Authoritarian States: Castro and Cuba
1959 Agrarian Reform Act
This act restricted the amount of land any individual or company could own. It targeted large estates, leaving medium and small land holdings intact. Everything in excess of that amount was taken over by the government. The original owners were compensated with government bonds. The expropriated land was reorganized into cooperatives.
Import Taxes
These were imposed on "luxury goods" in order to keep money in the country by getting Cubans to spend less money on these goods, and also to raise money for industrialization. These angered the USA because its sales to Cuba decreased by 30%.
* Ideology
- Castro was inspired by the ideology of the Orthodoxos - Denounced the corruption of the government in 1949 - Set up a law firm for the impoverished of Old Havana, instead of working bin his rich prosperous family's firm - After the coup, he was convinced that change could only come by revolutionary means, not paramilitary - "History Will Absolve Me" speech - called for a more open and fair society and an end to corruption which gained him much more supporters - Once out of jail, he fled to Mexico and promised to come back before 1957 to begin the revolution (M-26-7) - Swore he was not a communist
1901 Platt Amendment
- Enacted in the year 1901. Took advantage of a loophole within the Teller Amendment, "except for the pacification thereof" and made Cuba a neo-imperialistic colony as it gave the US rights to hold territories in Cuba, such as Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. also acquired claimed the right to interfere in Cuban affairs through this amendment and continued through 1959 with Batista's fall from power. - On March 2, 1901, the Platt Amendment was passed as part of the 1901 Army Appropriations Bill.[1] It stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War, and an eighth condition that Cuba sign a treaty accepting these seven conditions. It defined the terms of Cuban-U.S. relations to essentially be an unequal one of U.S. dominance over Cuba. - On December 25, 1901, Cuba amended its constitution to contain, word for word, the seven applicable demands of the Platt Amendment.[2] On May 22, 1903, Cuba entered into a treaty with the United States to make the same required seven pledges: the Cuban-American Treaty of Relations of 1903.[1] Two of the seven pledges were to allow the United States to intervene unilaterally in Cuban affairs, and a pledge to lease land to the United States for naval bases on the island. (The Cuban-American Treaty of Relations of 1934 replaced the 1903 Treaty of Relations, and dropped three of the seven pledges.) - The 1903 Treaty of Relations was used as justification for the Second Occupation of Cuba from 1906 to 1909. On September 29, 1906, Secretary of War (and future U.S. president) William Howard Taft initiated the Second Occupation of Cuba when he established the Provisional Government of Cuba under the terms of the treaty (Article three), declaring himself Provisional Governor of Cuba.[3][4] On October 23, 1906, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 518, ratifying the order.[3] - On May 29, 1934, the United States and Cuba signed the 1934 Treaty of Relations that in its first article abrogates the 1903 Treaty of Relations. (wikipedia)
1 Economic Conditions in Cuba
- One of the richest countries in Latin America, however... - Wealth was dependent on sugar: 60% of the workforce in Cuba, 25% of all exports - NO SUGAR = NO ECONOMY - United States was the main importer of the sugar exports, if relations between Cuba and the US became strained... - it was challenging for Cuba to find a comparable importer to purchase the sugar exports
1 Political Conditions in Cuba
- Platt Amendment gave United States political influence - Batista legitimate President in early 1940s (elected), focused on the rights of Cubans and promised to fight against the United States - 1952 seized power in a military coup (by force); changed earlier policies and used repressive measures to gain support of privileged elite, most had business links to the United States - Batista met with and had ties with the US Government and the mafia in the US - Corruption was common with Cuban governments, but under Batista's rule it worsened - Disparities in wealth were a result of Batista's policies -Opposition to Batista: Student Organizations, rural agricultural workers, communist party - Supporters of Batista: the army, labor unions, the US (key in Castro's rise because he loses their support)
1 Social Conditions
- increasing disparities (differences) between the rich and poor - growing opposition to Batista, as a result, of repression and corruption
1 Condition: Impact of war on Cuba
-The First War of Independence was from 1869-1878 -The Second War of Independence was from 1895-1878 -The economy of Cuba was dependent on slave-produced goods and trade with the US during this time, which meant the US was involved in Cuba -US wanted more control over Cuba -Cuba needed a nationalist leader, something the US feared
Steps Castro took to Consolidate Power
1) Removed people associated with Batista's regime. 2) Consolidated the position of the 26th of July Movement within the Provisional Government. 3) Launched reforms to show that the revolution lived up to its promises 4) Exploited the idea that Cuba was threatened by the USA and appealed to the people's sense of nationalism.
