Castro—Consolidation of Power

List the three methods that Castro had to consolidate power.

1. Remove all the people associated with Batista's regime. 2. Insert the 26th of July Movement into the provisional government. 3. Reforms to gain support/live up to the revolution's promises.

As Castro's reign went on...

He became increasingly dependent on using fear and force to maintain power.

New policies implemented in the Special Period

1. Large % of state-owned farms began to be run as worker-managed cooperatives in an attempt to increase levels of productivity. 2. Opened Cuba to international business to attract capital and diversify economic activities; foreigners were included in tourism/mining/energy. Tourism in particular developed positively. 3. 1993: made it legal for Cubans to buy and sell US dollars in an attempt to attract money from overseas relatives of Cubans. Had a positive impact on the demand for goods and contributed to the reactivation of the economy. 4. Farmers' markets and cooperatives reappeared, and some level of self-employment and private business was allowed. By 1994, those who had predicted the end of the regime had again been proved wrong, as Cuba was showing some signs of economic recovery. Sugar had been replaced by tourism.

Effects of the Rectification Campaign

1. Productivity decreased. 2. Absenteeism at work increased. 3. Reduced supplies of milk, oil, textiles, and sugar led to an increase in their prices. 4. Black markets reappeared. 5. Transport and electricity rates increased, affecting the population's living standards.

Effects of Castro's reforms:

1. Allowed Castro and PSP to become more popular among many sectors of society and to consolidate their position in the government. Many Cubans became less concerned about when Castro would call for the elections and restore the constitution. 2. Certain level of resistance to the changes. Small group supposed the piece at the revolution and took up arms in some parts of Cuba. Local opposition was controlled by the government and didn't lead to major crises, mainly because Castro still allowed those against the revolution to leave Cuba. From January 1959 to October 1962, approximately 250,000 people left Cuba. These included former batistianos, middle-class citizens who feared revolution, members of religious congregations who disliked communist reforms. 3. Opposition from USA: Relations between USA and Cuba deteriorated dramatically between 1959 and 1962. Two major incidents—Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

List and explain the initial reforms that Castro implemented.

1. Corruption: made stealing from the govt punishable by death. Outlawed prostitution and gambling, which was strictly enforced. Kicked American mafia out of Cuba. (CIA actually sometimes turned to mafia to try to assassinate Castro...but that's a side note.) 2. Rents in cities: reduce the rent by 50% almost immediately. Very popular, but property owners weren't very happy. Many immigrated to the United States. This was an advantage for Castro because he could basically export dissent. 3. Agrarian Reform Law: Limited land ownership to 1000 acres. Divided up the other land and gave it to the poor peasants. For example, the first plantation he divide it up with his family plantation, permanently angering his mother. The only exception to this law was the largest plantations. Many were US companies. He's trying to bide his time and not make the US dislike him yet. The long run problem was that efficiency decreased. 4. Massive building projects: in rural areas especially. Roads/hospitals/schools/homes. Across Cuba on a massive scale. 5. Adult literacy programs: sends young educated people into rural areas to teach people to read and write. Known as "alphabetizers."

Obstacles in economic plans to increase productivity:

1. Cuba had a lack of specialized personnel and technicians, many of whom had left the country since the revolution. So the assessment of problems and implementation of solutions was limited. 2. Moral incentives were not efficient in increasing productivity and tackling poor quality work and absenteeism. For example, farmers and collective farms were forced to sell products at very low prices. They lost motivation to produce more than what they needed to survive. Therefore, sugar production levels were very low, and government plans to diversify away from the cultivation of sugar didn't compensate. 3. They continued to buy machinery from the USSR and increase their debt. They were trapped in trade relations of subsidized sugar in exchange for goods. By 1964, they had to return to intensive sugar production to decrease debt.

How does Castro stay in power?

1. Cult of Personality. Castro even blames himself for 10 million—actually said he would resign and everyone said "no!". Charisma keeps him there. He is so good at convincing people. 2. Base of support: people who lived through Batista's regime. 3. Support of USSR (steps in and basically runs everything). 4. Nationalism was drastically increased. 5. Use of force/fear and eliminating opposition.

Effects of the Year of the 10 Million

1. Deep harm had been inflicted on the economy. Agricultural machines had been overused, production of crops other than sugar had suffered, and forestry/fishing had seen classes. 2. Rather than raise the morale of Cubans, the campaign her exhausted them and made them skeptical. 3. The failure was a terrible blow for Castro politically. On July 26, 1970, he admitted the campaigns failure was due to the administrative apparatus, not ordinary citizens commitment. He offered resignation to a crowd that cheered his name, so he managed to survive failures political effects. 4. Acceptance of greater economic dependency on USSR. 5. Farmers' markets were reinstated. State owned companies were given enough autonomy to take some daily decisions without having to go through the state bureaucracy. Material incentives, like paid overtime, were introduced. However, Cuba continued to suffer similar economic problems.

