Category: Cuban Revolution

The Cuban revolution tore through Cuba from July 1953 until January 1959. This movement was powered by Fidel Castro’s revolutionary rise against the military dictatorship of the Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. The rebellion was led by three key figures: Fidel Castro, Che Guavara and Camilo Cienfuegos. Although he is the lesser known of the three, Cienfuegos’ contributions to the rebellion during the revolution left a lasting impact on modern Cuba. After joining the rebellion, Cienfuegos quickly became a powerful and respected leader. During the rebellion, Cienfuegos commanded soldiers in the largest battle of the Cuban revolution, and in the midst of the uprising, Cienfuegos was presented as various personas, and perceived in several different roles, each stemming from contrasting perceptions. Nevertheless, the contributions of this leader throughout the revolution are still entrenched in modern day Cuba and celebrated by its’ people.

Cienfuegos’ intentions in joining the rebellion were to restore his country by rebuilding the economy, introducing a new form of communist government and getting rid of the Batista dictatorship. After spending time in Mexico with Castro, it became clear to him that joining the rebellion was the only way to prevent the total collapse of Cuba and to ensure the independence of its people and its government from America. Cienfuegos’ feared that under the influence of the United States, Cuba would evolve to become like contemporary American society. This fear was initiated by Cienfuegos’ experiences when he had travelled to America in the early 1950s to seek work. During his travels, he became disillusioned with American society, their ideals and their politics (Minster, 2019). To achieve his goals of liberation, Cienfuegos joined the revolution, unknowing of the influence and impact that he would have during the revolution and modern Cuba.

Camilo Cienfuegos was born on February 6, 1932 in Havana, Cuba. He was born into an immigrant working-class family of Spanish anarchists; he firmly believed in the libertarian tenets of anarchism (Minster, 2019). As a teenager, he was involved in protests against the Cuban government and their policies. As the economic and social situation in Cuba worsened, his involvement in the struggle against president Fulgencio Batista increased. In 1955, Cienfuegos was shot in the leg by Batista’s soldiers during a protest and then attacked by thugs with steel bars wrapped in newspapers. According to Cienfuegos, that was the moment in which he decided he would fight to free Cuba from Batista’s dictatorship. “In my way of thinking, there is only one dignified road toward ending the present situation…to follow the cause of Fidel” (Franqui, 2002). His inspiration for joining the rebellion was a moment he experienced after being shot and attacked, “they carried me to the student clinic, where I experienced one of the greatest emotions of my life, when more than a hundred people gathered there in the entrance broke into cheers and applause when they carried me up, and I felt such an emotion, I felt about to cry, and I yelled out, ‘Viva Cuba!’. I was most sure then that, whatever the cost, Cuba had to be free” (Franqui, 2002). In the mid-1950s Camilo travelled to New York and, later, Mexico where he joined Fidel Castro’s ‘26 July Movement’, landing in Cuba in December 1956. By 1957 he had been awarded the title ‘Comandante’ in the Cuban rebellion. The impacts of his actions as a leader are still echoed in today’s Cuba.

When offered the opportunity to join the rebellion, Camilo eagerly joined and was one of 82 soldiers packed into the 12-passenger yacht, Granma, which departed from Mexico on November 25, 1956, and arrived a week later in Cuba. The Cuban Army discovered the rebels and killed most of them, however, a small group of survivors hid and was later able to regroup. The 19 survivor rebels spent multiple weeks in the Sierra Maestra mountains. As one of the survivors of the Granma group, Cienfuegos had a certain prestige with Fidel Castro. This relationship continued as Cienfuegos was seen to be a close friend to Castro. “Vas bien, Fidel” (“You’re doing fine, Fidel”). This famous statement was uttered by Cienfuegos during a revolutionary rally in 1959 after Fidel Castro asked him if his speech was going well (Minster, 2019). By the mid-1957, Cienfuegos had been promoted to comandante and had his own command. In 1958, the success of the rebel initiative was on the rise, and Cienfuegos was ordered to lead one of three columns to attack Santa Clara (another column was led by Ché Guevara) (Karol, K. S., 1970). One squad was ambushed and wiped out, but Guevara and Cienfuegos ultimately converged on Santa Clara in a campaign that you later be known as the Battle of Yaguajay. On December 30th 1958 his column, along with Che Guevara’s troops, successfully captured the capital of Santa Clara. Consequently, on December 3st, the USA’s proxy dictator, Fulgencio Batista, fled Cuba. This battle was a great feat and victory for the Cuban rebellion in the pursuit of liberation.

On the 19th of December 1958, Cienfuegos’s force, reached the garrison at Yaguajay (near Fomento) in December 1958 and besieged it. Cienfuegos’ column was originally made up of only approximately 60 men (out of Castro’s 230), however, as they were marching through the countryside, they were joined by peasants and farm workers. The total number of soldiers is estimated at 400 (Minster, 2019). This group directly attacked the local army’s garrison. There were approximately 250 soldiers inside under the command of Cuban-Chinese captain Abon Ly. Cienfuegos continuously attacked the garrison but was repeatedly driven back. He attempted to put together a makeshift tank out of a tractor and some iron plates, but was unsuccessful. Ly believed that support would be sent so that they could quash this onslaught, however, help never came. Eventually, the garrison ran out of food and ammunition and surrendered on December 30. The next day, the revolutionaries captured Santa Clara. The combined forces of Cienfuegos, Guevara, and local revolutionaries under William Alexander Morgan captured the city and claimed it in the name of the revolution. Several monuments have been built in remembrance of this event. For example, a museum in Cienfuegos’ honor (the Museo Nacional Camilo Cienfuegos) was built in Yaguajay. This battle is perceived as the final step in the fall of the Batista dictatorship (Pérez-Stable M, 1993). During and prior to this event, the Batista government was pushing to ruin the image and credibility of the rebellion and therefore Camilo Cienfuegos.