Year of Education
1961 was declared the year of education. Castro aimed to end illiteracy within a year. Military barracks were turned into educational complexes and schools were built all over the country. A training programme for 271,000 teachers was implemented. Literate citizens were encouraged to act as literacy volunteers in their spare time. By 1962, illiteracy had dropped from 24% to 4%. It also helped to make the middle classes aware of the conditions of the poor and to increase peasant support for the revolution.
Pact of Caracas
A 1958 agreement between all the major political parties and organizations in Cuba, including the PSP, to recognize Castro's leadership in the struggle against Batista. This exposed Batista's political isolation.
Richard Bissel
A CIA officer responsible for major projects such as the U-2 spy plane and the Bay of Pigs Invasion. President-elect John F. Kennedy was given a copy of the JMARC proposal by Bissell, which he rejected. So then Bissell came up with a new plan, which would end up to be the bay of pigs. He told Kennedy that the new plan had a two out of three chance of success. Bissell added that even if the project failed the invasion force could join the guerrillas in the Escambray Mountains. The invasion failed.
Partido Ortodoxo
A Cuban left-wing populist political party. It was founded in 1947 by Eduardo Chibás in response to perceived government corruption and lack of reform. Its primary aims were the establishment of a distinct national identity, economic independence and the implementation of social reforms. Fidel Castro identified within this party in his early life; he was an active member of the Ortodoxo Party in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He intended to run as an Ortodoxo Party candidate for the Cuban parliament prior to the coup by Batista
1970s Family Code
A decree in the 1970s stressing the equality of the sexes both at home and at work, and directing men to share in household duties and the education of children. It declared that men who did not do so were guilty of exploiting women. Nevertheless, traditional attitudes are hard to change and women's participation in the workforce remains lower than government expectations.
Huber Matos
A former teacher and member of the Orthodox Party who joined the rebel army against Batista. He played a leading part in the Sierra Maestra days in the taking of Santiago. In the early days of the revolution he was appointed commander of the army in the province of Camagüey. Soon after that he began to express his opposition to the radicalization of the revolution and was arrested by Castro. He spent 20 years in prison and was subjected to physical and psychological tortures. When released in 1979 he fled to Miami where he has become a leading force of the Cuban dissidence and published his memoirs, How the Night Came.
PCC
The alliance of revolutionary organizations that had united against Batista went through a few name changes, each more socialist than the previous one. They ended up with this name, which means Cuban Communist Party in 1965. This is the only authorized political party in Cuba - the only one that can participate in elections. This alienated some supporters of the revolution like Huber Matos.
Partido Autentico
A political party in Cuba most active between 1933 and 1952. Although the Partido Auténtico had significant influence, it eventually became unpopular and, despite significant reforms, Fulgencio Batista returned to power. The Partido Auténtico had its origins in the nationalist and anti-liberal Revolution of 1933. It was made up in February 1934 by many of the same individuals who had brought about the downfall of Gerardo Machado in the previous year to defend the changes caused by the Revolution of 1933.
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. Encouraged by news of the successes many more joined the movement.
"History will absolve me" speech
After the raid on the Moncada barracks, Castro was captured. He was put on trial and elected to defend himself. At the trial he made this famous speech. Even though the public was not permitted to attend the trial, this speech became a famous rallying cry for revolution, because Castro has written it in lime juice between the lines of his letters to friends so it could be disseminated. In this speech, he proposed land reform, rent controls, investment in industry and land reform, but stopped well short of advocating Communism.
Granma Expedition
An expedition to Cuba of about 80 fighters who had been recruited in Mexico, including Che Guevera. It was led by the Castro brothers. The boat arrived late and its radio failed, so the assault was poorly coordinated, with planned uprisings from within Cuba failing to materialize. The fighters were ambushed and all but twelve of them were killed. The twelve escaped and hid in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra, recruiting more members.
Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution. In Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their 26th of July Movement, and sailed to Cuba aboard the yacht Granma, with the intention of overthrowing U.S.-backed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Following the Cuban Revolution, Guevara performed a number of key roles in the new government.
1933 Revolution
Attempt to overthrow dictatorship of Gerado Machado y Morales. Group of Cubans led by students and intellectuals, angered by economic hardship and depression; sought radical reform. Machado forced to resign and flee country on August 12, 1933 after several small army revolts.
1960.9.28 Committee for the Defense of the Revolution
CDR, are a network of neighborhood committees across Cuba. The organizations, described as the "eyes and ears of the Revolution," exist to promote social welfare and report on "counter-revolutionary" activity. The CDR system was formed by Fidel Castro on September 28, 1960, following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, which overthrew Batista.
