Cuban RevolutionCuban Revolution

Background to Background to RevolutionRevolution

with American support with American support Fulgencio Batista became an Fulgencio Batista became an influential player in Cuban influential player in Cuban politics, indirectly from 1934-politics, indirectly from 1934-1940, and then as president 1940, and then as president from1940-1944 from1940-1944

he later returned as dictator in he later returned as dictator in 1952 and would remain in 1952 and would remain in power until his overthrow by power until his overthrow by Fidel Castro in 1959Fidel Castro in 1959

Cuba shared similar economic Cuba shared similar economic characteristics with other Latin characteristics with other Latin American countries, American countries, particularly its dependence on particularly its dependence on the export of a single cropthe export of a single crop

sugar, produced for export, sugar, produced for export, fundamentally shaped the fundamentally shaped the Cuban economy in the Cuban economy in the nineteenth and twentieth nineteenth and twentieth centuriescenturies

related to the related to the development of development of the sugar industry the sugar industry was the growth of was the growth of the latifundio and the latifundio and the the “impoverishment “impoverishment of the rural of the rural masses” - the masses” - the farmers or colonos farmers or colonos

large-scale U.S. large-scale U.S. investment in the investment in the sugar industry - sugar industry - one-fifth of all one-fifth of all American American investment in Latin investment in Latin America in 1913America in 1913

following WWI the sugar following WWI the sugar industry prospered and industry prospered and became increasingly became increasingly American-owned; American-owned; however, with the however, with the agricultural depression of agricultural depression of the 1920’s sugar prices the 1920’s sugar prices plummeted and the plummeted and the industry declinedindustry declined

prices, with the exception prices, with the exception of some short boom of some short boom periods, remained lowperiods, remained low

the predominance of the predominance of sugar in the Cuban sugar in the Cuban economy had deleterious economy had deleterious effects on Cuban effects on Cuban agriculture and industry agriculture and industry

agriculture was not agriculture was not diversified; land was diversified; land was concentrated in a few concentrated in a few hands - twenty-two hands - twenty-two companies held one-companies held one-fifth of the island’s fifth of the island’s farmlandfarmland

likewise, there was likewise, there was little in the way of little in the way of Cuban industry. This Cuban industry. This was a result of the was a result of the particular trade particular trade agreements between agreements between Cuba and the U.S. Cuba and the U.S. American consumer American consumer and agricultural goods and agricultural goods had ready access to had ready access to the Cuban marketthe Cuban market

the emphasis on sugar the emphasis on sugar production also production also contributed to high contributed to high levels of seasonal levels of seasonal unemploymentunemployment

lastly, more than any lastly, more than any other Latin American other Latin American country Cuba was country Cuba was dominated by U.S. dominated by U.S. economic and political economic and political interests rooted in the interests rooted in the provisions of the Platt provisions of the Platt AmendmentAmendment

these economic and these economic and political factors would political factors would contribute to the Castro-contribute to the Castro-led revolution of 1959led revolution of 1959

Fidel CastroFidel Castro

Fidel Castro continued a Fidel Castro continued a Cuban revolutionary Cuban revolutionary tradition - its most tradition - its most famous representative famous representative Jose MartiJose Marti

Castro, however, Castro, however, wished to avoid the wished to avoid the shortcomings shortcomings associated with earlier associated with earlier “revolutions” “revolutions”

educated by the Jesuits, educated by the Jesuits, Castro was involved in Castro was involved in student politics while student politics while attending universityattending university

in 1953 he was associated in 1953 he was associated with the failed attack on with the failed attack on the Moncada army the Moncada army barracks in hopes of barracks in hopes of toppling the Batista toppling the Batista regimeregime

their program supported their program supported the reforms contained in the reforms contained in the constitution of 1940 - the constitution of 1940 - land reform, educational land reform, educational reform and an end to reform and an end to government waste and government waste and corruptioncorruption

