The Cuban Revolution Flashcards
From when did Batista rule Cuba?
From 1933, Fulgencio Batista controlled the presidency. Batista was President from 1940 to 1944 and again in 1952
What was Batista like as a ruler?
The Batista regime represented oppression, terror and failed policies and methods to work in the best interest of Cuba. He repressed the frequent revolts and demonstrations
Overall, Batista was a dictator.
1950’s conditions in Cuba
1950s gambling and corruption flourished in Cuba
Havana was a playground for the rich
Cuba’s tourism and casino industries were dominated by the US mafia
Cuba was a police state run largely as a profit making enterprise by US companies
How was the cuban population divided?
The poor made up 1.5 million people who suffered high unemployment with many living on the brinks of starvation
The next 3.5 million people struggled to get buy
And the rich, 900, 000 people who benefited from 43% of the national income. They had so much money they struggled to spend it
What the Cuban and American relationship like under Batista?
There was a high economic dependence on America, almost all manufactured goods were imported from the Us and sold at higher prices
What was the date of the Mocaddo Barracks attack?
July 26th 1953
Causes of the revolution brief:
anti-american sentiment
Batistas corrupt regime of terror and oppression
Causes of the revolution: anti-american sentiment
Anti-American sentiment, provoked in Cuba by economic and political dependence on America since independence combined with the economic, social and political problems, gave rise to the idea of revolution.
Causes of the revolution: Batistas corrupt regime
Batista’s regime became increasingly corrupt, dictatorial and brutal. Arrest, imprisonment without trial and torture became commonplace. As their attempts to find peaceful and legal means to restore constitutional government repeatedly failed, Cuban radicals decided their only choice was armed struggle.
Fidel Castro Quote 1952 in regards to the necessity of a revolution
‘Revolution, opens the way to true merit to those who have sincere courage and ideas, to those who risk their lives and take the battle standard in their hands.’
Why did castro believe revolt was necessary in the earl years around 1952:
Castro argued that it was their duty to liberate Cuba: the task could not wait for another generation.
What happened at the Moncado Barracks?
At 5am on July 26th 1953 Fidel Castro and around 150 men attempted and failed to capture the Moncada Barracks
They had hoped to capture the weapons armoury.
At 5:30 am the rebels dressed as soldiers were able to capture the palace and hospital they needed to ensure Castro would be able to enter the barracks.
When Castro arrived however, they were blocked by a machine gun and it was no longer a surprise.
Castro gave the orders to retreat but Santamaria chose to keep fighting in order to provide the men an opportunity to escape.
At the end of the attack only 3 rebels died, but 80 were captured and the rest escaped and retreated to the mountains where they hoped to begin their guerrilla warfare attacks.
What was the significance of the attack on the Moncada barracks?
It marked the beginning of the revolution
Was the moncada barracks attack a success or failure?
Castro and his rebels did not achieve their military objectives; they were able to achieve their revolutionary objectives. The myths surrounding the assault provided a way to build up support for the guerrilla campaign that was to follow.
What occurred after the Castro’s were released from prison?
Fidel and his brother Raul were released early from prison, under an amnesty, in 1955 and immediately began planning a new attempt to overthrow the Batista government.
Hiding in Mexico, the Castro brothers began organizing a group of rebels, including “Che” Guevara.
In Mexico the rebels trained and bought weapons.
The rebels return to Cuba:
The rebels bought a boat called the Granma , and 81 fighters.
They arrived on the eastern coast of Cuba on 2nd December 1956.
Most of the rebels were ambushed almost immediately and killed or arrested. It was a disastrous invasion. Only a dozen men escaped capture, but among them were Fidel and Raul Castro, and Che Guevara.
on what day did the rebels land on the east coast of Cuba?
2nd December 1956.
Castro’s trip to America:
Castro had claimed to the Americans that he was not a communist during the revolution
What was Castro’s view on Cuba being communist to begin with?
Castro visited the U.S. during April 1959, a few months after the revolution. Castro was not invited by the U.S. government, but by the U.S. Press.
He did not meet with President Eisenhower, but he did meet Vice President Nixon.
He became very irritated as he was constantly questioned about Cuba being communist even though he had repeatedly denied it
The creation of the communist state: simple summary
While Cuba’s relationship with the U.S. went from bad to worse, the USSR became a closer friend to Cuba.
Oil was shipped to Cuba from the Soviet Union, but the American owned refineries on Cuba refused to process it. Consequently, Cuba seized the refineries. With the U.S. also reducing its sugar quota, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev stepped in.
The Soviet Union guaranteed purchases of Cuban sugar.
Castro would declare himself a Communist by the end of 1960.
Why did America and Cuba have mistrust in 1959-1960ish?
Communist influence inside Cuba, from the Communist Party, as well from influential leaders like Che Guevara, made the U.S. increasingly mistrustful.
Castro had placed high tariffs on imported U.S. goods and taken over U.S. businesses.
The U.S. was being accused of helping exiles attempt to attack Cuba, the exiles even completing small bombing raids from Florida.
What was the significance of Castro’s “History will absolve me” speech?
amous speech in which he justifies the revolution and describes the appalling conditions the Cuban people were being forced to live in and in doing so blames it on the corrupt government. By doing so he is supporting a change in government which will be achieved through supporting him.
Who was Che Guevera?
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist.
He was a major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.
Che Guevara is the purest part of the Cuban Revolution. He is the symbol of the ideal of the revolution; he is the symbol of innovation. … He is the symbol of hope.
Influence of Latin America: summary
Viewed as a model in Latin America because of major advancements in health and education, as well as the nationalisation of foreign companies (taking over the ownership of them) and for standing up to the US
Influence on Latin America: Guerilla warfare
Across Latin America it inspired an upsurge of rural guerrilla conflict and urban terrorism in response to the persistence of stark social inequality and political repression
