Pahang 1

Cuban Revolution
Before
I. Origins
A. Spanish Colonialism from 1500’s – 1898. [Social]
i. Cuban soil was very fertile and exceptional at growing sugar, tobacco, and fruit.
ii. Spain’s control over Cuban land from 1511 onwards ensured that the main profits of farming surface in Cuba itself.
iii. Angry over the lack of profit and essential theft by Spain, Cuban natives began revolting, the first being in 1819.
iv.Six more revolts occurred between 1819 and 1855, and in an effort to stifle further uprisings Spanish rulers place strict rules
over the Cuban people.
a. These rules prevented Cubans from setting up businesses, holding public positions, or traveling without permission.
b. Similar to U.S, race dominance was enforced, making it illegal for a native Cuban or mestizo to take legal action against
a Spaniard or marry a Spaniard. Current marriages were thusly annulled.
B. Ten Years’ War 1868-1878 [Political/Military]
i. After ten years of harsh fighting, conflict ends in treaty where Spain promised greater autonomy to the Cuban people.
ii. Promises, though leading to some change were not as complete as expected, and tensions between the Spanish government
and Cubans continued to rise, leading to the rise of a Little War in 1879.
a. The main change was the abolition of slavery. (Cuba was the second to last region in the West to do so)
C. The Socioeconomic structure from 1878 to the 1890’s [Social/Economic]
i. Slavery was abolished in 1886, thus former slaves joined the working class of Cuba.
ii. Only the biggest businesses remained intact for sugar and tobacco, many former landowners became middle class once they
loss their cheap labor in slaves.
iii. 1895 – U.S investment reached 50 million – Cuba is political controlled by Spain but economically controlled by U.S.
iv. When Jose Marti announces his campaign for a war of independence, he reiterates the necessity for black and white to fight
alongside each other.
a. The seemingly separate entities, the native Cubans and the mestizo/Spanish-descendants were all needed to have the man
power to fight Spain.
 Development of Cuban nationalism rather than colored nationalism.
D. Spanish-American War [Politcal/Social]
i. The U.S had desired control with Cuba since 1783.
ii. The Monroe Doctrine was used to justify any action that U.S took to “protect” Cuba.
iii. U.S wanted to intervene, due to political desires of controlling the region and humanitarian desires of the people to save the
Cuban natives from the atrocities of General Weyler.
iv. January 1898 - The U.S.S Maine was sent down to Havana to protect Americans living in the area. Once there, an explosion
sinks the boat killing 268 crew members.
v. With blame placed on Spain, the U.S declares and routes the Spaniards in Cuba and in the Philippines.
vi.10 December 1898 – The U.S and Spain sign the treaty of Paris, recognizing an independent Cuba.
a. No Cuban delegate partook in the signing, signifying that although Cuba was the main point in the struggle, it still had
no control over its own fate.
E. The U.S and The Platt Amendment [Political]
i. U.S set up a military government in Cuba after 1898 until Cubans began writing their own constitution.
ii. U.S forced Cuban writers to include that Platt Amendment in the Constitution, or the U.S Military would stay.
a. Platt Amendment gave Guantanamo Bay, and overall gave essential control of Cuba to the U.S.
F. Economic Reliance on Export Goods [Economic]
i. Main exports of Cuba: Sugar, Tobacco, Minerals, all of which are non-staple foods or materials and must be sold
internationally.
ii. U.S occupation, tariff control, and proximity all lead to U.S chokehold on Cuban materials and sap it of its economy.
a. Most of the capital in Cuba was from the U.S.
iii. 1902 – U.S owned 90% of ore deposits in Cuba.
iv.U.S profit and interest in sugar increase at the price of reducing Cuban development.
v. 1925 – The U.S controls almost all of Cuba’s farming industries (tobacco, sugar, cattle) as well as railroads and mining.
G. Trend of military coups and uprisings [Social]
i. Rebellions against U.S forces break out in 1906, 1909, and 1912
ii. Gerardo Machado’s dictator phase prepares Cubans for having a dictator in power, and coup by Bautista make uprisings
once again, not so unusual.
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H. Gerardo Machado [Political]