Castro was taken captive after Castro was taken captive after the attack, but the subsequent the attack, but the subsequent trial helped to turn him into a trial helped to turn him into a national hero - famous speech national hero - famous speech “History Will Absolve Me”“History Will Absolve Me”

during his imprisonment he during his imprisonment he continued to plan for the continued to plan for the overthrow of Batistaoverthrow of Batista

following imprisonment Castro following imprisonment Castro went to Mexico where he gained went to Mexico where he gained further support and had his first further support and had his first meeting with Ernesto (Che) meeting with Ernesto (Che) Guevara Guevara

determined to return to Cuba, determined to return to Cuba, Castro together with his Castro together with his brother Raul, Che Guevara brother Raul, Che Guevara and a group of eighty used a and a group of eighty used a yacht - the Granma - to land yacht - the Granma - to land on the coast on the coast

betrayed, Castro and a small betrayed, Castro and a small band of followers escaped band of followers escaped into the Sierra Maestra into the Sierra Maestra mountains mountains

their guerrila group their guerrila group successfully defended itself successfully defended itself against attacks by against attacks by government forcesgovernment forces

a February 1957 interview a February 1957 interview with the New York Times with the New York Times helped to publicize Castro and helped to publicize Castro and his “26th of July Movement”his “26th of July Movement”

peasants in the region of peasants in the region of Oriente began to provide the Oriente began to provide the Castro guerrillas with Castro guerrillas with intelligence and suppliesintelligence and supplies

unrest was growing in other unrest was growing in other parts of Cuba; in Havana parts of Cuba; in Havana violence broke out; an violence broke out; an uprising by naval officers was uprising by naval officers was crushed by Batista crushed by Batista

unhappy with Batista’s unhappy with Batista’s action the U.S. cut off arms action the U.S. cut off arms suppliessupplies

some elements in the some elements in the church supported Castro; church supported Castro; the middle class the middle class abandoned Batistaabandoned Batista

Batista’s last military Batista’s last military campaign against the campaign against the Castro forces failed; his Castro forces failed; his efforts to hold elections efforts to hold elections (rigged) were halted when (rigged) were halted when the rebels moved on the rebels moved on HavanaHavana

Batista fled Havana, Batista fled Havana, January 1959, for Miami January 1959, for Miami

a week later Castro a week later Castro entered Havana in entered Havana in triumphtriumph

Castro victory due to Castro victory due to the disciplined nature the disciplined nature of their campaign, their of their campaign, their idealistic ideology, and idealistic ideology, and the support of the support of peasants, workers and peasants, workers and middle classmiddle class

Batista was corrupt and Batista was corrupt and his army incompetent his army incompetent

Castro quickly Castro quickly moved to moved to consolidate power consolidate power

former supporters of former supporters of the Batista regime the Batista regime were imprisoned or were imprisoned or executedexecuted

Fundamental Law of Fundamental Law of February 1959 February 1959 permitted the permitted the executive to have executive to have legislative powers - legislative powers - Castro held Castro held executive postsexecutive posts

Cuba 1959-1995Cuba 1959-1995

increasingly leftist, Castro increasingly leftist, Castro sought to address key sought to address key economic and social economic and social questions - land reform, questions - land reform, agricultural diversification agricultural diversification and an end to economic and an end to economic dependence on the U.S.dependence on the U.S.

these policies lost him these policies lost him support among the middle support among the middle classclass

while eradicating moderate while eradicating moderate elements in the revolution elements in the revolution Castro met with the Soviet Castro met with the Soviet Union’s deputy premier Union’s deputy premier Mikoyan and signed a deal Mikoyan and signed a deal for sugar purchases by the for sugar purchases by the SovietsSoviets

U.S./Cuban relations U.S./Cuban relations quickly deteriorated - quickly deteriorated - American oil companies American oil companies refused to process Soviet refused to process Soviet oil, so Castro expropriated oil, so Castro expropriated the refineriesthe refineries

Eisenhower retaliated and Eisenhower retaliated and introduced trade embargo; introduced trade embargo; Castro responded with Castro responded with further expropriationsfurther expropriations