To the rebellion (and those supporting their cause) Camilo Cienfuegos was a hero. This was expressed through the respect and power that Cienfuegos held in the rebellion and within Cuba. He was described as ‘the real hero of the day’. He was the youngest, the most handsome. He was loyal to Fidel, but he followed Che and other Marxists (Fanqui, 1981).

In January 1959, Cienfuegos was acclaimed by millions of Cubans during the triumphal entry of the ‘barbudos’ into Havana. From the perspective of the public, he was a true leader and hero that had liberated them from the oppressive dictatorship. Cienfuegos was very popular among the people and after the revolution, was the third most powerful person in Cuba. However, the rebellion and Cienfuegos was not as popular with other parties that opposed him.

From the perspective of Batista, Cienfuegos represented a threat to his control over Cuba. His presence also troubled America because he threatened their diplomatic power and relations to Cuba through the proxy diplomat Batista. These attitudes were furthered when in 1958, the rebellion began to coordinate sporadic raids. These attacks coupled with considerable destruction of property (during raids and as signs of protest), seriously began to disrupt the Cuban economy. “Sugar mills and plantations were burned, bombings in Havana depressed the tourist trade, and rebel activity in Oriente province hampered the mining industry” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019). In response to these attacks, the United States imposed an arms embargo on Cuba in mid-March that suspended the delivery of nearly 2,000 Garand rifles to the Cuban government. Batista was relying on this income of weapons to hold off the rebels and maintain military control over the public. After the battle of Yaguajay in December of 1958, Batista was forced to flee Cuba in fear of what Cienfuegos and Che Guevara (and the columns of soldiers they had under their command) would do to him. Therefore, Batista perspective of Cienfuegos was that of an obstacle. Throughout the duration of the rebellion, this attitude developed into one of fear, including in his fleeing of Cuba.

After the revolution ended in 1959, Cienfuegos was the third most powerful man in Cuba after Fidel and Raúl Castro. In 1959, he was promoted to the leader of the Cuban armed forces. In this position, he assisted the new Castro regime as it changed the Cuban government. In the same year, during a march in Havana, the then 27-year-old Cienfuegos, – the ‘Third Man’ of the revolution, a new libertarian ‘leader’ – was acclaimed by millions of Cubans. In his last public speech prior to his disappearance, Cienfuegos stated, “Even if it brings the sky down on our heads, agrarian reform is on!” (Sierra, 2010). This represented his endorsement of the ‘new Cuba’. To announce the death of Cienfuegos death, Fidel Castro stated in his speech to the people of Cuba on November 1, 1959, “There are many Camilos among our people!”. After the revolution, Cienfuegos’ contributions were celebrated and commemorated, a tradition still occurring today.

In modern Cuba, Cienfuegos legacy continues. The anniversary of Camilo Cienfuegos death is commemorated every year on October 28th. On this day, the children of Cuba throw flowers into the sea as ‘a flower for Camilo’ (Sierra, 2010). In 2009, on the 50th anniversary of his death, Camilo’s face was added to the ‘Plaza de la Revolución’ beside that of Ché Guevara, along with his famous quote: “Vas bien, Fidel ” (“You’re doing fine, Fidel”). Camilo is also featured on Cuban currency, he is depicted on the 20 peso bills. Camilo was a key figure in the Cuban revolution and his legacy is celebrated today as it will be in 100 years time.

In conclusion, through his participation in the rebellion (specifically his leadership and role in the Battle of Yaguajay), Camilo Cienfuegos has left a major impact on Cuba. Although he is the lesser known of the significant three powerhouses of the rebellion (Fidel Castro, Che Guavara and Camilo Cienfuegos) in the eyes of non-Cuban history, his struggles and achievements against oppression are still celebrated in modern Cuba. Without Cienfuegos, modern Cuba would be different socially, politically and economically. Therefore, he achieved his goals of liberating Cuba and creating a better socioeconomic and political landscape for future generations.

In the 19th century, other Spanish colonies in the Americas fought for independence, but Cuba’s independence movements failed; this was due to the many Spanish royalists that came to Cuba, adding a strong pro-Spanish sentiment to the island. The USA was really interested in buying Cuba in the 19th century, therefore, they increased sugar and transportation investments. In 1898, the US ended the Spanish rule by invading Cuba and then made it a protectorate with the Platt Amendment in 1901, which caused many internal political concerns.

Domestic politics caused the Cuban Revolution to a great extent due to corruption in the government, creation of new parties, and changes in the presidency. The corruption in Cuba was the first issue in domestic politics to start the sentiment of a revolution owing to the resentment of the situation that created many dissidents of the government. Cuba was ruled by corruption considering that, in order to defend the Platt amendment and their investments, the US, by the 1940s, started to support authoritarian politicians, like for instance, the infamous Fulgencio Batista; the Cuban governments under Batista’s patronage, when he still was not president, were considered ‘corrupt and notorious for theft of public funds’. Many protesters were imprisoned and tortured due to the brutal repression methods used by Batista; this caused people to want to take action.

The creation of new parties, established by the revolutionaries who wanted to end corruption and be independent of the US, are a great cause of the Cuban Revolution. The first party that was formed was the Autentico Party, inspired by the intellectual Jose Marti’s ideas, but it revealed ineffectual; by 1947, the Ortodoxo Party was formed as a splinter of the Autentico Party, to which Fidel Castro would take part; another political party among industrial and manufacturing workers, especially Afro-Cubans, was the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). These parties will contribute to the beginning of the Cuban Revolution as the goal of the Ortodoxo Party – former Autentico Party- was to establish a truly independent Cuba and to disclose corruption; while the PCC members were particularly active and successful in producing union leaders and pressuring businesses and the government to accept some labor demands.