Significance of the Mariel boatlift

1. Good for Castro in that it removed opposition, which diffused a lot of the tension in the island that had been brewing under the surface. 2. Up until now, the people who left the island were wealthy political enemies. Now, though, average people were leaving. Showed that the Revolution was failing. The people who the Revolution was supposed to be for were realizing how much better off people from other countries were.

How did Castro eliminate opposition with the use of force/fear?

1. Show trials: tens of thousands of people there. Not legit. Set up so defendant had no chance of being deemed innocent. Just for show, for people to get their anger out. About 500 people were given show trials, the leftover higher ups from Batista regime. 2. Vigilante justice/"To the wall" chant: people begin to take justice into their own hands. Decide on their own that someone is guilty and just kill them, with no trial or anything. Castro *encourages* this type of vigilante justice instead of cracking down on it.

Moncada Barracks Attack: Significance

1. Shows the people that Castro is a man of action. He tried to overthrow the regime. This was a big deal for both Castro and Hitler. It allowed them to say, look what I've done for you. 2. Makes Castro a nationwide figure, beginning his rise to leadership. 3. Demonstrates the brutality of Batista's regime. After the response to Moncada, Batista's popularity decreased even more. Therefore, the long-term impact of Moncada is huge and starts a movement..

What were the two ways that Castro had to consolidate power?

1. With the Cuban people. 2. Getting rid of the US.

Platt Amendment

1902. Gave the United States the right to intervene in Cuba's finances and foreign relations. The United States used this amendment to intervene in Cuban internal affairs until the amendment's abolition in 1934. They prevented the influence of third-party countries in Cuba and guaranteed the US control of Cuban affairs.

Pact of Caracas

1958: vast majority of the opposition parties recognized the leadership of Fidel Castro. Included all main political parties and organizations, even PSP. Heavy blow to Batista—exposed his isolation. (Movement had to make alliances with other political parties and define future of Cuba after fall of Batista.) Meeting of all leaders. Came to Sierra Maestra. Became apparent that Castro was the leader: really good propaganda (US people liked him, and he was pressuring Batista). Seen as first revolutionary (Granma expedition and Moncada). Charisma drew people in so even most of key leaders support him. Agree to form a coalition govt, eventually have free elections and democracy.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

1961. US plan to use Cuban exiles, trained as a para military force, to return to Cuba and overthrow Castro. Happened April 17-19, 1961. JFK had promised to be tough against the penetration of Marxism in Latin America. Approved the plan that had been developed by Eisenhowers administration (1953 to 1961). Cuban exiles trained in preparation to invade Cuba to start a popular uprising against Castro. United States troops weren't supposed to be directly involved. The Cuban revolutionary council (anti-Castro group exiled to the United States) would take over and form a provisional government after the fall of Castro. The operation was a failure on many levels. Cuban forces led by Castro himself to feed them. They imprisoned over 1000 participants. Significance: 1. Castro emerged from the Bay of Pigs more powerful than before. Victory against the United States made Cubans believe that Castro was strengthening Cuba. Reinforced the credibility of the revolution. 2. The image of Castro leading the resistance add a new dimension to his hero worship and reinforced Cuban nationalism—cult of personality. 3. Castro could demand increasing commitment to the revolution because they had a visible enemy. Cubans had to be united and accept Castro's leader ship in preparation for another attack. 4. Tempted the USSR to establish stronger military ties with Cuba and a military presence within Cuba itself. 5. Castro can now say that any opposition to the revolution is associated with supporting the US. Crack down on dissidence in Cuba.

The Padilla affair and the "grey years"

1971: poet Heberto Padilla was disappointed with the Revolution. 1968: had been awarded the UNEAC poetry prize for his work Fuera del juego (out of the game), which contained poems that were critical of the Revolution. The 10 Million Tons Harvest had just failed, and Castro was prepared to be far less tolerant towards dissent. Padilla was arrested and tortured. He was given a confession that he had to learn and deliver in a staged public trial. Numerous artist intervened on his behalf, asking Castro to respect freedom of expression. Many of them broke away from the revolution. This affair was followed by the grey period. Artist were afraid to produce anything that could be interpreted as counterrevolutionary. Close surveillance was also extended to other academic and scientific activities. Little has changed in Cuba since then. The 1976 Constitution established that there is freedom of artistic creation as long as its content is not contrary to the revolution. Most Cuban writers who descended from the revolution had to have their work smuggled out of the island to get it published.

The Rectification Campaign

1986. Castro blamed more liberal measures of the past for present economic problems. He advocated for a return to the values of solidarity and voluntarism under the Rectification Campaign, to "rectify errors and negative tendencies" linked to the relaxation of Communist principles after 1970. Farmers' markets were banned, bonuses/extra pay were abolished, self-employment was discouraged, and farm cooperatives were given new emphasis. New Agrarian Reform Act caused percentage of land managed by independent farmers to drop to 2%. Labor discipline was enforced, and workers lost many union rights.

