Castro Origins and Rise 1933 1959 How did

Castro

Origins and Rise: 1933 -1959 *How did the historical context of Cuba before 1953 contribute to Castro’s rise to power? – Cuban Revolt 1895 – Revolution for independence from Spain – Jose Marti and “Cuba Libre” – Free Cuba – Castro’s version of “Cuba libre” is “Cenenario” – He wants Cuba to be free of US influence; justice, equality – He cast himself as an ideological descendent of Jose Marti – Spanish American War 1898 – Platt Amendment: Cuba is a US protectorate – We control foreign policy, no debt with other nations, Guantanamo – Renounced in the Good Neighbor Policy

Cont. Fulgencio Batista 1934 -1951 – US Support – USA’s puppet leader in Cuba – Not communist – Friendly to US interest in trade and tourism – Progressive Authoritarian and corrupt – Reformer in the 1930 s; wanted to modernize and advance – Over time, became authoritarian and corrupt – Suspending elections and sham elections

Cont Socioeconomic conditions in Cuba 1950 s – Economy: sugar and tourism – Both tied to United States – Single crop economy: 80% of export earnings tied to sugar – Wealthy Americans went to Cuban casinos during prohibition – Racial, Geographic Disparities – Divide between white Cubans and Afro Cubans – Urban vs. Rural disparity – Wealthy planter elite on sugar plantations (haciendas) – Majority were workers or small farmers – Dominance of Foreign Investors – 75% of farm land was foreign owned – 40% of sugar – 90% of essential services (financial, transportation, communication)

*What were the key stages in Castro’s struggle against Batista’s dictatorship in the period 195359? – Moncada (Cuban military barracks) in the city of Santiago 1953 – Castro and supporters attacked the barracks – They weren’t able to take them or start a revolution – Castro was arrested: 26 July: name of the movement – Trial for treason – Che Guevara 1955 – Released by Batista to appease the ppl and prevent a revolution from happening – He left for Mexico to recruit and train an invasion army to invade Cuba – Became Castro’s buddy

Cont – Castro’s return to Cuba 1956 – Granma: a small yacht made for 25 ppl – Brought 80 person invasion force – Immediately attacked – 26 of July Movement – Principles: independent Cuba, social justice, democracy – Manifesto: “History will Absolve me” speech – Fidelistas: those who join the guerilla force

Cont – Herbert Matthews – New York Times – Romanticized, sympathetic view of Castro – Operation Verano 1958 – Batista’s forces attacking Sierra Maestras to kill Castro and end resistance – 12, 000 vs 300 – Castro had good defensive positions – Batista’s forces turned back – Victory for Castro was demoralizing for Batista – Fidelista’s Attack 1958 – Castro on the offensive – Battles of Yaguajay and Santa Clara – Split Cuba as it made its way up north – Major city of Santa Clara – decisive battle – Castro’s triumphant entry into Havanna

*Why was Castro successful in his bid to overthrow Batista?

Ideology & Nature of the State *What role did ideology play in Castro’s rise to power before 1959? – Reformer or Revolutionary – Wanted to reform the system, not overthrow it – Went to anti-US protests in 1948 in Bogata – Turning point: 1952 election: ran for national legislature, but Batista cancelled the election – Showed the corruption that was there; led him to be a revolutionary – Free Cuba – Jose Marti: “Cuba libre” – Castro’s version of “Cuba libre” is “Cenenario” – He wants Cuba to be free of US influence; justice, equality – He cast himself as an ideological descendent of Jose Marti

cont – “History will Absolve Me” – 1953 – Last line of statement to the court when on trial for Moncada attacks – Later published as “History Will Absolve Me” – Promises of agrarian reform, rent reductions, industrial development and modernization, expansion of education and healthcare, and taking control of public utilities

*Did Castro become a Communist after 1959? – Bay of Pigs Invasion – US CIA sponsored an invasion of 1, 400 Cucan exiles, hoping to spark a national uprising – Complete disaster – Led Castro to announce that he was a “Marxist-Leninist” – Strengthened him bc he was seen as anti-US – Had communist policies ie agrarian reform, nationalization of industry, labor reform – Transition to Communist State – 1963: Fidelistas & Cuban communists = one organization – 1965: communist party of Cuba – 1976: Cuba becomes official communist party – New constitution replaced 1940 one – Created a system of assemblies at municipal, provincial, national level: communist members