The government started to get worse as a big change happened, the one that would trigger the revolution. Just before the 1952 elections, Batista ended the ‘presidency’ of Carlos Prio Socarras by conspiring with the army and staging a coup. Due to the loath the Ortodoxo party felt towards the government, and especially Batista, the revolution started.

Even if the social and economic causes contributed too to the beginning of the revolution in view of the fact that they evoked the M-26-7, without the situations in the domestic politics, the causes would not have taken place, therefore, the revolt would not have happened. The events that happened in domestic politics played a great role in the beginning of the revolution, as the anger that the corruption in the government and Batista’s brutality caused to the people, brought them to take action. They united in parties to achieve their goals in order to end these atrocities and the US control they had over Cuba. There have been other non-political causes for the revolt, but the domestic politics cause the Cuban Revolution to a great extent as without corruption, the creation of new parties, and scandalous changes in the presidency, it probably would have not have occurred.

How did Cuba manage to end up a communist state in 2020?

Cuba was founded by the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The society developed after Spain colonized in the 16th and 17th centuries. Cuba awakened in the 19th century because of the growth of the US as an independent country and because of the collapse of a Caribbean country named Haiti. Cuba transformed from a useless, sleepy country to a country producing mass amounts of sugar. Because of the increased Spanish taxation and despotism, a war between Spain And Cuba happened in the 19th century. A harbor located in Havana exploded which ultimately lead the US to come to the war. And lead to Spanish-American War. Long story short, America won it and the U.S started occupying Cuba.

Cuba is a country that had many harsh dictators over the years, one of them being a guy named Che Guevara. Che Guevara was a major figure in the Cuban Revolution. But, what are the principal achievements of the Cuban revolution? What are its failures? Would Cuba be better off without the Cuban Revolution?

In 1924, Fulgencio Batista, US-backed 5th president of Cuba, takes control of Cuba and starts turning Cuba, mostly Havana into a luxury tourist location for tourists while not caring about his own people and leaving them suffer in poverty and killing them in police crackdowns. Political violence and corruption increased drastically and that was when Cuba became a haven for crime syndicates. This was when a lawyer named Fidel Castro got mad. Castro put together a group of 138 men and attacked an isolated barracks at Moncada because he needed weapons and recognition. However, this worked out terribly, Most of his men were killed and the ones that were not killed were captured including himself and his brother Raul. This turned out to be great because the public trial made the public opinion change in favour of himself because he argued about how bad of a democratic country they were in. He and his men were sentenced to 15 years of prison but was left in just 2 years because Batista was under international pressure. After leaving prison, Castro and Raul left to Mexico to make new plans and get new men. There, they met Che Guevara, an Argentinean doctor. Meanwhile, it was total chaos in Cuba. Increasing unemployment lead to an increased amount of anti-Batista riots. Batista responded by becoming more oppressive which lead to even more anti-Batista riots. Castro and his men bought a yacht named Granma and in November 1956, he set to Cuba along his 82 men. Unfortunately, The Cuban government knew that they would come and attacked them on sight and some were able to run safety in the mountains. In the mountains, they got new men and starting launching attacks on military targets. Also, foreign journalists were allowed to visit which made them worldwide known and was crucial for their Revolution. Meanwhile, it was the same in Cuba, people were really mad at Batista, and even some rebel groups launched attacks on him. Batista was really pissed which made him send a large army to the mountains to capture Castro in 1958. But again, they couldn’t fight against Castro’s army and lost. And even some switched sides to him. This was the perfect moment to push back, Che Guevara took one part of the army and went to Santa Clara and Castro went with reinforcements just in case. While they were going to their waypoint, they were largely welcomed by households and towns. This was a strong indication of the fall of Batista’s regime. Batista was done and fleed and in January 1959 Castro and his team entered Havana. They took the power of Cuba and got rid of all remaining of Batista. And killed all of Batista’s supporters. There were many repressive laws and people started to get scared which led many people to flee into the USA. Castro took the lands that the US took and he closed all the luxury tourist locations. And started making schools and hospitals. This made America go crazy, and they went to Cuba in 1962 with the hopes of aiding Cuban exiles. This was called the Bays of Pigs Invasion and it was a total disaster. After this incident, Castro announced the state’s status. Cuba was now the Socialist Republic. He also went to seek alliance with the Soviet Union which led to The Cuban Missile Crisis. Basically, the Soviet Union armed Cuba with missiles become US armed Italy And Turkey with missiles and the US was mad and they made a naval blockade and then the Soviet Union was mad because of that, and people all thought that it was going to be ww3 but in the end, they got into a good situation. Happy ending right? No. Castro started being more democratic and started being really oppressive. He had forced labour camps and didn’t let anyone freedom to speak or leave. They banned LGBT too. But do not worry, this is not what he only did. He oversaw land distribution, he established universal education, and increased Cuba’s literacy rate to 96%. But productivity dropped severly when he replaced pay raises with moral certificates. He took control of the newspapers because he thought that it was the toys of the oligarchy. Meanwhile, Che Guevara wanted to spread revolution worldwide but nobody cared and he was captured by the Bolivian Government in 1967 and killed. People were mourning his death and his story inspired many young activists.

In conclusion, Cuba was desperate, they needed a change, they were controlled and because of that they accepted everybody else, but unfortunately, that one guy was also terrible and they ended up in a loop. Did Castro And Guevara die as a hero or was he already a villain? Should we care about a Revolution by its ideals or its outcomes?