The Special Period

1991: dissolution of the USSR. Castro called this the "most unfavorable international economic juncture ever faced by the Cuban economy in the entire history of the Revolution." The thirty year period in which the USSR had become central to Cuba's economic and social development ended suddenly and unexpectedly. Soviet technicians left Cuba as hundreds of projects were abandoned. Subsidized goods, oil, access to international loans, and everything the USSR had provided to Cuba was finished. Cubans faced new levels of rationing as basic goods disappeared from the market. Soviet oil was gone, so the need to save energy limited working hours of population, imposed long blackouts, and restricted public transport.

Non-Aligned Group

A group of nations, mainly Third World countries, decide to become a non-aligned group during the cold war. The Cold War wasn't helping them, so they didn't want to take sides. They elected Castro as the president of the nonaligned movement, even though the USSR gave him all of his weapons and managed his economy. It made no sense, but it showed that he was incredibly popular and charismatic. Castro has become an international figure which builds nationalism: people are proud that he is an international figure. But in the process, he has forgotten about the economy. This international position was short-lived. In 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Afghanistan was a non-aligned country, so they wanted help from Castro against the Soviet union. Castro has to decide who to support. Castro decided to support the USSR. He refused to denounce the invasion of Afghanistan and lost credibility with the nonaligned countries.

Radio Rebelde

A radio station established by Castro in 1958. It spread news about the events in the Sierra. Because Cubans didn't trust the news put out by the Batista government, many tuned in. People started to believe this media more than they believed official government news. Encouraged by news of the successes, many more joined the movement.

Castro's second try at reforms

After Che Guevara's death, Castro went back to trying for reforms. The children were fed, the kids of peasants and workers were given free education, he built healthcare facilities all over, and gambling and prostitution almost disappeared. But the US embargo basically stopped the economy, so it was very hard to get goods. People like gypsies and homosexuals were sent to work camps. Dissenters were sent to prison and there was very high imprisonment in Cuba. Castro started to be called Mr. there will be.

Monoculture economy

Agricultural practice of growing one single crop over a wide area. The production of sugar became the most important income for Cuba. The United States bought a significant percent of Cuban sugar production at prices above those set by the international market. In return Kubo is to give preferential access to American products. Cuba wasn't industrialized and was dependent on revenues from sugar to buy necessary manufactured goods and oil. The development of service and utility industries relied upon heavy US investments. Therefore Cuba's economy was tied to the United States.

What did Cubans expect of Castro's new government?

An end to Batista's corruption, better living conditions, a redistribution of land, improved working conditions, better wages, living standards must be raised, health and education accessible to all.

Committees for the Defense of the Revolution

CDR. Set up in 1960 to "defend the revolution." Responsible for some social projects, but main responsibility was to report counter-revolutionary activity. In operation in every workplace, street block, and inside residential buildings. By the end of its first year, CDR had more than 800,000 members and had become most important tool in government surveillance. By 1963, 1/3 of Cuba's population worked for CDR. Level of peer surveillance was very high, which intimidated people. Many Cubans felt that being members of a CDR was a way to contribute to the goals of the revolution and ensure that what they had gained by it wouldn't be lost.

The Mariel boatlift

April 1980: bus full of Cubans crashed the gates outside the Peruvian embassy in Havana, seeking asylum and shooting a Cuban guard in the process. In response to the embassy's refusal to hand over the asylum seekers, Castro withdrew all guards from the embassy (protect them). More than 10,000 Cubans forced themselves into the embassy, demanding asylum. At a rally in support of Castro in Havana, Castro shouted, "Let them all go!" The Cuban press treated these people with disdain. Castro and PCC supporters staged demonstrations outside the embassy to express their rejection of the asylum-seekers (scum/trash). Castro didn't really realize the unrest that was growing below the surface/the number of people who wanted to leave Cuba. Castro announced that anyone who wanted to leave Cuba was free to go, and 125,000 Cubans emigrated in the Mariel boatlift, organized by the Cuban exile community in Miami (with President Carter's blessing). The people who left were opponents to Castro, people who wanted to be reunited with their relatives, and thousands of prisoners and mentally ill people who were released by the government and forced to board the arriving boats. (Castro wanted to contaminate the Cuban exile community.) The US stopped the boatlift at about 125,000 emigrants. Showed levels of discontent previously unheard of in Cuba. It seemed that the readiness to tolerate hardship in the name of revolution was coming to an end. The relaxation of legislation that allowed overseas Cubans to visit their relatives had exposed thousands of Cubans to (sometimes exaggerated) success stories of visiting relatives, which contributed to the creation of a feeling of disillusionment at the revolution and its gains. This exodus was the first time when the people leaving were more economic than political emigrants.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara

Argentinian medical doctor. Traveled through Latin America, convinced the region needed a solution to poverty and corruption. Met Castros in Mexico and joined Granma expedition. Leading figure in Sierra Maestra fighting, icon of Revolution. After Revolution, responsible for purged of Batistianos and other opponents. Communist. Head of Bank of Cuba and Minister of Industry. Felt that Revolution had to spread worldwide, so went to Congo in 1965 in support of a revolution that failed. Killed 1967 in Bolivia.