1970 Year of the 10 Million
Campaign to increase Cuba's sugar production to 10 million tons. (The three previous years had averaged 5 million tonnes) The goal was to make enough sugar to pay off Cuba's debts to the USSR and get capital to fund economic diversification. To achieve this harvest, Castro militarized labour mobilizing students, conscripts, soldiers, law breakers, emigrants waiting to leave the island, and volunteers. Bars and theatres were closed and the New Year celebrations were cancelled. The harvest was a record 8.5 million tonnes, but below target and also other sectors of the economy had suffered and the campaign exhausted Cubans and made them sceptical. Castro accepted responsibility in a speech on July 26 1970, even offering to resign. The crowd cheered him. He also reintroduced farmer's markets, gave companies more independence from bureaucratic control and introduced material incentives like pay for overtime work.
1960 Nationalization Campaign of 1960
Castro's government had seized private land, nationalized hundreds of private companies — including several local subsidiaries of U.S. corporations — and taxed American products so heavily that U.S. exports were halved in just two years, expanded trade with the Soviet Union instead.
New Man
Che Guevera hoped to educate the Cuban population in order to turn Cuban citizens into this archetype, who would make sacrifices for the public good rather than expecting financial compensation.
Ways Castro removed people associated with Batista's regime
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.
1961 National Association of Small Farms
Cooperative federation dedicated to promoting the interests of small farmers in Cuba. ANAP was formed in 1961 and its membership was limited to farmers whose land holdings were less than 67 hectares.The Cuban government supported ANAP by providing interest-free loans to its members
1962.10 Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis In October, 1962, US spy 'planes discovered that the USSR was placing nuclear missiles in Cuba. The USA blockaded Cuba to prevent USSR from sending more missiles. Eventually Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in return for a US promise that the USA would never invade Cuba (and a secret promise to remove missiles in Turkey) Castro was not consulted.
1971 Grey Years
Cuban artists and writers have been under closer surveillance and have been afraid to produce anything that could be interpreted as counter-revolutionary. Many have left the country. Others smuggled their work out to be published elsewhere.
Major Hubert Matos
Cuban military leader, political dissident, activist and writer. He opposed the dictatorship of Batista from its inception in 1952 and fought alongside Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and other members of the 26th of July Movement to overthrow it. Following the success of the Cuban Revolution that brought Castro into power, he criticized of the regime's shift in favor of Marxist principles and ties to the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). Convicted of treason and sedition by the post-revolutionary government, he spent 20 years in prison (1959-1979) before being released in 1979. He then divided his time between Miami, Florida, and Costa Rica while continuing to protest the policies of the Cuban government.
Ramon Grau San Martin
Cuban physician and the President of Cuba (1933-1934, 1944-1948). He was the last president other than an interim president, Carlos Manuel Piedra, to be born during Spanish rule. In the 1920s he was involved with the student protests against then-President Gerardo Machado, and was jailed in 1931. After the 1933 Cuban Revolution Grau initially became one of the five members of the Pentarchy of 1933 government. After intensive debate between various proposed candidates, it was agreed that Ramón Grau would be the next president. Grau was then President of what was famously called the government of One Hundred Days.
Melba Hernandez
Cuban politician and diplomat. She served as the Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam and to Cambodia. Hernandez was an active member of the Cuban revolution. She was one of the most commonly know women that fought along side with Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolutionary war against Fulgencio Bautista. She later became one of the four staff member of Fidel Castro. Specficially, she participated in the M-26-7, obtaining soldiers' uniform and stitching different ranks on them. Later given the name "Heroine of the Cuban Revolution".
Juan Almeida
Cuban politician and one of the original commanders of the insurgent forces in the Cuban Revolution. After the rebels took power in 1959, he was a prominent figure in the Communist Party of Cuba. Almeida returned to Cuba with the Castro brothers, Che Guevara and 78 other revolutionaries on the Granma expedition and was one of just 12 who survived. In 1958, he was promoted to Commander and head of the Santiago Column of the Revolutionary Army. In 1998, Fidel Castro named Almeida a "Hero of the Republic of Cuba"
Fidel Castro
Cuban revolutionary and politician who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Politically a Marxist-Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party socialist state; industry and business were nationalized, and state socialist reforms were implemented throughout society. Born to a wealthy family, had many opportunities for education and employment. After participating in rebellions against right-wing governments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia, he planned the overthrow of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista, launching a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953. After a year's imprisonment, he traveled to Mexico where he formed a revolutionary group, the 26th of July Movement, with his brother Raúl Castro and Che Guevara. Returning to Cuba, Castro took a key role in the Cuban Revolution by leading the Movement in a guerrilla war against Batista's forces from the Sierra Maestra. After Batista's overthrow in 1959, Castro assumed military and political power as Cuba's Prime Minister. The United States came to oppose Castro's government, and unsuccessfully attempted to remove him by assassination, economic blockade, and counter-revolution, including the Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961. Countering these threats, Castro formed an alliance with the Soviet Union and allowed the Soviets to place nuclear weapons in Cuba, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis—a defining incident of the Cold War—in 1962.