CIA began to fund Cuban CIA began to fund Cuban exilesexiles

in April, 1961 the new in April, 1961 the new Kennedy Kennedy administration administration supported an invasion supported an invasion at the Bay of Pigs; a at the Bay of Pigs; a total failure, it helped total failure, it helped to further radicalize to further radicalize the Castro regimethe Castro regime

the Soviet Union now the Soviet Union now began to increase its began to increase its arms supplies to Cuba arms supplies to Cuba and pledged to defend and pledged to defend Cuba’s sovereigntyCuba’s sovereignty

by October 1962 the by October 1962 the Soviets had built a Soviets had built a number of missile number of missile sites in Cubasites in Cuba

in response Kennedy in response Kennedy placed a quarantine placed a quarantine around Cuba to stop around Cuba to stop further supplies further supplies reaching Cuba from reaching Cuba from the Soviet Unionthe Soviet Union

Khrushchev Khrushchev “blinked”; deal done“blinked”; deal done

U.S., however, U.S., however, continued its continued its attempts to attempts to destabilize Cuban destabilize Cuban regimeregime

assassination assassination attempts against attempts against Castro failed!Castro failed!

Cuba enjoyed certain Cuba enjoyed certain advantages - infrastructure, advantages - infrastructure, transportation system, transportation system, proletarianized agricultural proletarianized agricultural work force and support of work force and support of socialist countries; but also socialist countries; but also faced challenges - faced challenges - American embargo, loss of American embargo, loss of expertise - in building a expertise - in building a socialist statesocialist state

early success in early success in redistributing income redistributing income among urban and rural among urban and rural workers workers

unemployment was endedunemployment was ended

Cuba - Building Cuba - Building SocialismSocialism

in May 1959 the first in May 1959 the first Law of Agrarian Law of Agrarian Reform led to the Reform led to the expropriation of large expropriation of large landholdings - land landholdings - land was distributed was distributed among peasants and among peasants and state farms (granjas state farms (granjas del pueblo) were del pueblo) were formedformed

the regime also took the regime also took over American-owned over American-owned refineries, factories, refineries, factories, utilities and sugar utilities and sugar millsmills

banks were banks were nationalized and later nationalized and later native businessesnative businesses

problems and failed problems and failed projects characterized the projects characterized the early economic planning of early economic planning of the Castro government - the Castro government - lack of resources and lack of resources and expertise undercut expertise undercut progress with progress with industrializationindustrialization

Castro now focused on Castro now focused on sugar production - 10 sugar production - 10 million tons to be million tons to be harvested by 1970; but the harvested by 1970; but the sugar industry also had its sugar industry also had its difficulties. Failures in difficulties. Failures in management and technical management and technical expertiseexpertise

between 1962 and 1969, between 1962 and 1969, agricultural production fell agricultural production fell 7 percent7 percent

in response the in response the government decreed the government decreed the second Agrarian Law - second Agrarian Law - 19631963

thousands of medium-size thousands of medium-size farms were expropriated- farms were expropriated- state farms now state farms now dominated the agricultural dominated the agricultural sectorsector

failure to reach the 1970 failure to reach the 1970 quota was the most quota was the most serious setback suffered serious setback suffered by the regimeby the regime

in ‘63 and ‘64 Castro visited in ‘63 and ‘64 Castro visited Moscow and signed important Moscow and signed important trade dealstrade deals

in the mid-1960’s Castro in the mid-1960’s Castro increasingly centralized the increasingly centralized the economy and set as his goal economy and set as his goal the creation of a communist the creation of a communist society society

Castro also supported Castro also supported revolutionary struggles in revolutionary struggles in other Latin American other Latin American countries - policy ended with countries - policy ended with the death of Che Guevara in the death of Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967Bolivia in 1967

Castro and GovernmentCastro and Government

in the early 70’s Castro in the early 70’s Castro institutionalized the institutionalized the revolution: authority was revolution: authority was delegated to a Council of delegated to a Council of Ministers; major organs Ministers; major organs of government - of government - bureaucracy, executive, bureaucracy, executive, military and judiciary - military and judiciary - were separatedwere separated

greater participation by greater participation by workers through trade workers through trade unions was encouragedunions was encouraged

incentives were provided incentives were provided for workers and for workers and managers and this led to managers and this led to increased productivity increased productivity

in 1975 the Communist in 1975 the Communist party congress party congress adopted Cuba’s first adopted Cuba’s first socialist constitutionsocialist constitution

the constitution the constitution attempted to build a attempted to build a system which would system which would allow participation allow participation through local municipal through local municipal assemblies, provincial assemblies, provincial assemblies and assemblies and National AssemblyNational Assembly