Castro's treatment of minorities

Before the revolution, Afro-Cubans (about 50% of population) were discriminated against in education, work opportunities, shops, and restaurants. Supporters of the Revolution claim it has eradicated racial discrimination. Those who disagree say that inequality continues to exist between races. Proof: a limited number of non-whites occupy positions of power within the PCC Zoe decision-making posts in the Cuban government.

Why did Castro fail to further improve the economy? Talk about this in relation to Hitler.

Both Hitler and Castro had visions/ideas of what they believed was right. They were very committed. But, Hitler was a delegator Bob Castro to try to do everything. He couldn't always be everywhere, and when he wasn't there, nobody did anything. Therefore his management style was not good. It didn't empower the people to think for themselves, because he wanted to make all the decisions.

Year of the Ten Million

Castro decided to go back to the one thing that Cuba could do and put all your eggs in one basket colon sugar! He states his reputation on producing 10,000,000 tons of sugar in 1970, which was double the normal production. To do this he had to turn society upside down. Factory workers, students, housewives, and foreign volunteers all came to help. To solve the problems left by the revolutionary offensive in 1969, Castro announced that he intended Cuba to break its previous sugar production record and reached a 10,000,000 ton output in 1970. Aimed to obtain from harvest enough money to pay off Cuban debt to USSR and, by selling surplus sugar, make investments to achieve economic diversification. Castro called it liberation campaign. Therefore, 1970 became the year of the 10 million. The sugar season became another battle for Cuban pride. Crusade that mobilize the entire population and became a political test for Castro. To achieve the target, he appealed for the militarization of labor, organized and disciplined like an army. Armed forces occupied the sugar producing regions and were put in charge of sugar melts. There was propaganda, like posters of Castro cutting sugar cane. To increase productivity, bars and theaters were closed, and Christmas/New Year's celebrations were canceled. They only produced 8.5 million tons which was a record harvest. But, Castro was forced to admit that they didn't reach the 10,000,000 ton target.

Method: Reforms to gain support/live up to the revolution's promises.

Castro gave many speeches immediately after Batista's overthrow. These focused on the challenges ahead and the proposed solutions. He offered every sector of society what they needed: work for the unemployed, land for the rural workers, improved working conditions for the urban workers, promised middle-class that they could become professionals, women would have equal work conditions to men. Castro portrayed himself as a man of action, designing policies to enact the changes. The most significant measure was the agrarian reform act. Other reforms included an increase in wages and a decrease in rent. Great enthusiasm in the lower classes, but the reforms antagonize the middle and upper classes. Foreign owned companies faced waves of strikes as workers took advantage of more favorable political situation to demand higher wages and better working conditions. These people who were on strike found support in the new government which intervened many times, often favoring the workers. Some foreign companies were threatened with expropriation, accused of representing countries that had provided Batista with weapons. Important taxes were imposed on luxury goods with several Ames, wanted to reduce their imports so less money was spent on them by Cubans, and money was raised with these taxes with the help of using it to invest in industrialization and diversification of the economy. Sales to Cuba from USA decreased by as much as 35%.

Granma Expedition: Background

Castro is an exile in Mexico, trying to regroup and plan another revolution. They are, he meets Che Guevara. Che is from Argentina, a doctor, a revolutionary, young like Castro, and hates the United States. He becomes one of Castro's right hand men. The Granma is a small yacht.

Problem with Castro: delegation

Castro traveled around Cuba and tried to solve problems himself. He was not a good delegator. He was the only one in the country who could make decisions. So this caused other people to not do anything when he wasn't around. He was always looking for the next project to try and help the economy, like draining the Zabata swamp, planting trees, and raising cattle.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Castro was fearful that the United States would send its military to take Cuba after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Therefore, he asked the USSR for military support. The Soviets decided to install nuclear weapons and nuclear missiles on Cuba. Positive impact on Cuba for Castro: JFK secretly agreed not to invade Cuba, so the Revolution was safe. USSR gave military and economic support to Cuba after this. Safeguarded the Revolution, even though it hurt Castro's ego. Negative impact on Cuba for Castro: Castro was not involved in decision-making, which hurt his ego. Cuba will be treated as a minor power (by USSR especially). (After Cuban Missile Crisis, Castro never fully trusted the USSR again.) BUT people see Cuba as the revolutionary capital of the world.

Problem with Che Guevara

Che Guevara is the one person in Cuba who is almost as popular as Castro. That's dangerous for Castro. Opportunity arises for Castro to get rid of Che. Che Guevara was useful to Castro... Until he wasn't. Che Guevara goes around the world in disguise. He's Argentinian, but he goes to the Andes mountains in Bolivia. Castro's and some supplies, money, soldiers, and promises to help. Che hopes to start a revolution. Brezhnev tells Castro that they must end the revolutionary movements because they need to make a deal with the United States. Said if they didn't, would send US to invade. USSR was being pressured by the United States. The two major powers of the Cold War are basically treating you but like a minor power. The deal was to try and reduce tension between the United States and USSR to prevent a nuclear war. To suit the USSR, Castro cut off contact with Che totally leaving him hungry, sick, and cut off in Bolivia in the Andes. In a battle, he was taken prisoner and executed the next day. Che Guevara became an icon of revolution in death. Given the choice between supplies from the USSR and Che Guevara's life, Castro chose to watch Che die in the Andes. Now, Castro is standing alone in popularity.