Che’s Afterlife: The Legacy of an Image is a book written by Australian author Michael Casey, published in April 2009. It spans 400 pages of Latin American history revolving around the famed Korda photo of Ernesto “Che” Guevara. The thesis of this text is that, while Che Guevara’s image has relatively maintained its ideological magnetism, it has been used too broadly to be the symbol of any clear ideology. In Casey’s view, Che has become the “quintessential postmodern icon [of] anything to anyone and everything to everyone.”[1] To support his thesis, the author examines the history of the photo around the world and explores the mechanisms of mainstream art. Michael Casey is an author and researcher of economics, digital technology, and geopolitics. He was a Wall Street Journal columnist and has covered events in South-East Asia, Europe, and Latin America.[2]

Che’s Afterlife takes a novelist approach through the history of the image of Che Guevara frequently used by politicians, protestors, and businesses. Taken by Cuban photographer Alberto “Korda” Gutierrez, it features a 31-year-old Che at the state funeral for victims of the La Coubre explosion. The book examines the influence of the Korda photo through time and different locations. Casey begins his journey when he spots a bumper sticker of the Korda Che beside an image of Rambo in Thailand. Despite their guerilla-like resemblance, the author was intrigued by why these “political opposites” were shown together.[3] The book then embarks on Che Guevara’s journey from medical student to world-renowned revolutionary. All the while, Casey critiques Che’s performance as a comandante, minister, and martyr. One of the book’s striking features is its objective analysis of the history of five different countries. Casey makes comparisons between how Guevara impacted the socio-political frameworks of Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela, and the United States. Casey presents Argentina as Che’s birthplace, while Bolivia was fundamental in his death.[4] He explains how Cuba set the stage for the rise of Che’s legend and how Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was central in its revival. Lastly, Casey covers how America affected Che’s fate, and how Che influenced the American culture. From a historiographical perspective, these chapters are impressive due to their structure and the author’s comparisons between each country.

The first noticeable feature of the Korda Che is its dissemination. Expectedly, Latin American revolutionaries continue to use the image as their “banner.” However, the symbol has been donned by unlikely movements as well. It was a part of Iran’s Islamic revolution to the extent that decades later, Guevara’s children were invited as honorary guests to speak at Tehran University.[5] The image has made Che a hero of the Intifada for Palestinians.[6] Che’s legacy is present in Nepal, where the Workers and Peasants Party advertises the Korda photo on billboards.[7] These instances are intriguing because they show that Che’s appeal is not limited to leftist movements. The Korda Che is not merely an anti-American symbol either; South-Sudanese Christian separatists, backed by the United States, embraced Che Guevara as an image of their struggle against the Al-Bashir regime.[8] The author explains that the modern perception of Che is not a communist one, but rather, it is one of commitment to a creed. Casey describes Guevara as “a man, a teacher, [who] lays down a code of personal conduct from which to build a just society, a utopia, and then proceeds to live and die according to it.”[9]

Casey then argues that the popularization of the Korda Che was not a natural phenomenon, but rather a calculated political move. The book provides a background of the events preceding the capture of the photo by Alberto Korda. Casey posits that the photographer was just as essential in the making of the Guerrillero Heroico as Guevara himself. Before the revolution, Korda was a leading fashion photographer. Despite his extravagant lifestyle, Korda still managed to integrate into the revolution’s mood, becoming Fidel Castro’s “favorite photographer.”[10] Korda’s photo remained hidden for many years. The photo was released as Che left Cuba indefinitely. He had become critical of the Russians for not supporting third world liberation, while Castro recognized that the regime’s survival depended on Soviet support.[11] This disagreement led to Che’s mysterious exit from political life in Cuba. Two years after Che vanished, the Korda image was released into public consciousness in Cuba. Fidel Castro exploited the image as a propaganda tool in 1967, six months before Che’s death.[12] Casey describes this action as “one of the Cuban revolution’s greatest marketing accomplishments,”[13] comparing the Korda Che with the Nike Swoosh. Che’s eventual death in Bolivia further complemented the photo’s popularity.

In the final chapters, Casey searches for the definitive meaning of Guevara’s brand. At times teasing the irony of Che’s success in market capitalism, Casey lists a myriad of consumer products sporting the Korda image, showing how Che has been transformed into a globally marketable product. His old home in Argentina has since become a Che Guevara museum.[14] Ultimately, Casey suggests that adopting Che is “a very personal act”.[15] It is the spirituality of Che’s visage that creates its appeal. The physical features of the revolutionary illustrate a sense of immortality. The author states that this sense of immortality is a source of hope for people, which encourages them to “defeat death.”[16] The connection that the book establishes between all of the uses of Che’s brand is that it is a symbol of resistance against an imagined threat.

Che’s Afterlife reads like a novel, making complex characters and events understandable. Casey does this through the use of many subjective and objective sources including published memoirs and interviews, describing historic figures holistically. The author refers to many scholarly articles and books by both historians and those involved in the Cuban revolution. He uses political sociologist, Eric Selbin’s Zapata’s White Horse and Che’s Beret to reference Che’s legacy. The author also conducted several interviews with Che-admirers, expatriates, and commoners. Most notably, his interview with Felix Rodríguez, the CIA agent who witnessed Guevara’s death, is an intriguing source of information because it is arguably the closest source of Che’s final moments.[17] Most scholarly publications are easily accessible. Many citations come from Latin American sources dating as far back as the 1960s, such as Che Guevara’s The African Dream: The Diaries of the Revolutionary War in the Congo. The author also had access to hidden archives from Sara Vega, a researcher at the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC). Despite referencing sources whose involvement in the Cuban revolution could produce biased information, there is a balance in sources from partisans on either side of the conflict. Therefore, the sources offer diverse perspectives. By using historical facts as well, Casey leaves the morals of politics and ideology up to the reader, but the author could have further solidified his credibility by depending more on academic publications for his work. While the use of documentaries, interviews, and memoirs provides a creative angle, it diminishes the credibility of the book as a historiographical work.