Camilo Cienfuegos
Cuban revolutionary born in Havana. Along with Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Juan Almeida Bosque, and Raúl Castro, he was a member of the 1956 Granma expedition, which launched Fidel Castro's armed insurgency against the government of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. He became one of Castro's top guerilla commanders, known as the "Hero of Yaguajay" after winning a key battle of the Cuban Revolution. Was appointed head of Cuba's armed forces shortly after victory of Castro's rebel army in 1959. Participated in guerrilla activities.
1958.3.14 Arms Embargo
During the Eisenhower presidency of the US and Batista regime of Cuba. on the 14th of March, 1958, an embargo was placed on the sale of arms. It did not restrict all military assistance, however. Eventually, the restrictions on the embargo would increase.
1956-59 Behavior of Rebels in the Sierra Maestra
During this period (1956-59) when Castro's forces his in the wilderness conducting guerrilla warfare, Castro's forces did not steal from the peasants and always paid for the food they were given. They respected women, provided doctors for the peasants, taught them to read and even helped with chores. Any soldier breaking this code was sentenced to death.
1961.4.17 Bay of Pigs Invasion
Failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the CIA-sponsored paramilitary group Brigade 2506 on 17 April 1961. A counter-revolutionary military (made up of Cuban exiles who traveled to the United States after Castro's take over), trained and funded by the United States government's CIA. The failed invasion helped to strengthen the position of Castro's leadership, made him a national hero, and cemented the rocky relationship between the former allies. It also strengthened the relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union. This eventually led to the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The invasion was a major failure for US foreign policy; Kennedy ordered a number of internal investigations across Latin America.
Gerardo Machado
General of the Cuban War of Independence and President of Cuba from 1925 to 1933. Machado took office as President of Cuba on 20 May 1925, and left office on 12 August 1933. He is noted for stating that at the end of his term he would ask for the abrogation of the Platt Amendment. Elected at the time of a fall in world sugar prices, he was a Cuban industrialist and member of the political elite of the Liberal Party. Machado's first term (1925-1929) coincided with a period of prosperity. Sugar production expanded, and the United States provided a close and ready market. Machado embarked on an ambitious public works programIn 1927 Machado pushed a series of constitutional amendments in order to enable him to seek re-election, which he obtained in the 1928 presidential election. This act of continuismo, coupled with growing economic depression caused by a decline in sugar prices starting in 1925, its aggravation due to the crash of 1929, and political repression, led to significant political instability. Ultimately led to much backlash
1956 Granma Expedition
In 1956, Fidel and Raul Castro returned from exile aboard the overcrowded and poorly equipped yacht Granma. They landed on the southern coast of Oriente with 80 rebels who had been recruited in Mexico. Due to the radio failure and the engines that were poor, Granma reached Cuba two days behind schedule and the army was prepared for the strike in Cuba .
1950s Early, Castro considers a Political Path
In the early 1950s Castro considered running for a position in the Cuban Congress, however in 1952 Batista takes power and makes himself a Presidential Dictator
brigadistas
Literate Cuban citizens who volunteered to teach others to read during the "Year of Education". They wore military-style uniforms and they lived with rural families. This helped to reduce Cuban illiteracy from 24% to 4% and also served to make middle class youth aware of "the other Cuba", increasing their enthusiasm for the revolution.
1930s and early 1940s Eduardo "Eddie" Chibas
Longtime Autentico Party member during late 1930s and early 1940s. Expressed his opinion regarding the corruption of the party in weekly, national radio broadcasts. Started the Orthodox Party, which Fidel Castro was a part of as a young member. Set up to run for president, but unable to prove accusations against another politician so committed suicide at the end of last radio broadcast- sending out message to Cuban people to rise out against governmental corruption.
1953.7.23 Attack on Moncada Army Barracks
Military barracks in Santiago de Cuba, named after the General Guillermón Moncada, a hero of the War of Independence. On 26 July 1953, the barracks was the site of an armed attack by a small group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro. This armed attack is widely accepted as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. The date on which the attack took place, 26 July, was adopted by Castro as the name for his revolutionary movement (Movimiento 26 Julio or M 26-7) which eventually toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959.
