Cuban Revolution (1953-1959) and Castro

Terms

Batista Escopeteros Radio Rebelde Committees for the Defense of the Revolution Nationalization through exile of Catholics To 1980, 1/2 million Cubans left and in 1980 (allowed to leave) 125,000 left

Alliance with Soviet Union

Following the American embargo, the Soviet Union became Cuba's main ally. The two Communist countries quickly developed close military and intelligence ties, culminating in the stationing of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba in 1962, an act which triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis. Cuba maintained close links to the Soviets until the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The end of Soviet economic aid led to an economic crisis and famine known as the Special Period in Cuba.

Methods

Guerrilla warfare poorly armed irregulars known as escopeteros harassed Batista's forces in the foothills and plains of Oriente Province. The escopeteros also provided direct military support to Castro's main forces by protecting supply lines and by sharing intelligence.Ultimately, the mountains came under Castro's control. A pirate radio station called Radio Rebelde ("Rebel Radio") was set up in February 1958, allowing Castro and his forces to broadcast their message nationwide within enemy territory

Reforms in Castro government

Literacy rate grew from 50% to 96% equality for black Cubans and greater rights for women, while there were attempts to improve communications, medical facilities, health, housing, and education. In addition, there were touring cinemas, art exhibitions, concerts, and theatres. By the end of the 1960s, all Cuban children were receiving some education, unemployment and corruption were reduced, and great improvements were made in hygiene and sanitation

Summary

continued sporadically until the rebels finally ousted Batista on 1 January 1959, replacing his government with a revolutionary socialist state reshaped Cuba's relationship with the United States, which continues an embargo against Cuba as of 2015, although efforts to improve diplomatic relations have gained momentum in recent years In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, Castro's government began a program of nationalization and political consolidation that transformed Cuba's economy and civil society

Batista

in the 1950s he proved far more dictatorial and indifferent to popular concerns Cuba remained plagued by high unemployment and limited water infrastructure Batista antagonized the population by forming lucrative links to organized crime and allowing American companies to dominate the Cuban economy

Reaction to opposition

informant Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) keeping a detailed record of each neighborhood's inhabitants' spending habits, level of contact with foreigners, work and education history, and any "suspicious" behavior ; Among the increasingly persecuted groups were homosexual men nationalized all property held by religious organizations, including the dominant Roman Catholic Church. Hundreds of members of the church, including a bishop, were permanently expelled from the nation, as the new Cuban government declared itself officially atheist EXILE; Between 1959 and 1980, an estimated 500,000 Cubans left the island for the United States, seeking greater political and economic freedom; 125,000 left in 1980 alone, when the Cuban government briefly permitted any Cubans who wished to leave to do so