On minor occasions, the author overlooks certain details. In the leadup to the author’s description of the Korda Che, he expresses the idea that Guevara was not well-known in the Western world.[18] In reality, Che was consistently present in Western media and student circles. Historians like Van Gosse have argued that the Cuban revolution was a source of inspiration for some American New Leftists as Che was leading the assault on Santa Clara.[19] Che Guevara was also the main topic during his visit to New York in 1964.[20] Malcolm X is believed to have also praised Che in a positive light.[21] Similarly, Guevara conducted many interviews in Europe as Cuba’s Minister of Industry, before the photo’s release. Either through hate or adoration, the American public was aware of his presence.

Overall, Che’s Afterlife uncovered facts, clarified misconceptions, and tended to both admirers and opposers of the notorious revolutionary. The overarching theme of this narrative proved that the ideological image of Che Guevara has been preserved, but its popularization led to its adoption by broad groups meaning that Che’s legacy no longer belongs to just communism or the Cuban revolution. Casey has contributed many theoretical methodologies to prove his thesis. Despite some unnoticed details, he provides fair arguments and transparent historical analysis. His theoretical approaches focus on causation, tracing the roots of the Korda photo’s popularity to historical events, the use of artistic techniques, and Guevara’s legacy. The book was released at a lively time; Fidel Castro had recently stepped down from Cuba’s presidency in favor of his brother.[22] This was reciprocated by the change in the American presidency, increasing the prospect of diplomacy. Over four decades of sanctions had affected Cuba, prompting Raul Castro to embark on socio-economic reforms and so the European Union lifted sanctions on Cuba.[23] By 2009, Obama eased travel and remittance restrictions, an important step in normalizing relations.[24] As Casey’s first work, the book was well-received. Critics like Deborah Adams have praised the book as admirable and well-written.[25] Kirkus Reviews states that while Casey focuses on his perception of the Korda photo, he gets lost in trivial Latin American politics at times. The review describes Che’s Afterlife as a “meandering but heady exploration of a focal point of politics and popular culture.”[26] This book is most useful for the younger generation, who are exposed to Che’s image yet are unaware of his story. Through its diverse references, Che’s Afterlife signifies that history is not as clear as “good and evil,” Che Guevara is revered as much as he is hated. The young generation will have to rely on the works of authors such as Michael Casey to find the truth and make their own judgments.

During the 20th century, there were numerous political and social clashes among Cuba and its administration. The Cuban Revolution was led by the socialist head, Fidel Castro from 1953 to 1959. This occasion happened as a result to all the power Fidel Castro had increased; this power was sufficient to topple the oppressive pioneer of Cuba at the time, Fulgencio Batista. During the 1960s there were numerous contentions among Castro and Batista. Plainly the administration was entirely temperamental and that some action must be taken.

Fidel Castro was one of the leaders that were happy to manage Cuba. For a long time, Castro’s powers had ‘pursued a fruitful guerrilla crusade’, and sometimes, he had the option to discover preferable furnished hardware over Batista’s administration. This gave Fidel Castro substantially more certainty and this is the point at which he realized that he might oust Fulgencio Batista from control. Previously, he was only one of the many. Castro mentioned the oust of Batista from Cuba since he was being blamed for oppression and defilement. At that point, Batista needed to discover a route for him to return to Cuba. This is the point at which he chose to guarantee that Fidel Castro had kicked the bucket during the arrival of the yacht Granma. The yacht Granma was utilized during the Cuban Revolution, in 1956, to move a few warriors alongside their young guerilla pioneer from Mexico to Cuba. Batista figured this would be a brilliant move since nobody would disprove this in light of the massive regard they had created towards Castro. After this occasion, there was no danger or allegation so Batista had the option to return to Cuba. It is in February of 1957, that the fact of the matter is uncovered.

Herbert Matthews, a perceived editorialist, and columnist for The New York Times were offered a meeting with Castro. This meeting was directed in mystery in light of the fact that the president at the time, Fulgencio Batista couldn’t discover, or else Matthews’ activity would be imperiled. Be that as it may, this didn’t influence the result of the meeting. The meeting’s caption expressed: ‘Castro Is Still Alive and Still Fighting in Mountains’. Matthews likewise expressed that ‘[Batista’s] armed force men are battling an up to this point losing fight to demolish the most hazardous for General Batista has yet looked in quite a while; this being such a noteworthy and significant declaration made individuals question Batista’s administration. One of the most significant variables of this meeting was that it was negating the president’s announcement.

Herbert Matthews had increased a great deal of ubiquity among columnists and Fidel Castro realized that this news would have been a stun for many individuals, including his adherents, this is the reason they chose to include an image of them together and Castro’s mark to demonstrate that it was all valid. Other than this significant article, Matthews composed a lot increasingly about Batista and Cuba. None of them portrayed Batista as a legend yet rather turned the Cubans against him and this turned many individuals against him. After this meeting, Castro’s unrest earned a ton of help. The way that the Batista’s legislature had been blamed for wastefulness and debasement made it simpler for Castro since Cubans were in urgent need of another pioneer. On January of 1959, Fulgencio Batista left Cuba.