The influence of Che Guevara: moral incentives and voluntarism

Che Guevara was the president of the national bank of Cuba and later the minister of industries. Wanted communism. Centrally planned economy. Emphasis on moral incentives and self-sacrifice, meaning the people should work for ideals and values of the revolution rather than for personal gains. Moral incentives like Socialist emulation, party membership, state recognition, and more. Workers will get equal pay. There would be no paid overtime because it was seen as a personal contribution to the revolution. "New men" campaign: wanted to create a new man prepared to sacrifice himself for a higher good, a society ruled by principles of the revolution. Men would truly reach a full human condition when he produced without being driven by the physical need to sell his labor as a commodity. The individual would feel more complete, with much more internal richness and much more responsibility.

Method: remove all the people associated with Batista's regime.

Citizens from the Batista government and the Armed Forces were imprisoned. Castro confiscated their properties and brought them to trial. They were either executed or given long prison sentences. The trials were short and didn't conform to the standards of justice. These were criticized in Cuba and the United States for not offering human rights guarantees to the prisoners. Castro's response was that immediate justice was more necessary than a fair trial since these people endangered the revolution.

Celia Sánchez

Close friend of Fidel, early member of 26th of July Movement. Provided land support for Granma expedition. In Sierra Maestra, contributed to founding of female "Mariann Grajales" army. Different govt positions, died 1980.

University of Havana

College in Havana that had a revolutionary student organization that helped to form the PCC (Cuban Communist Party). I think Fidel attended school here?

Castro's treatment of religious groups

Cuba is considered a Catholic country, but Afro-Cuban religions also have great influence. Minorities of Protestants and Jews. In 1959, some sectors of the Catholic Church welcomes the opportunity to achieve social justice, but others were suspicious, especially as the Revolution moved to the left. Castro thought that many congregations in Cuba represented foreign interests, as their members were Americans or Spaniards. He accused critical bishops of abandoning their pastoral duties and getting involved in politics. After Bay of Pigs, Castro nationalized schools and said religious education could only take place in churches. This move increased tension between the state and many religious leaders. Many congregations lived in "internal exile," as invisible groups with limited or no influence. Some pastors joined campaigns of revolution as volunteers to try to attract people back to churches. Constitution of 1976: "It is illegal and punishable by law to oppose one's faith or religious belief to the Revolution, education or the fulfillment of the duty to work, defend the homeland with arms, show reverence for its symbols and other duties established by th constitution." Hardships during the special period increased church attendance. 1998: Pope John Paul II historically visited Cuba. He was a strong anti-communist who addressed the lack of political freedom in Cuba but also criticized the US embargo. Then, the government allowed religious people to join the political party (PCC). However, religious education remained forbidden in all schools.

Breakdown of Cuban-American Relationship:

February 1960: Castro receives Soviet leaders (visit). Signs a trade agreement—sugar in exchange for oil/steel/iron. Skilled workers from USSR, because many of those from Cuba had gone to USA. May 1960: Castro establishes formal diplomatic relations with USSR. No other Latin American country would have done this, bc during the Cold War. If you sided with the US in the Cold War, you probably wouldn't have done this. 2nd half of 1960: US oil companies refuse to refine Soviet oil. Castro nationalizes US oil companies (makes them part of Cuban govt). At the United Nations, Castro degrades the US and takes a photo with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. USA responds by eventually stopping all sugar imports from Cuba. Castro responds by nationalizing all US businesses. January 3, 1961: USA breaks all relations with Cuba and eventually starts an embargo against Cuba. Therefore, there was a mass exodus of Cubans to US (started with Batista and then expanded to upper/middle class people). Significance: during the Cold War, losing Cuba to communism was unacceptable. It was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to do this. President Eisenhower (1952-1960) ordered the CIA to create a plan to stop this. President JFK inherited the plan and had to decide if he was going to use it.

Raúl Castro

Fidel's younger brother. Took part in Moncada, imprisoned with Fidel, exiled to Mexico where helped prepare Granma expedition. Fidel's right-hand man since 1959. Many key positions, including head of the Cuban Communist Party, Minister of Defense, and Vice President of the Council of State. Appointed President in 2008 after Fidel resigned for heath reasons.

