Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro

How did Castro gain the support of Cuban women?

prior to 1959, women in Cuba were treated very poorly with oppression, exploitation and marginalization. Castro gained the support of women because he was fighting for gender equality.

Platt Amendment

...introduced in 1902. It secured US interests in Cuba by restricting Cuba's conduct of foreign policy and commercial relations, it gave the right to the US to intervene in Cuba's affairs

Specific battle during the Cuban Revolution?

1 December 1958; Battle of Santa Clara; 7,500 guerrillas (just included this so you'd have a specific example for additional context). i. Castro marched into Havana; 8 January 1959; war was over Leslie Bethell - "Guerrilla warfare decided the fate of Batista's regime"

Agrarian Reform Laws

1959-63 by INRA. For Castro to live up to his promise of addressing the effect of the US trade embargo. It aimed at tackling unemployment & rural poverty, thus social and economic justice. This was done through nationalization of large landholdings and the most productive plantations, and redistribution of the obtained land. The reforms were less moderate than some economically wealthier Cubans had feared, which helped Castro to not antagonize the wealthier classes. The peasants were given higher wages, more rights and shorter working hours, resulting in a labour shortage by the mid-1960s. Through these reforms, Castro gained the support of the majority of Cuban business and banking sectors, smaller plantation owners and some of the middle classes. However, production fell in some areas possibly due to lack of incentive to work hard or effects of US trade embargo

Sugar deal with the USSR

1960. For economic reasons; had no other trading partner/ally during the cold war. Able to trade sugar for weapons and oil. However, remained dependent on another nation (now USSR instead of US) and Cuba remained an agricultural nation.

National Literacy Campaign

1961. Improving education by ensuring access to high-quality education up to and including university level. Succesful: As a consequence, the literacy rate increased from 78 % in 1953 to 99.8% in 2014.

Cuba's turn to Communist Economy (success/fail, consequences)

1962 - Cuba changed the national currency = governemnt could control money Rents were abolished, people just got the property. 1963 - new Agrarian Law reduced amount of land that could be owned by a single person or association. This was done to prevent "rich peasents". After 1963 - State owned 70% of land w/ remaining farms being expropriated later in 1968 Consequences: Shortage of professional (left the country) Moral incentivation failure Farmers loose motivation to produce more than the quantity to survive. Sugar production is reduced, no diversity in crops. Industrial equipment from other communist countries led to a debt.

Committee for Defense of the Revolution (CDR)

A committee created to monitor suspicious or anti-communist activity

"History will absolve me" speech

A speech by Fidel Castro in 1953 to persuade the court about Cuba's ills and argued the duty of patriotic Cubans to take up arms against Batista. He was in court after being arrested for his role in the attack on the Moncada barracks

Literacy campaign

A year-long program in 1961 initiated by Revolutionaries in an attempt to abolish illiteracy and create a new political culture.

Successes of Castro's policies

Agrarian Reform Acts 1959, 1963, 1968 • Wages increased • Rents reduced • Strikes aimed at foreign companies encouraged • Import taxes • Women given equal access to all kinds of jobs • Built more schools between 1959 and 1962 than had been built in the previous 58 years. 271,000 teachers trained. Literate people encouraged to teach others in their spare time. Literacy rose from 76%-96% between 1959 and 1962 • 1961 Nationalized private schools (was this to ensure everyone had access to the same quality of education or to push communist beliefs in schools?) • Increased health spending by a factor of 8. Train 3000 doctors per year, each of whom spends at least two years in a rural community. Life expectancy has risen from 59 in 1958 to 78.3 today (the same as the USA)

Historian-Sebastian Balfour -perspective on Castro/communism

Before 1959, Castro had a radical program of reforms, but no clear view of the future direction of his revolution - suggesting that he was not a communist before 1959. (brings into question why Castro became communist- was it because he needed a strong ally to combat the U.S.?