Following, Fidel Castro and his group had the option to look for control. Plainly numerous individuals needed another ruler, maybe this was the primary motivation behind why they were supporting the insurgency. In 1959, Castro turned into the leader of Cuba; this gave him much increasingly military and political power. The United States in numerous events attempted to expel Fidel Castro after he grew an association with the Soviet Union. The United States and the Soviet Union had been adversaries in wars for quite a while before Castro became president however Fidel Castro couldn’t have cared less. Cuba being adjusted to the Soviet Union’s methods being against the United States. This contention is as yet dynamic now in 2019. Cuba and the United States have attempted a few times to go to a tranquil understanding, however, due to circumstances like this that they can’t. Now, he had picked up an excess of intensity and it was difficult to do as such. He was in control until 2008 when he gave over capacity to his sibling Raúl Castro. Herbert Matthew’s paper articles incredibly affected the achievement of the Cuban Revolution during the 1950s. His meeting with Castro assumed a critical job in the manner individuals saw Fulgencio Batista. This significant news exhibited President Batista as a liar and degenerate legislator that attempted to deceive and sell out the nation so as to have everything leveled out. Despite that, numerous individuals’ help towards Fidel Castro blurred after some seasons of his administration.

In general, the best effect was seen in the light of the fact that from the outset, Fulgencio Batista had the regard and backing of his nation while checking with numerous other government official supporters until Fidel Castro began his transformation. After this, he told the world that Fidel Castro had kicked the bucket. And afterward, the reality of the situation was found after Herbert Matthews did the meeting. On the off chance that Herbert Matthews would have chosen not to continue with this meeting since he feared what Batista could have done to him by opposing his words, the upheaval would not have been fruitful and Fidel Castro likely wouldn’t have had the option to oust Batista.

Statement of problem: To what extent did Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution change the lives of Cubans?

Rationale

The investigator decided to do this topic because the researcher wanted to educate themself about Cuba and one of its most famous historical events. The investigator also thought the topic to be rather intriguing to learn about. The researcher chose to focus specifically on the Cuban Revolution because of its relevance to Caribbean History and international relations and its significance to current affairs.

Introduction

Cuba, during the stages before the revolution, was a society consumed by gambling, prostitution, and the Mafia. At the time, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar, who was seemingly the “Puppet President” for the United States, was in full control of Cuba. During his dictatorship, Cuba’s people suffered tremendously. The literacy rate, infrastructure, and medical services were atrocious. However, things changed for the Cubans after Castro’s Revolution in 1959.

For some years, education in Cuba was terrible, young children were unable to be properly educated because, they came from economically challenged backgrounds, where they lacked the resources to be educated. According to ‘Columbus to Castro’ “27 percent of the urban children and 61 percent of the rural children were not attending school,” and “slightly over 50 percent of the peasants could not read or write; 43 percent were completely illiterate, 44 percent had never attended school.”

During the Batista regime, he opted for an education-for-profit system, which obviously meant that individuals who were less fortunate were unable to afford the education that they needed, because of such circumstances. However, after Fidel Castro’s Revolution he targeted the most challenged aspects of Cuba.

In the year of 1961, the Cuban Literacy Campaign was launched. In less than a year, over 700,000 Cubans learned how to read and write. The Cuban Literacy Campaign allowed everyone the opportunity to be properly educated. The Campaign especially helped families and individuals who could not afford the luxuries of education, during the Batista regime. Teachers and students congregated, in order to better the country, even though their lives were threatened. The Cuban Literacy Campaign is known as one of the most ambitious and organized literacy campaigns in the world, with its intention to abolish illiteracy. But having an astounding educational program and having such success in it isn’t Cuba’s only accomplishment.

Prior to the 1960s health services and facilities were mainly focused in the cities, which therefore meant, it was mainly for the wealthy in Cuba and not for the poor. According to Columbus to Castro “The peasantry were isolated on account of the state of the roads.”… “One doctor for more than 2,000 persons in the rural areas…” Their diets were poor because less than half of the residents were able to afford poultry, while none of them ate vegetables.

However, Cuba, somehow always produced exceptional doctors, but the island lacked the proper resources such as medical beds, updated medical tools, gauze, and much more medical supplies necessary for use in health facilities. In the years that came, the medical services and supplies in Cuba were upgraded, and because of the newly founded medical school by Fidel Castro in the year of 1998 Escuela Latino Americana de Medicina, Cuba continued to produce even more exceptional doctors. Even when Africa was the field of battle for the Cold War powers, Castro sent some of his best doctors to aid during the battle. Cuba’s medical services and public medical institutions are now at their fines and freely available to the economically challenged because of Castro and his goal to better his country.

Cuba’s infrastructure was also a major problem that the country faced. It was stated in ‘Columbus to Castro’ that, “75 percent of rural dwellings were huts made from the palm tree.” This statement, therefore, meant that more than half of the residents’ homes were not made of sturdy materials, and the roads were poor “… peasantry were isolated on account of the state of the roads.” “…50 percent of Cuba’s rural dwellings had no toilets of any kind, 97 percent had no refrigeration facilities, 85 percent had no inside running water, and 91 percent had no electricity.” Also, there was little health facilities and educational facilities, available to the immediate public. Those were only a few of the infrastructural problems that Cuba faced in these earlier times. Eventually, a significant amount of changes were brought about.

Within the first six months after the revolution, 600 miles of road was constructed. It was also announced that “…that a sewage and water scheme would be constructed in rural areas at a cost of $300.” Along with such great amendments, Castro, with education in mind built a vast amount of schools tertiary. That alone shows that Castro wanted equal treatment for all Cubans. There was now equal accessibility due to the improvement of infrastructure that Castro spearheaded.