Castro's visit to USSR 1963

He was extremely popular there. Soviets provided them with all the weapons they needed. Made a trade deal as well. Castro gets involved in a movement to overthrow governments all over the world with trained guerrillas. Castro is in a unique situation: getting support mainly from USSR. Castro is a firm believer in worldwide revolution. He is the most famous revolutionary in the world because he defeated the United States. He sees the opportunity to make Cuba more important than its size would normally dictate on the world stage. Getting free military stuff from the USSR in exchange for sugar, and they gave him oil too. Already starts them off with a pretty strong military that they used to back communist revolution throughout the world. There's a certain degree of pride for citizens in being a world power, and now, they have that pride in Cuba. Helps Castro maintain power because Castro seems to have made them a world power. The people think they are nothing without him. But in reality, the USSR was the one providing them with things, so they had much to do with it and it wasn't just Castro. This comes back to bite Castro later.

Push for command economy after 1961:

In 1962, Cuba changed the national currency, so people with savings and banks not belonging to the state lost all that money overnight. In 1962, rents were abolished in the cities. People became property owners virtually overnight. In 1963, the second agrarian law reduced the amount of land that could be owned by a single person or entity even further. After 1963, the state on 70% of the land, the rest being small farms which were expropriated in 1968.

What happened to the USSR in 1991?

Its economy collapsed, causing the country's collapse. Fidel told Cubans to try to preserve socialism in Cuba. To do so, they had to go back to the old ways—the Special Period. The Miami exile community waited for Castro to fall, but he wouldn't. He made it legal for anyone to leave, effectively exporting dissent. He also opened Cuba to foreign investment and tourism, which helped the economy but caused issues like prostitution to return.

Moncada Barracks Attack: Event

July 26, 1953. Castro's followers called their movement 26 July movement. It was named after the date of this attack. The attack was a failure, and about half of Castro's forces were killed or tortured and killed that day or the next. Castro was not captured that day, but he eventually gets captured, however he is spared. The Archbishop defends him and the Teaster knows that Catholic Church has a lot of power in Cuba. Castro is put on trial. He tried to use this to gain popularity and make a name for himself. He's good at speechmaking because he's a lawyer. He defends himself, and says that history will absolve me. Then he gets put in jail. While in prison, he writes HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME. Castro was let out of prison early. However this put his life in danger because he could be killed and people wouldn't know or have proof that it was Batista. Because of this threat, he goes into exile in Mexico.

Agrarian Reform Law

Limited land ownership to 1000 acres. Divided up extra land and gave it to peasants. Example: first plantation he divided up was his family plantation. Exception: largest plantations (many were US companies...trying to bide time by not making US dislike him yet). Long run problem was that this decreased efficiency.

The Revolutionary Offensive

March 1968: Castro launched the revolutionary offensive to move Cuba farther towards a communist state and remove the last marks of capitalism from the island. He emphasized Che Guevara's ideas of a new man, calling work a social duty. Castro ordered the expropriation of all remaining privately owned enterprises, like family stores, restaurants, candy craft stores, groceries, service shops, and street vendors. All were to be owned and managed by the state and put up the service of a centrally planned economy. Farmers markets were eliminated, and self-employment was banned. The offensive didn't achieve an increase in productivity, and it produced administrative chaos because the number of government agencies needed to organize different fields of production and sales increased exponentially. Also, high levels of absenteeism and vagrancy prevailed due to moral and sent it. The problem with collectivization was that it made farming less efficient. Therefore the revolutionary offensive was a failure.

Economy at end of 1970s

New levels of recession. Badly hit by international economic situation, as USSR cut the price it paid for Cuban sugar. Unemployment, debt, and policies that limited consumption led to increased discontent. Contributed to the 1980 Mariel exodus, when 125,000 people abandoned Cuba for the US.

US Relations in 1970s

Nixon had tried to open up China, so Ford tried to open up relations with Cuba. Castro actually considered this because of the embargo, but the United States wouldn't trade with them unless Castro reduced his communist efforts. Therefore, Castro decided to prioritize the communist revolution. He helped Angola, saying that they are one with Angola. Goes from calling the United States a friendly neighbor to imperialist. This improved nationalism. Probably, though, would have been better for the average person to normalize the United States economy. Instead, chooses to support communist revolution. International prestige of revolution is boosted. Soviets Control the economy, so helping the economy wouldn't have made Castro look any better. And, so far, Cuba is the only communist country in the western hemisphere. The United States protects other countries from communism. Cuba helps Nicaragua go communist, which angers the United States. Castro directed the war in Nicaragua, which was his first victory in the western hemisphere. He sees himself as a spearhead of a great socialist revolution. Wants insurrection in the Caribbean.