1955 26th of July Movement
Movimiento de 26 Julio, organized by Castro in 1955. Members of the M-26-7 group prepared for return to Cuba by forming secret underground cells to help Castro's return. Increased efforts allowed for build up to officially break away from the Orthodoxos. Low success, but was able to gain support from peasants; abusive landlords and corrupt officials were tried and punished by Castro's men.
1959.2.7 Fundamental Law of the Republic
On February 7, 1959, the Fundamental Law of the Republic was passed based on the 1940 Constitution which was duly amended in view of the changes that have taken place in the country. Among the changes was giving the Council of Ministers the legislative power and constitutional authority.
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.
1958 Pastoral Letter
Open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy. In 1958, the Catholic Church sent out such a letter about the negative sentiments regarding communist nations.
Nikita Khrushchev
Politician who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964. Khrushchev was responsible for the de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union, for backing the progress of the early Soviet space program, and for several relatively liberal reforms in areas of domestic policy. Khrushchev's party colleagues removed him from power in 1964, replacing him with Leonid Brezhnev as First Secretary and Alexei Kosygin as Premier. Emerged victorious after power struggle caused by Stalin's death in 1953.
Carlos Prio
President of Cuba from 1948 until he was deposed by a military coup led by Fulgencio Batista on March 10, 1952, three months before new elections were to be held. He was the first president of Cuba to be born in an independent Cuba and the last to gain his post through universal, contested elections. Violence among political factions and reports of theft and self-enrichment in the government ranks marred Prío's term. The Prío administration increasingly came to be perceived by the public as ineffectual in the face of violence and corruption, much as the Grau administration before it.
1953 Five Revolutionary Laws
Proclaimed in "History will absolve me": 1. Reinstatement of the 1940 Cuban Constitution 2. Reformation of land rights 3. Industrial workers get 30% of company profits 4. Sugar workers get 55% of profits 5. Confiscation of holdings of those found guilty of fraud under the previous administrative powers (Lead to the July 26th movement)
Raul Castro
Raúl Castro was a rebel commander during the 1950s. After his brother Fidel Castro took power, Raúl Castro was one of the most important figures in the party, serving as Minister of the Armed Forces for 49 years, from 1959 to 2008 making him the longest serving minister of the armed forces. Raúl became a committed socialist and joined the Socialist Youth, an affiliate of the Soviet-oriented Cuban Communist Party, Partido Socialista Popular (PSP). Like his brother, in 1953, Raúl served as a member of the 26th of July Movement group that attacked the Moncada Barracks; he spent 22 months in prison as a result of this action.
Abolition of Rents
Rents in the cities had been reduced by 50% in 1959. In 1962, they were abolished. Essentially this meant all tenants became property owners overnight.
Tourism
Since the beginning of the "Special Period" in 1991, Cuba has taken steps to encourage this industry, inviting foreigners to invest. As a result, Cuba now attracts about 2 million tourists per year and since the late 1990s earns more money from tourism than from sugar.
José Marti Pioneers
The children's branch of the PCC. This is intended to encourage young people to support Communism.
1959 Agrarian Reform Law
Sought to break up large landholdings to redistribute land to those peasants who worked on it, to cooperatives, and the state. Laws relating to land reform were implemented in a series of laws passed between 1959 and 1963 after the Cuban Revolution. Che Guevara was named head under Castro's rule as the INRA as minister of industries and oversaw land reform policies.
1961 Words to the Intellectuals
Speech made by Castro. He was responding to criticism of the censorship of the movie PM at the First Congress of Cuban Writers and Artists. In this speech, he made it clear that the arts were expected to promote revolutionary values. This illustrates a lack of intellectual freedom in Castro's Cuba.
Movimiento Estudantia
Student movement or student revolutions with the help of public demonstrations, acts of support repudiation, and demonstrations that expresses the ideology, platform, or moral of students. Often has support of teachers and/or politicians in a protest-style fight against an oppressive government. These movements are an effective and far-reaching way for students to express their ideas and nonconformities in public.
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba (Spanish: Partido Comunista de Cuba, PCC) is the political party that rules in Republic of Cuba, although others exist. It is a Communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state." Cuba had a number of communist and anarchist organizations from the early period of the Republic (founded in 1902). The original "internationalised" Communist Party of Cuba formed in the 1920s. In 1944 it renamed itself as the Popular Socialist Party for electoral reasons. In July 1961, two years after the successful overthrow of Batista and the creation of a revolutionary government, the Integrated Revolutionary Organizations (ORI) was formed from the merger of: Castro's 26th of July Movement, the Popular Socialist Party led by Blas Roca, and the Revolutionary Directory led by Faure Chomon.