When the question “to what extent did Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution change the lives of Cubans “was asked the researcher decided to do some investigation into the topic to help them make a decision. Castro went out of his way after the revolution to ensure that the lives of his people would be improved.

Before Castro’s revolution, Cuba’s education and its educational system was atrocious, only a small percent of the citizens would usually benefit from such a system, while others did not. Subsequently, less than a year after the revolution, Cuba’s literacy rate raised drastically, due to Fidel Castro’s implementation of the 1961 “Campaign against Illiteracy.” A sheer number of individuals learned how to read and write properly. The difference before and after the revolution is extremely eminent. Up to this day, Cuba’s education sector has been blooming, producing amazing results.

Along with Cuba’s education system, its health care service was also in a dreadful state. With persons, who were not financially stable not being able to access the medical facilities with ease, and because of its location, medical services were rarely used by the poor. However, Castro changed all of that in due time, building facilities where everyone can be taken care of properly and free of charge. Changing that aspect of his country for the better, however not only his people would benefit, but even foreigners were also able to get proper health care and learn at the medical institute he founded.

Cuba’s infrastructure was a problem all by itself. Transportation, running water sewage, electricity and a lot of other aspects were in need of attention. But without fail Fidel Castro tried his utmost best to change and fix all that was necessary, so said so done without fail, even though there were a few hiccups during the process.

Therefore, some people would not agree with the ways or ways Fidel Castro went about his revolution, but it did help his people and improve the lives of many at that point in time. The education sector is still at its best to this present day as well as its medical services, but they are still faced with many challenges but he did help his people to a great extent.

Bibliography

1. Williams, Eric. ” From Columbus to Castro: The History of the Caribbean 1492-1969. Vintage Books, 1984. PRINT.
2. Szulc, Tad. “The Revolution (1959-1963.) Fidel A Critical Portrait. HarperCollins, 2000. PRINT.
3. Claypole, William and John Robottom “The USA and Cuba 1902-62” Caribbean Story Book 2.
4. Leonard, Thomas. “Fulfilling the Revolution: Castro’s Cuba since 1961” Castro and The Cuban Revolution.

Research Hypothesis

To a small extent. He, in fact, didn’t benefit the people of Cuba at all. He restricted them and controlled every aspect of Cuban life.

Initial Literature Review

Context

My question is to establish to what extent, if so, Castro’s benefited the people of Cuba socially.

Sections which will be explored in this Mini literature review are:

• To discover the economic and social state of Cuba before, during, and after Castro’s rule, beginning in 1959.
• To understand the in-depth methods of his political and social rule.
• To determine whether or not his dictatorship was of social benefit to the people of Cuba and why it either was or was not.

The general belief, and what many sources state, is that Castro’s dictatorship was of no benefit to his people. News24 states that in a communist state no one is free except the ruling cabal and that people do not have freedom of speech, if the speak against the regime they are tortured and jailed.

I have the same hypothesis. The Cubans were kept poor in communism and Castro rich in power.

Source 1: Name of Source

Cuban RevolutionEncyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Cuban Revolution | Summary, Facts, Causes, & Effects. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-Revolution [Accessed 26 Jan. 2019].

Summary

Before Fidel Castro came into power another government, Fulgencio Batista was in power but was overthrown on 1 January 1959, and Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader, went on to rule Cuba from 1959 to 2008. As a result of the Spanish-American war, control of Cuba was passed from Spain to the United States. It was governed by the U.S military administration for a while and much more was done for public works, sanitation, and education. When Castro landed in Cuba in 1958 it was in a state of virtual civil war. The revolution continued into 1959 and began to disrupt the Cuban economy. Batista set a date, 3 November, for an election for a new president but Castro wasn’t included, causing further unrest. Barista launched a major military effort against Castro’s forces. Open corruption and oppression under Batista’s rule led to his ousting in January 1959 by the 26th of July Movement. Cuba then established communist rule under the leadership of Fidel Castro as prime minister. He remains prime minister from 1959 to 1976 and then rules as president from 1976 to 2008.

Value

This source is useful in looking at the state of Cuba before Castro’s rule and who ruled before him. It also uncovers information about Castro’s multiple attempts to overthrow the Batista government.

Reliability

This source is reliable. It was written by the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica on the Cuban revolution.

Validity

Yes, the findings are valid in answering one of the aims of this research question, to discover the economic and social state of Cuba before Castro’s rule, beginning in 1959.

Limitations

Bias is not a limitation in this source as it is objective, only states facts and no clear side is chosen throughout the source. Although this may be a limitation in itself as both sides aren’t shown but rather a series of facts is presented. This could limit one’s understanding of the reasoning behind the Barista as well as Castro’s actions.

Relevance to the topic

This source links to and explains the aim to discover the social state of Cuba before Castro’s rule and therefore contributes to discovering whether or not his rule benefited the people of Cuba. It does this by explaining how Cuba was ruled and who it was ruled by before 1959. It also states how Fidel Castro starts a revolution to overthrow the government and gain power.

Source 2: Name of Source

What steps did Castro take to ensure he remain in power? Markedbyteachers.com. (2019). What steps did Castro take to ensure he remain in power? – GCSE History – Marked by Teachers.com. [online] Available at: http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/history/what-steps-did-castro-take-to-ensure-he-remain-in-power.html#relevantwidget [Accessed 27 Jan. 2019].

Summary

One of Fidel Castro’s methods of ruling was to eliminate all enemies and rivals. He lined up the Barista were rounded up with for instance speculators and corrupt officials. Some of his people were given positions in the Army and Castro created a secret police force. These actions might have prevented future organized rising against him giving benefits to or intimidate those who might have joined it and the eliminating of those who had organized it.