How did Che/Fidel carry out guerrilla warfare? *We read excerpts from Che's book about how to organizer a revolution against a state run military

Castro and Che returned to Cuba in 1956 i. Their forces conducted small raids on isolated army posts; sugar mills; villages on edge of Sierra Maestra (mountain range) Used fast moving guerrilla patrols i. If pursued, guerrillas withdrew, dispersed then regrouped elsewhere Utilised the terrain of the Sierra Maestra i. Thickly wooded mountains; hard for Batista's army to navigate Workers in cities and towns joined the revolution i. Printed leaflets condemning Batista ii. Blew up government infrastructure iii. Killed "enemies of the revolution" After 1958; Guerrilla activity intensified i. Attacked main roads + highways ii. Destroyed military convoys + railways iii. Sabotage and terror increased in towns iv. Regular warfare became easier; with more recruits

How did Castro/Guevara recruit people to join the 26th of July Movement/ engage in guerrilla warfare?

Castro's forces were kind to peasants (did not steal; kind to women; put medical doctors at service of peasants) Castro's troops taught locals how to read and write. Promoted nationalism; no more foreign exploitation

Castro's treatment of the opposition

Citizens who had served in high positions in the Batista government and armed forces were arrested. Their properties were confiscated. They were put on trial and either given long prison sentences or executed. The trials did not conform to international standards of justice. About 400 people were executed.

Propaganda

Fidel Castro and Che Guevara appeared on all types of propaganda as they became the symbol for peace, the image of a succeeding country.

US Arms Embargo

In 1958, The USA stopped allowing its citizens to sell weapons to Cuba. This demoralized Batista's supporters and made it more difficult for them to get weapons.

Issues under Batista/how he responded to guerrilla warfare

Issues -Batista's repression, torture and persecution affected public image -Lots of corruption and poverty; unemployment rose steeply in 1958 i. Batista failed to address these problems -Batista lost the support of the middle classes i. Sugar prices fell internationally and inflation was rising. Inflation hit 40% in 1958 ii. Income levels dropped to those of 1947 How Batista responded to guerrilla warfare -Police imprisoned everyone they suspected of being a rebel Asked for support from the U.S. which he did not receive support from the US i. March 1958; US arms embargo led to Batista violence ( US created the embargo as they grew more critical of Batista's corruption/brutal dictatorship 1. Demoralizing effect on the military

26 of July Movement

Name originated from the failed attack on the Moncada Barracks. The movement reorganized in Mexico, after Castro was sent in exile.

Authentic Party

One of the opposition parties in Cuba under Batista. Its policies were Nationalism ("Cuba for the Cubans") and defending the right of workers and trade unions. The problem was Presidents San Martin (1944-48) and Socarras (1948-52) had been from this party and they had been corrupt and undemocratic, so they were not able to oppose Batista effectively.

Orthodox Party

One of the opposition parties in Cuba under Batista. Its policies were anti-corruption, nationalizing US companies and social reform. Castro joined this party around 1945, but his political career was cut short when Batista deposed Socarras in 1952.

Castro- religion

Prior to Castro, 90% of Cuba was catholic and when Castro rose to power, he made certain restrictions on the religious scene. Example - No Christmas Celebration - Criticized Catholic priests/practicing Catholics for not being loyal to the communist traditions. Opposition Some Catholic bishops joined forces with the U.S. in trying to overthrow Castro, however in the Bay of Pigs invasion, Castro caught 3 of the bishops and proceeded to broadcast their actions and identify them as traitors.

Perspectives on Castro's rise to power

Susan Eckstein (focus on the argument rather than the name of the historian) social and economic problems provided the necessary conditions for the national revolt but Castro sparked the flame Another perspective may argue he garnered support through his promises outlined in his 'History Will Absolve Me' speech. Included this to give an example of how to think about perspectives

Cold War

The Cuban Revolution occurred during a period in history called the

Sugar

The Cuban economy was dependent on this

Bay of Pigs invasion

The USA armed and trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro in 1961. It wasn't well coordinated, it had no air support and it did not spark a popular uprising in Cuba. The invasion failed and increased Castro's prestige at the expense of the USA.

Perspective covering Castro's policies/their impact on women Historian-Leslie Bethell

The increase of the number of women in the labor force was not fundamentally the result of government policies but was more a social trend of advancing modernization. (Therefore arguing Castro doesn't deserve credit for this).