Establishment & Consolidation of Castro’s rule *How did Castro establish his power from 1959 -75? – Castro was the head of the army and was the Prime Minister within 6 weeks – The Fundamental Law of the Republic – The executive branch (Castro) would have legislative power

*What measure were taken after 1975 to further consolidate Castro’s power? – Bureaucratic reorganization (1970 s) – Separated military, gov’t bureaucracy and communist party – But Castro is the head of all three – Transition to a Communist State – 1963: fidelistas and Cuban Communists = one organization – 1965: Communist party of Cuba – 1976: Cuba becomes an official communist party – New constitution replaces 1940 constitution – Created a system of assemblies at municipal, provincial, and national level – Almost all members were communist

Domestic Policies & Impact *What were the main features of Casto’s economic policies? – Agrarian Reform Law 1959 – Written by Che Guavara – The moral incentive: convince people that this is the right answer to problems – Latifundias were outlawed by the 1940 Batista constitution – But this wasn’t enforced because they were owned by Americans and supported valuable businesses – Set a max estate law at 995 acres – going against latifundias – Abolished sharecropping – Restricted foreign ownership – All uncultivated land goes to state

cont – National institute of Agrarian Reform established to oversee reforms – Latifundios granjas del pueblo – Farms of the people – Publically/state owned – Foreign compensation – Paid in 20 year Cuban govt bonds – 2 nd Law of Agrarian Reform – Nationalized medium sized farms – Results: farm production decreased

Cont – Labor Reform – Bring organized labor into decisions about production goals and labor laws – Wants their support – Production goals and regulations – Guaranteed living wage and drawback – Huge for agrarian works – not a year round job – But as working class got more money, ate more food – leads to food shortages

cont – “Year of Decisive Endeavors” 1970 s – In 1963, set goal of 1970 as ^ – Had been harvesting about 5. 5 – 6 million tons – Goal: increase sugar production in order to decrease dependence on sugar – Take money to build industry and infrastructure in Cuba for a more diversified economy – Promote national unity – Imported more sugar crops and recruited young urban Marxists to work – Didn’t hit goal: got 8. 5 million tons – Castro admitted failure and offered to step down – Used this as an excuse to make govt more centralized

Cont. – Nationalization – Foreign owned property – After the Bay of Pigs invasion, the govt took all American owned stuff – eg: entertainment, essential services, casinos – Will not compensate US embargo – Business (1968) – Nationalized all businesses, foreign or Cuban owned – Hired by gov, set salary – Holding of Roman Catholic Church – All property – Cuban bishop and other clergy exiled – Still have churches though

*What were the main social policies in Casto’s Cuba? – Standard of Living Rise – Raised the standard of living at the cost of a growing authoritarian state and dictatorship – “Year of Education” 1961 – During a speech to the UN, Castro set 1961 as the “year of education” – End of illiteracy in Cuba – Increased the number of teachers and schools – Offered universal, free education – Had the money for this bc of nationalization – Results – Millions taught to read/end of illiteracy – Indoctrination – Number of women in school and work tripled

Cont – Improvements in Healthcare – Govt provides free, universal healthcare – Lots of new doctors, hospitals, etc – Infant mortality rate decreased and life expectancy increased

*What were Casto’s policies towards women, ethnic and other minorities, and religion? – Racism – Lower priority for Castro, therefore slower progress – By the 1970’s, wages were equal for all groups, and so was healthcare ad employment – There were increases in mixed marriages

Cont: Women in the Revolution – Most women supported revolution and the promise of social justice – Vilma Espin and FMC – Founded the Cuban Women’s Federation (1960) – Supported revolution – Went after illiteracy rates in women, male attitudes – Universal education and healthcare to contribute to greater economic equality – Family Code 1975 – Guaranteed women equal opportunity in education and employment – Legitimized divorce in Cuba – Mandated equality in marriage – Cuba led Latin America in gender equality

*What impact has the Cuban Revolution had on education, young people and the arts? – Counter Culture Social Discontent: Nueva Trova Movement – “new ballad” – Music – Leaders: Rodriguez and Santamaria – Inspired by the 1930’s American counterculture folk artists such as Bob Dylan – Not openly critical of Castro – Supported revolution and its ideals but protesting the missteps of the govt and the growing authoritarian state – “Year of Education 1961”

Video http: //www. history. com/topics/cold-war/fidel-castro/videos/castro-and-thecuban-revolution