Castro held positions of Castro held positions of First Secretary of the First Secretary of the Communist Party and Communist Party and Head of StateHead of State

major reforms to major reforms to the constitution in the constitution in 1992 allowed for 1992 allowed for direct, secret direct, secret elections to the elections to the National National AssemblyAssembly

candidates no candidates no longer needed longer needed approval by the approval by the Communist partyCommunist party

protection was protection was also accorded to also accorded to all religious faithsall religious faiths

the Cuban economy the Cuban economy continued to be inefficient, continued to be inefficient, with low productivitywith low productivity

in September 1980, following in September 1980, following a demand by Cubans taking a demand by Cubans taking refuge in the Peruvian refuge in the Peruvian embassy, Castro gave embassy, Castro gave permission for all those who permission for all those who wished to leave to do sowished to leave to do so

125,000 Cubans left, most 125,000 Cubans left, most from the port of Marielfrom the port of Mariel

U.S. economic pressure was U.S. economic pressure was increased against Cuba in increased against Cuba in 1992 with the passage of 1992 with the passage of the Torricelli Act. the Torricelli Act.

trade embargo was trade embargo was extended against extended against subsidiaries of U.S. subsidiaries of U.S. companies and third party companies and third party ships doing business with ships doing business with CubaCuba

the general embargo the general embargo against Cuba has been against Cuba has been condemned by the U.N. and condemned by the U.N. and the European Union, but all the European Union, but all American administrations American administrations have maintained ithave maintained it

the collapse of the the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 Soviet Union in 1990 dealt a major blow to dealt a major blow to the Cuban economythe Cuban economy

a fall in oil imports a fall in oil imports from the S.U., together from the S.U., together with poor weather with poor weather contributed to a sharp contributed to a sharp decline in the sugar decline in the sugar harvestharvest

balance of trade was balance of trade was adversely affected; adversely affected; foreign exchange foreign exchange earnings lower; greater earnings lower; greater difficulty in meeting difficulty in meeting health and education health and education needsneeds

mixed economic mixed economic performance of Cuba performance of Cuba since revolutionsince revolution

achievements, achievements, however, in the areas however, in the areas of health care, of health care, education, child care, education, child care, mortality rates, mortality rates, employment and employment and more equitable more equitable distribution of incomedistribution of income

Cuba superior to all Cuba superior to all other Latin American other Latin American countries in these countries in these social and economic social and economic spheres spheres

Cuba has a history of Cuba has a history of involvement with involvement with independence independence movements in developing movements in developing countries - Algeria, countries - Algeria, Zaire,Ethiopia and AngolaZaire,Ethiopia and Angola

Cuban soldiers played a Cuban soldiers played a crucial role in helping crucial role in helping defeat South African-defeat South African-backed rebels in Angolabacked rebels in Angola

Cuba provides Cuba provides international aid to poor international aid to poor countries through the countries through the service of doctors, service of doctors, engineers, teachers and engineers, teachers and other specialistsother specialists

the Cuban economy since the 1990’s has the Cuban economy since the 1990’s has turned to tourism as a source of foreign turned to tourism as a source of foreign exchangeexchange

the development of a biotechnology the development of a biotechnology industry also aids Cuba’s earningsindustry also aids Cuba’s earnings

in the agriculture sector large state farms in the agriculture sector large state farms have been replaced by autonomous have been replaced by autonomous cooperativescooperatives

in the industrial sector new reforms in the industrial sector new reforms authorize self-employment in certain authorize self-employment in certain occupations occupations

today Cuba continues along today Cuba continues along its socialist pathits socialist path

calls for an end to the calls for an end to the embargo are increasingly embargo are increasingly heard in the U.S.heard in the U.S.

an ailing Castro has handed an ailing Castro has handed over power to his brother over power to his brother RaulRaul

after Castro? after Castro?