Fulgencio Batista

The leader of Cuba from 1940-1944 and 1952-1959

Military Units to Aid Production (UMAP)

These were camps set up in 1965 and lasting until 1968 where about 25,000 young men were sent to be "re-educated through the liberating effects of collective work." Inmates included: • Everyone opposing military service • Homosexuals • Children of political prisoners • Political dissenters • Young people imitating American dress codes and tastes

USSR

This country helped Cuba in the following ways: - 1960 Agreed to buy Cuba's sugar quota. - Full diplomatic relations - Loans to purchase industrial equipment - (after the Bay of Pigs promised to prevent an armed US intervention against Cuba) - All of this alarmed the USA because they had long regarded the Western Hemisphere as their exclusive sphere of influence, and also because they were worried that Communism would spread from Cuba to the rest of the Americas.

The Cuban Revolution

This event inspired oppressed people in South American countries to start uprisings and revolutions of their own in an attempt to create change within their own governments.

Federation of Cuban Women (FMC)

This group helped promote gender equality for Cuban women

They fled from Cuba

What did many successful, educated Cubans do because of Cuba's communist policies?

The US imposed an embargo on exports except for food and medicine to Cuba in 1960, and then cut off ties with Cuba in 1961.

What did the US do to Cuba after the Revolution?

The attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953

What event started the revolution?

They were killed or put in jail

What happened to people who openly opposed Castro's regime (system of government)?

Authoritarian/Communist

What kind of government did Fidel Castro set up in Cuba once he took power?

the wealthy, landowners, and business owners because Castro took their property for the state.

Which group of people benefited the least from the Cuban Revolution and why?

Poor/lower class

Which group was exploited (taken advantage of) in Cuba during Batista's time in power?

Perspective- negative impacts in regards to Castro's treatment of opposition Historian-Leslie Bethell

While the loss of professional and technical skills had a negative impact on Cuba's development (fled Cuba or we forced out), the 'exporting' of potential leaders of opposition or counter-revolution helped Castro establish political centralization and control.

Many poor people supported Castro's policies because he improved their healthcare and education.

Who supported Castro's policies and why?

Guerrilla Warfare

a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility, to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military.

Communism

a political and economic system in which the major productive resources in a society are own by the public (people) or the state and wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual need

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

from Argentina originally -revolutionary that created a detailed strategy to successfully carry out guerrilla warfare. -his "new man" philosophy- where people are motivated by morals rather than personal gain (evident in his book 'Guerrilla Warfare')

Granma

the yacht that was used to transport 82 fighters of the Cuban Revolution from Mexico to Cuba in November 1956 for the purpose of overthrowing the regime of Fulgencio Batista. The 60-foot (18 m) diesel-powered cabin cruiser was built in 1943 and designed to accommodate 12 people.

Perspective- Castro had always been a communist

• In his History will Absolve Me speech he promised that each rural family should have its own land and homes for city dwellers • On coming to power, appointed PSP members to important positions. • Huber Matos was arrested in 1959 for objecting to Communism • Possibly conducted land expropriations in stages because he was afraid of galvanizing opposition. • Landowners not compensated adequately. • (March 1960) Full diplomatic relations with USSR • (June) US oil companies confiscated when they refuse to refine Soviet oil. • (July 9 1960) USSR agrees to buy Cuban sugar. • By the end of 1961 anti-communism was treated the same as counter-revolution

Perspective- Castro only became communist in response to US opposition

• The History Will Absolve Me speech indicates peasants would own land individually and wealth redistribution would be accomplished through tax policy rather than outright expropriation. • Originally a member of the Orthodox Party, not the PSP. Didn't rename his party the Cuban communist Party until 1965 • Included liberals in the provisional government at first • Huber Matos evidently hadn't seen Castro as a Communist before 1959 • Possibly conducted land expropriation in stages because he gradually became more left wing. • Landowners compensated with government bonds. • USA backed Batista until 1958 • (July 5 1960) USA cancelled sugar quota, forcing Castro to go to USSR • (October 1960) USA imposes partial economic embargo (excludes food and medicine) • (April 1961) Bay of Pigs