To this end, he and his brother Raúl founded a paramilitary organization known as “The Movement”.
Event 1 - Castro started the revolution in 1953
The Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, started in July 1953 but it wasn’t until December 1958 that they managed to get rid of Batista.
Event 2 - Castro was joined by his brother Raul and an Argentine Revolutionary called Che Guevara
The revolt started with the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953. It ended on January 1, 1959, when Batista was forced to leave the country and Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba were taken by rebels.
Consequence 1 - Relations between the USA and Cuba get worse - relations between Cuba and the USSR get better.
The USA refused to deal with Castro after he nationalised US-owned businesses in Cuba. Castro responded by making closer ties with the Soviet Union, who agreed to exchange Cuban sugar for oil.
Consequence 2 - The USA decided to get rid of Castro altogether
The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) tried to assassinate Castro but failed. Then, they convinced the US president (Dwight Eisenhower) that a US-backed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Castro would solve the problem. After Eisenhower, JFK was persuaded to carry on with the plan and this became known as the Bay of Pigs fiasco.