1961 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. It gave the USSR an excuse to promise to protect Cuba from further invasion. They also placed missiles in Cuba, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1958 US Arms Embargo
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.
Hugo Chavez
The election of this man in Venezuela in 1999 has been very beneficial to Cuba. Venezuela provides Cuba with 90,000 barrels of oil per day, which allows Cuba supply all its domestic needs and even to export oil. In return, Cuba provides Venezuela with tens of thousands of doctors and technicians. Cuba is also training Venezuelan doctors and technicians and many Venezuelan nationals are given free medical treatment in Cuba, with Venezuela covering the transportation costs and Cuba covering all other costs
Ways Castro Consolidated the position of the 26th of July Movement within the Provisional Government.
The original provisional government was dominated by liberals on paper. Both the president and the vice president were liberals. However, Castro was head of the armed forces and was the real power in Cuba. After 6 weeks, the Prime Minister resigned. Castro stepped in. In July, the President resigned because Castro refused to hold elections. Castro simply replaced him with a supporter and continued to rule without a constitution. The alliance of revolutionary organizations that had united against Batista went through a few name changes, each more socialist than the previous one. They ended up with PCC (Cuban Communist Party) in 1965. This is the only authorized political party in Cuba - the only one that can participate in elections. This alienated some supporters of the revolution like Huber Matos. Castro also established the Young Communist League and the Jose Marti Pioneers to involve Cuba's children and youth.
Special Period
The period beginning with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The USSR had been absolutely central to the Cuban economy. Suddenly all the Soviet technicians left and hundreds of projects were abandoned. Subsidized goods, access to international loans and oil were no longer coming in from the USSR. Cubans faced new levels of rationing, and the need to save energy resulted in long blackouts and restricted public transport. There were food shortages, although no-one starved. *NOTE* To respond to this crisis: • Many state owned farms were converted to worker-managed cooperatives in an effort to increase productivity. • Cuba was opened to international business with foreign firms invited to invest in tourism, mining and energy • In 1993 it was made legal for Cubans to buy and sell US dollars in an effort to attract money from Cubans living overseas. • Farmers markets, handicraft markets, self-employment and small private businesses allowed. By 1994 Cuba's economy was recovering somewhat, with tourism replacing sugar's role in the island's economy.
Young Communist League
The youth branch of the PCC. This is intended to encourage young people to support Communism.
Import taxes
These were imposed on "luxury goods" imported into Cuba in order to keep money in the country by getting Cubans to spend less money on them, and also to raise money for industrialization. These angered the USA because its sales to Cuba decreased by 30%.
1963 Agrarian Reform Act
This act restricted the amount of land any individual or company could own. It targeted medium-sized estates, leaving small land holdings intact. Everything in excess of that amount was taken over by the government. The original owners were compensated with government bonds. The expropriated land was reorganized into cooperatives.
1968 Agrarian Reform Act
This act took over even small land holdings and incorporated them into cooperatives. The original owners were compensated with government bonds.
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.
1962 Change in Currency
This happened in 1962. Those with savings in Cuban government banks were unaffected, but those whose savings were still in private banks lost them.
PM Affair
This involved a short film made in 1961 featuring Afro-Cubans dancing and enjoying themselves. It was accused of being counter-revolutionary by showing a decadent aspect of Cuba and it was censored. This angered many Cuban artists and writers who had initially supported the revolution. The affair demonstrated that, as far as Castro was concerned, the arts were expected to promote revolutionary values. This illustrates a lack of intellectual freedom in Castro's Cuba.
Batista
This man controlled Cuba through puppet presidents from 1934-40, then as President from 1940-44. He ran for President in 1952, but seized power in a coup when it became clear he wasn't going to win. He suspended the constitution and ruled as a dictator. The USA recognized his regime even though it was characterized by numerous human rights violations, rampant corruption and links to organized crime.
Monoculture Economy
This refers to the situation of Cuba's economy, which was almost entirely dependent on sugar. This makes the island very vulnerable to fluctuations in the market and very dependent first on the USA then the USSR to buy its products. Since 1991, Cuba has had a lot of trouble finding markets.
26th July Movement
This was Castro's revolutionary movement, formed in 1953 for the raid on the Moncada Barracks and named for the date of that raid. In 1961, it merged with the PSP and a student movement to form the PURC (United Party of the Socialist Revolution of Cuba). In 1965, this was renamed the Cuban Communist Party (PCC).