Another method which Castro used to stay in power was to control the media through various types of censorship and through intimidation, psychological control, and informers. Castro also early removed civil liberties,as the freedoms of debate and expression. Both inside and outside of Cuba little was known of the executions and other violence shown towards opposition. This lack of information may also ensure he remains in power. No one was aware of how strong or weak the state really was and an attack from opposition could be risky.

Value

This source is valuable as it explains how Castro controlled Cuban life as well as how he maintained power.

Reliability

This source is reliable as it is written by GCSE, a website which writes on topics included in the school curriculum. It helps students with coursework and essays in various different subjects.

Validity

Yes, the source is valid. It contributes toward answering one of the aims of the question, understanding the in-depth methods of his social and political rule.

Limitations

This source is bias toward the Cuban people and gives an explanation of how they were brainwashed in order for Castro to remain in power.

Relevance to the topic

This source clearly explains two methods which Castro used to rule the people and maintain power. Here we see that he used ridding of opponents as well as censorship of the media, thus showing how he was forced to silence all opposition to maintain his position in power. This links to and explains whether Castro socially benefit the people of Cuba and why he did or didn’t.

Source 3: Name of Source

No, Fidel Castro did not deliver a better Cuba: The Globe and Mail. (2019). No, Fidel Castro did not deliver a better Cuba. [online] Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/no-fidel-castro-did-not-deliver-a-better-cuba/article33071380/ [Accessed 27 Jan. 2019].

Summary

Before Castro came to power in 1959, Cubans suffered from a corrupt dictator and the U.S. mafia was involved in the island’s casinos. However, Cuba was not an economic straggler and it already ‘topped the charts on multiple social indicators.

Post-1959 after a revolution where Fidel Castro promised prosperity, democracy, and the restoration of Cuba’s 1940 constitution yet Cuba is now poor. In 2008, when. Castro officially handed over power to his brother, Raul Castro, Cuba’s per-person GDP was just $3,764. Thus, on that measurement, Cuba was in the bottom third of all Latin American countries.

Before Fidel Castro’s repressive revolution and state came along, Cubans were already educated, showed decent health-care outcomes, and were entrepreneurial.

What of Cuba’s future? Much will depend on when Raul Castro and the rest of the creaking, communist regime finally totter over, and if a more open economy, society, and government arises.

Value

This source is valuable in showing a brief comparison between 1959 Cuba and 2008 Cuba.

Reliability

It is reliable. It is recent and was updated on 10 April 2017. It is from the Globe and Mail which is a Canadian newspaper publishing reliable facts and objective information.

Validity

It is valid in showing that Castro didn’t benefit the economic state of Cuba nor the people of Cuba.

Limitations

The source is objective, was updated recently, and was published by the Globe and Mail newspaper. Although a limitation could be that it is a Canadian newspaper and could be biased towards one side.

Relevance to the topic

It is relevant as it assists in answering one of the aims of this research question, to determine whether or not Castro’s dictatorship was of social benefit to the people of Cuba and why it either was or wasn’t. This source shows that it wasn’t and how Cuba’s economic state was in fact worsened.

Source 4: Name of Source

Busting the myth that Fidel Castro was good for Cuba(News24 article)

Summary

Castro died being one of the richest men in the world with his own bank, yachts, and his very own island. Castro lived like a king and si did his family. Cubans earn a salary of $20 a month and cannot afford to buy food, when it’s available, to feed their families.

Cubans are not free, nobody is free but the ruling cabal! They do not have freedom of speech, if they speak against the regime they are tortured, jailed, and murdered. Cuba is a totalitarian country and everything related to Castro’s family is “state secret”.

In Cuba, as in all communist countries, the state is only the employer. Foreign countries that operate in Cuba have to do it under the Castro regime and cannot hire their own workers. The communist party is the one who determines who is authorized to work and what salary is to be paid.

Sadly the only way for the masses in South Africa to see communism for what it is is to go through it themselves.

Value

This source is valuable in explaining how communist countries operate and why in communist countries, especially Cuba, it is difficult to live well or to maintain a high standard of living. It also shows the difficulties of Cuban life.

Reliability

It is reliable as it is from News24 and was uploaded in 2016, which is quite recent.

Validity

It is valid in explaining and contributing to my main question of whether Castro benefits the people of Cuba or not.

Limitations

A definite limitation of this source is bias towards the Cuban people and Cuban life.

Relevance to the topic

The source explains how Cuban life is an unhappy, controlled, and poor one. This leads to the conclusion that Castro’s dictatorship didn’t benefit the people of Cuba.

Conclusion

This literature review explored the economic and social state of Cuba before 1959, when Castro came into power, as well as how he came into power. It also explored a few of the methods he used to rule and how these methods were contained no benefits for the people of Cuba. Fidel Castro controlled every aspect of Cuban life, all opposition was silenced and the poor became poorer and the rich became richer.

Reference List

Cuban Revolution

1. Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Cuban Revolution | Summary, Facts, Causes, & Effects. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-Revolution [Accessed 26 Jan. 2019].
2. Markedbyteachers.com. (2019). What steps did Castro take to ensure he remain in power? – GCSE History – Marked by Teachers.com. [online] Available at: http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/history/what-steps-did-castro-take-to-ensure-he-remain-in-power.html#relevantwidget [Accessed 27 Jan. 2019].
3. The Globe and Mail. (2019). No, Fidel Castro did not deliver a better Cuba. [online] Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/no-fidel-castro-did-not-deliver-a-better-cuba/article33071380/ [Accessed 27 Jan. 2019].