The PM affair and "Words to the intellectuals"

PM (1961): Short film documenting Afro-Cubans dancing and enjoying themselves. Showed decadent aspect of Cuba. Accused of being counterrevolutionary and was eventually censored. This censorship of an a political film angered many Cuban writers and artists who have been enthusiastic supporters of revolution. Afraid the Castro would direct culture by dictating themes and content of their work. In response Castro organized the first Congress of Cuban Writers and Artists, from which UNEAC emerged. At this Congress, Castro gave a speech. It was called words to the intellectuals. He defined the responsibilities of artists in times of revolution. Intellectuals know were no longer free to create what they wanted. They were at the service of the revolution and Had to work to strengthen its values. Art had a purpose. An artist had to be a revolutionary first; he couldn't paint or write about what he wanted. He had to do it in such a way that the masses would receive a clear message. Within the revolution, everything; against the revolution, nothing. Parents encouraged people to work in Zafra or coffee harvest. Novels described women who were role models at work and at home. Films highlighted the achievements of the revolution. Manuel Herrera's Girón represented the Bay of Pigs Incident, and Jorge Fraga's Me nice maestro (I became a Teacher). Arts were even more closely supervised in the revolutionary offensive.

Nikita Khrushchev

Soviet leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Decided to install nuclear weapons/missiles in Cuba due to its proximity to the US.

Background: Cuban-American Relations

Starts with 1959. USA: wants to maintain its interests in Cuba (knowing it won't be as much as with Batista). Therefore, re-negotiate with Cuba, realizing that they cannot continue to dominate the whole economy. Cuba: Castro wants to have power. Power depends on the support of the lower class, so can't cater to US or will lose support. Negotiations are not possible. Therefore, Castro needs to break free from the USA: retain power, improve the economy, and get more control for Cuba.

Centrally planned economy/command economy

System in which the state directs and controls all major economic areas and decides upon the distribution of resources and production, following a national plan.

Socialist emulation

Term from the USSR referring to a competition among workers as a method to achieve the set targets.

Ronald Reagan and Cuba

The 1970s was a rough decade for the US: lost Vietnam War, Nixon was impeached and resigned (Watergate), oil/gasoline shortages caused rations, inflation, and meanwhile, Communists seemed to be doing well. Reagan came in to fight Communism by going into debt and outspending them. He set the CIA against Castro and got stories from Cuban political prisoners. March 1987: US asked UN to condemn Cuba for offenses against human rights. The UN did a 400 page report on witness statements from Cuba. The Cuban government was cornered, humiliated, and losing allies everywhere. International prestige was being hurt by human rights abuses, especially among other communist countries. Mikhail Gorbachev visited Cuba, and the people were hopeful for economic reform, but Castro wouldn't let that happen. He believed the US economy would collapse and show that Cuba was right.

Granma Expedition: Event

The expedition was poorly planned. When Castro landed there were supposed to be uprisings throughout Cuba, however, he's late, and by the time he gets there, the people who were uprising were sitting ducks. Batista's forces were waiting and they had a battle. They reported Castro is dead which made him seem legendary, invincible, when people see that he's actually alive. Then, he went into the Sierra Maestra with 18 others. He turned on the propaganda then because he needed to be seen as a leader despite not having many people there. This made people believe that his revolution was significant. Thus, the Granma expedition was a FAILURE.

Cult of Personality

The leader become synonymous with the country. Castro equals the revolution in the rise to power, the revolution equals Cuba, so Castro equals Cuba. Cubans begin to see Castro as their country. The leader becomes sort of mythical, someone in the country can't live with that, so people follow him no matter what. Cuba is a small island and a community, and Castro is always out there with the people. For example he played baseball with the people. His charisma, his individual personality one a lot of people over. Women swarmed all over him so he didn't give any information about his women because that would dilute his power. Married a woman named Dalia in 1980, and had kids and grandkids but kept it hidden. Wanted to remain an alluring guy so people would still be attracted to him. People tend to be attracted to people with power.

Sierra Maestra Manifesto

The outlines of a new Cuban society invented by Fidel Castro as a head of state, also "guaranteeing" human and social rights. Each section began with a quote by Jose Marti. Gave the ideology of Castro...but also said that Cuba would be a democracy. That never happened. Also addressed: national sovereignty, economic independence, work (right to work), social order, education, civil authority, freedom of conscience (religion), public morality, and international position (friendship between US and CU).

How did Castro consolidate power with the Cuban people?

The plan for the government was to create a provisional government and then create a democratic republic with free elections. At first, Castro was only the commander of the Armed Forces, not officially in the government. But in reality, he was operating his own government. He began to eliminate opposition with show trials and vigilante justice. Huber Matos, one of the rebel leaders/commanding general/friend of Castro, disapproved of Castro's actions. He wanted democracy and didn't like the influence of communism or the fact the Castro was making all the decisions. So, Castro sent him to jail for 20 years. Castro implemented reforms as well. Significance: Castro was taking all the power. Provisional government leaders resigned and many left Cuba. There were no elections. Also, Castro's popularity increased a lot. The Cuban people turned over control to him and put all their faith in him, essentially allowing him to become a dictator. Castro takes advantage of this for a long time.