PSP
This was Cuba's communist party, It was founded in 1925. It was banned from participating in elections several times. In 1956, it was banned again. Castro was not a member of this party, but this party allied with Castro and accepted his leadership in the Pact of Caracas in 1958. In 1961, it merged with the 26th of July Movement and a revolutionary student organization to become the PURC (United Party of the Socialist Revolution of Cuba) under Castro's leadership. As Castro moved to the left, Communists gained more and more power in Cuba's government. In 1965, this was renamed the Cuban Communist Party (PCC).
Platt Amendment
This was an amendment attached to the law stipulating the conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Cuba after the Spanish-American War. It was also incorporated into the Cuban constitution of 1902: • Only the USA could buy, lease or be given control of Cuban territory • US had the right to intervene in Cuba whenever it was necessary. • Cuba not allowed to make treaties with any other country that would "impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba" • Cuba also agreed to sell or lease to the United States "lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points to be agreed upon." The amendment leased Guantánamo Bay to the United States and provided for a formal treaty detailing all the foregoing provisions. It was finally repealed in 1934, but the USA continued to regard Cuba as being within its "sphere of influence"
Economic Embargo
This was imposed after Castro confiscated US banks in Cuba, the USA imposed a partial economic embargo in October 1960 and a full economic embargo in 1962 on Cuba that continues today. Castro responded by moving closer to the USSR. It is unclear how much of Cuba's present-day poverty is due to this embargo and how much to impractical economic policies. The embargo definitely makes it easy for Castro to blame economic problems on the USA.
1968 Revolutionary Offensive
This was launched in March 1968. It aimed to remove the last vestiges of capitalism from the island. All remaining private enterprises were abolished, including street vendors, service shops, farmer's markets and self-employment. It resulted in administrative chaos and loss of productivity due to high absenteeism.
Sugar Quota
This was the amount of Cuban sugar the USA was committed to buying. When Castro ordered the expropriation of US property in Cuba (in response to the USA pressuring other countries to prevent economic aid to Cuba) Eisenhower cancelled the this agreement. Castro got the USSR to buy the sugar instead.
Moncada Barracks
This was the second largest military installation in Cuba. It contained large supplies of ammunition and weapons, and it was situated in a province where that had been a lot of unrest. On July 26, 1953 Castro and his brother led a group of 140 men, mostly from the Orthodox Party to attempt to seize it. He hoped to spark a popular revolution in the process. In the end, half of the rebels were killed, and many captured and tortured to death, creating revolutionary martyrs to inspire others, and highlighting the brutality of the Batista regime. The Castro brothers were captured shortly afterwards and were sentenced to 15 years in prison. (He was released two years later in an amnesty). Castro's revolutionary movement was named for the date incident.
Revolt of the Sergeants
Turning point of 1933 Revolution in September. Group of army NCOs decided to support students and arrested their own officers. Led by mixed-race army stenographer from an impoverished background- Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, who would become the most politically influential man in Cuba
1959 National Institute of Agarian Reform
Was an agency of the Cuban Government that was formed to institute the Agrarian Reform Law of 1959. INRA also implemented the Second Agrarian Reform Law of 1963. It oversaw the development of the rural infrastructure. Che Guevara was appointed the first leader of the Institute.
1952 Batista Coup
Was the elected President of Cuba from 1940 to 1944, and U.S.-backed dictator from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown during the Cuban Revolution. Maintained this control through a string of puppet presidents until 1940, when he was himself elected President of Cuba on a populist platform. He instated the 1940 Constitution of Cuba, considered progressive for its time, and served until 1944. After finishing his term he lived in Florida, returning to Cuba to run for president in 1952. Facing certain electoral defeat, he led a military coup that preempted the election.
Fulgencio Batista
Was the elected President of Cuba from 1940 to 1944, and U.S.-backed dictator from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown during the Cuban Revolution. Maintained this control through a string of puppet presidents until 1940, when he was himself elected President of Cuba on a populist platform. He instated the 1940 Constitution of Cuba, considered progressive for its time, and served until 1944. After finishing his term he lived in Florida, returning to Cuba to run for president in 1952. Facing certain electoral defeat, he led a military coup that preempted the election. Received much aid from the US government; suspended 1949 Constitution, revoked most political liberties, aligned with wealthiest landowners.
Year of the 10 Million Campaign
Year of the 10 Million Campaign to increase Cuba's sugar production to 10 million tonnes in 1970. (The three previous years had averaged 5 million tonnes) The goal was to make enough sugar to pay off Cuba's debts to the USSR and get capital to fund economic diversification. To achieve this harvest, Castro militarized labour mobilizing students, conscripts, soldiers, law breakers, emigrants waiting to leave the island, and volunteers. Bars and theatres were closed and the New Year celebrations were cancelled. The harvest was a record 8.5 million tonnes, but below target and also other sectors of the economy had suffered and the campaign exhausted Cubans and made them sceptical. Castro accepted responsibility in a speech on July 26 1970, even offering to resign. The crowd cheered him. He also reintroduced farmer's markets, gave companies more independence from bureaucratic control and introduced material incentives like pay for overtime work.
1961.12 Literacy Crusade
Year-long effort to abolish illiteracy in Cuba after Cuban Revolution by Fidel Castro. Took place from January to December in 1961. Due to lack of education and education access, the literacy of rate of Cuba had previously been 60%-76%. The newly built schools, newly trained educators, etc. raised national literacy rate to 96%
1968 Padilla Affair
a poet (who had once been an enthusiastic supporter of the Revolution) won the national Cuban poetry prize for his work Fuera del juego (Out of the Game). It contained poems critical of the Revolution - specifically its controls of artistic expression. The book was published at first, but with an appendix criticizing it as a "counter-revolutionary" work. Padilla was placed under house arrest. In 1971, as the political climate in Cuba worsened still further after the failure of the 10 Million Tonnes Harvest, he was interrogated for a month by the security police and was forced to appear before the writers' union, make a public confession of his "crimes" and accuse other writers, including his wife, of harboring similar "counter- revolutionary" ideas. In 1980 he was allowed to leave the country after President Carter intervened on his behalf. This affair turned many artists and intellectuals in Cuba and outside it against the revolution.
Efforts to combat illiteracy
• 1961 Year of Education • Converted barracks into schools • Built thousands of new schools • Trained 271,000 teachers • Encouraged literate Cubans to go to the countryside as birgadistas. • FMC organized adult education programmes for women. • Private schools nationalized • Illiteracy dropped from 24%-4% in a year. As of 2009 it was 99.8% according to the UN (The USA's was 99.0%)
Rectification Campaign
• A campaign to return to Socialist principles of solidarity and volunteerism (Castro blamed Cuba's economic problems on the economic liberalization of the 70s. ) • Farmer's markets were banned again, self-employment was discouraged and financial incentives were abolished. • Productivity fell; absenteeism increased
Ways Castro launched reforms to show that the revolution lived up to its promises
• 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 • Increased health spending by a factor of 8. Trains 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)
Castro's efforts to improve the status of women
• FMC trained women for new jobs previously not open to them. • Textbooks revised to portray women as committed workers and soldiers. • 1970 family code mandated that both spouses should share in household duties. • FMC encouraged women's participation in health and education campaigns as well as social work. • However, women still underrepresented in the workforce and there are very few at the top of the PCC.
Evidence that Castro had always been a Marxist
• 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
Economic Problems in Cuba in the 1960s
• Lack of specialized personnel and technicians (many had left the country) • Workforce unmotivated- poor quality goods, frequent absenteeism, low agricultural productivity • Buying industrial machinery increased Cuba's debt.
Efforts to eliminate racial discrimination
• Living standards for the poor have improved, which helped a lot of them. • Access to education and jobs is theoretically color blind. • Revolutionary rhetoric vehemently condemns racism. • BUT: There are still relatively few "mixed marriages" and Afro-Cubans are underrepresented at the top of the PCC.
Relations with the Catholic Church
• Religious schools were nationalized and religious education is only permitted in churches. • Until 1998 religious people were not allowed to join the PCC. • Castro was suspicious of many of the congregations of Cuba, accusing them of representing foreign interests. • Whenever bishops criticized his policies, Castro accused them of abandoning their pastoral duties and getting involved in politics. • Many priests welcomed the revolution as a way of achieving social justice. They joined and encouraged their parishioners to join the various health and education campaigns. • The Pope visited in 1998 and criticized both the lack of freedom in Cuba and the US Embargo.
FMC
• The Federacion de Mujeres Cubanas. Founded in 1960 with the aim of helping women integrate into the revolution. • Trained women in new jobs in farming, construction and teaching. • Organized many aspects of the campaign against illiteracy. • Organized sanitary brigades to travel to rural areas to deliver vaccinations. • Served as rural social workers. • Designed new textbooks portraying women as committed workers and soldiers. • Provided adult education for women. • However, women still not 50% of workforce and few of them are represented at the top of the PCC.
Evidence that Castro only became a Marxist 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
Reasons for economic problems of the late 1970s
• The USSR cut the price it paid for Cuban sugar • High unemployment, debt and policies that limited consumption led to discontent.