Problem with economy and how Castro tried to solve it/success

The problem with the economy it was that it was a monoculture based on sugar, and the fall embargo from the USA of January 1961 produced issues. The US was a dominant economic power in the world and they were right next-door to each other, so that was problematic for Cuba. Caster to try to solve it with new currency, diversifying the economy, making a command economy with central planning, doing a new man campaign, which was doing work to better society, not yourself. Castro was successful in that: he took people out of poverty/decreased poverty with the agrarian reform law, a decrease in rent, building schools, building a national healthcare system/hospitals, and building infrastructure. He was not successful in that: he couldn't diversify the economy, he was still dependent on the USSR because they were buying cube of sugar, absenteeism (people not going to work), lack of highly skilled workers because a lot of people have left Cuba due to the new economy. He took away farms and all businesses in the revolutionary offensive, nationalizing everything, and this was a failure.

Method: Insert the 26th of July Movement into the provisional government.

The provisional government established in January 1959 had a significant number of liberals who hoped to moderate the left-wing elements, including 26 July movement and the communist party members. Wanted a government led by moderates. Castro set up an office outside the presidential palace and Havana Hilton hotel as commander of Cuban and forces. The real authority was held by Castro from the start. This was seen everywhere and by everyone. He had almost daily speeches to appeal to the hopes of political freedom, social justice, and economic security. Went out into the streets, traveled across the country to meet people face-to-face. Cubans had never experienced this approach before. Castro even fixed tractors and refrigerators for people. Six weeks after the provisional government took over, the Prime Minister resigned unexpectedly, and Castro took his place. This allowed the revolution to move quickly by implementing reforms that led to the transformation of the country into a communist state by the end of 1961. Liberals and moderates resigned or were forced out. They were replaced by Castro's men and communist. The communist party appeared in the Armed Forces leading to the wholesale resignation and sometimes arrest of anti-communist officers. In 1961, various revolutionary organizations that have acted against Batista were unified under the integrated revolutionary organizations, which aimed to provide the government with a political party of its own. Formed by 26 July movement, the PSP, and a revolutionary student organization. Renamed it the Cuban communist party in 1965. Formation of one government sponsored political party. This party was the only officially authorized party in Cuba and has ruled since 1965. Other political parties are banned and can't participate in elections. This party has a newspaper(GRANMA), a youth branch (Young Communist League), and a children's organization (José Martí Pioneers). Not everyone in Castro's inner circle approved of the communist shift.

Expropriation

a government's seizure of a domestic or foreign company's assets

Fulgencio Batista

Took over power in Cuba with a military coup in 1952, a time when Castro was running for political office. Authoritarian ruler of Cuba until overthrown by Castro. Left Government January 1, 1959 and fled to Spain with closest friends and like a million dollars. Allowed US economic domination, which caused unequal distribution of wealth and oppression of the poor. Corrupt—took bribes, connected with US corporations, allowed gambling and prostitution (Havana=Las Vegas). Repressive: had dissenters arrested, tortured, and killed in public to send a message. Sometimes these killings and arrests were even arbitrary. A lot of people hated his regime.

John F. Kennedy

U.S. President during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Bay of Pigs. Used Eisenhower's plan for Bay of Pigs. After Cuban Missile Crisis, secretly agreed not to invade Cuba, meaning that the Revolution was safe.

Military Units to Aid Production

UMAP. 1965-1968: about 25,000 young men were sent to UMAP labor camps. Everyone opposing military service on any grounds was sent to these camps, together with other "offenders": children of political prisoners, youngsters imitating US dress codes and tastes, homosexuals, and political dissenters. Purpose: to be "re-educated through the liberating effects of collective work." Camps closed in 1968 because of domestic and international pressure on Castro.

United Fruit Company

US corporation heavily involved in the Cuban sugar industry. In 1901, it bought over 175,000 acres and set up 2 mills. One of the big American operators in Cuba that arranged deal so that their Cuban sugar could enter Cuba at lower duty than foreign sugar. Distorted Cuba's economy by making it more dependent on US. Cuban sugar farmers would have to send their sugarcane to be processed by US corporations like this—big business.

Base of support

When Castro came, the economy was super bad. It wasn't that hard to take it up a level. With the agrarian reform law, immediately improve the lives of peasants. When he decreased the rents in cities by 50%, people got more money overnight. He got rid of corruption by outlying prostitution and gambling led by mafias. He build hospitals, free healthcare systems. Schools improved future prospects. Build roads which improved in infrastructure. He created a group of people that will pretty much support him no matter what. They lived through Batista, corruption, mistreatment, and economic discrimination. However, the Cubans who were born after are the ones who won't necessarily understand why they have to wait in line for food etc. Eventually, there are two groups: people who lived under Batista and always supported Castro, then the others who hadn't lived under Batista. Castro could never take the economy past this point because of the US trade embargo. Therefore, the economy was still a monoculture and still a problem.

Jose Marti

led the fight for Cuba's independence from Spain from 1895 through the Spanish-American War. First leader of revolution in Cuba. Castro considered himself as continuing Marti's work. Started every section in Sierra Maestra Manifesto off with quote from him.

26th of July Movement

the revolutionary organization led by Fidel to overthrow Batista. Engaged in Moncada Barracks attack and Granma Expedition before exile and guerrilla war in the Sierra Maestra.