i. Former General of the Cuban War for Independence
ii. Elected 5th President of Cuba in 1925, sought to make Cuba the “Switzerland” of the Americas.
iii. Held power past his constitutional term, incited rebellion groups to start fighting to bring him out of power.
iv.12 August 1933 removed from power, which Fulgencio Bautista played an important part of.
I. Bautista and The Revolt of Sergeants [Political]
i. After removing Machado from power completely, a Pentarchy was formed, which Bautista was essentially in complete
control of.
ii. Many commissioned officers were then forcefully retired or killed, in order to prevent further uprisings against Bautista
himself.
iii.Bautista controlled several puppet Presidents until he himself is elected in 1940.
J. Labor Unions [Economic]
i. The power that unions had to restrict machinery use and prevent dismissals made it impossible for new graduates to get jobs.
ii. Wages and rights of the working class were high, but at the cost of modernization and self-sustained economic
advancement.
II. Causes
A. Corruption of government after 1944[Political]
i. Bautista, after having implemented a progressive constitution, loses the 1944 election to Roman Grau.
ii. With World War II ending, economic boom for Cuba ensued, with rising prices of sugar.
iii. Rise in capital brought with it rise in corruption, with Havana become a hotspot for organized crime.
B. Formation of the Latin Las Vegas [Social]
i. Most of economic boom capital came from the U.S, influence from the states was at an all-time high.
ii. Havana became famous for its large gambling scene, and was full of American business men who controlled Cuban
resources with their companies.
iii.Outlandish lifestyles and obvious misuse of Cuba as a playground by the visiting Americans while much of Cuba was still
poor and working created disdain toward the U.S.
iv. Under Bautista this corruption grew even further, with Bautista himself announcing that the Cuban government would
match any hotel investment over $1 million dollars and include a casino license.
a. Bautista set it up so that he and his lackeys would profit from the gambling scene.
C. 10 March 1952 – Bautista seized power in Cuba once again. [Political]
i. Three months before the election was about to begin with Bautista running against the leaderless Orthodox party, Bautista
overthrew the government once again.
ii. With the past two administrations being corrupted, allowing U.S overrunning of Havana because they were too busy playing
favorites and enriching themselves, the public accepted Bautista’s initial coup.
iii. Eisenhower recognizes Bautista’s government on 27 March 1952.
a. Once again, the U.S had their supported leader in power, who would make room for U.S interests.
iv.Bautista postpones elections for 1952 in order to try and rule unconstitutionally, but with this action people scrutinized and
opposed him once again.
v. Elections were held in 1953 and Bautista was “constitutionally” elected.
vi.Opposing parties, furious, launched anti-Bautista campaigns through free press.
a. Bautista suspended free press and speech to suppress opposition.
vii. Bautista suspended the Constitution of 1940 and implemented a new one that supposedly kept the spirit of progressiveness.
D. Apparent Cuban Prosperity and the American Model [Social/Ideological]
i. Under Bautista, the standard of living in Cuba became one of the highest in Latin America.
a. This was due to the rise in the sugar industry, most of which went to the U.S.
b. Sugar was only worked on for four months of the year, leaving eight months of unemployment.
ii. Most of the wealth was with a high upper class, as gambling and prostitution control by corrupt businessmen continued to
rise.
iii.The middle class, which grew tremendously, was not too poor, however, with lifestyle influence from the U.S in forms of
news and vacations, grew discontent with their lack of equal political power.
a. The majority of Cubans did remain poor.
iv.Cubans who visited/lived in the U.S returned with ideals of what modernization and life should look like.
E. Santiago de Cuba, 26 July 1953 - Failed attack on the Moncada Barracks [Military]
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i. 160 militants, including Fidel and Raul Castro, storm the barracks, but were defeated due to miscommunication, lack of
supplies, lost units.
ii. Around half of the group is killed, most after being captured and tortured. Fidel and Raul and captured and put on trial.
F. “History will absolve me” Speech by Fidel Castro. Castro released from prison in 1954. [Social/Politcal]
i. 16 October 1953 “Condemn me; it does not matter. History will absolve me.” – Conclusion to his four-hour speech at his
trial.
a. Highlighted desire to reinstate the 1940 Constitution, agrarian reform, 30% for industrial workers, 55% for sugar
plantation workers, and the removal of items controlled by Bautista’s corrupt officials.
b. Castro is released in 1955 and exiled. Fidel and Raul go to Mexico with other survivors in order to form a new force and
train with Alberto Bayo, a leader from the Spanish Civil War.
c. Castro met with Che Guevara for the first time.

During
I. Nature of conflict, developments
A. Guerilla Warfare
i. Che Guevara was an advocate of Guerilla Warfare.
ii. As Castro’s force was betrayed and ambushed during their second attempt to overthrow Bautista, they were able to hide in the
Sierra Maestra mountains.
iii. Although Bautista had an army of 40,000 with U.S weaponry and Castro had only a couple thousand, guerilla warfare
allowed Castro’s forces to prevail.
B. U.S support of Bautista
i. With Bautista, becoming greedy in his second coup, in control of Cuba, the U.S supported his regime, knowing in return than
their interests in Cuba would be protected.
ii. However, when U.S pulled support of Bautista, Castro saw his opportunity to revolt against the no-longer backed regime.
iii. The U.S had an immense amount of investment in Cuba, so any large changes in government impacted its interests and
would certainly get its attention.
C. The Russian Revolution/Rise of Communism
i. With the Russian Revolution being successful in 1917, Communism became the prime example of revolutionary government.
ii. Democratic governments fear Communism, so any communist influence on a country so close to the U.S would lead to
conflict after the revolution.
II. Main participants
A. Fulgencio Bautista y Zalvidar (16 January 1901 – 6 August 1973)
i. Only a sergeant in the military from 1932-1933.
ii. Played a major role in the “Sergeant’s Revolt” in 1933, and controlled the government through puppet presidents until 1940,
when he himself was elected.
a. Applied the Constitution of 1940, which was very progressive and modern.
iii. His chosen successor lost in the 1944 election, and thusly he waited until another time to reign once again.
a. Won a seat in the senate in 1948.
iv.Bautista was the first mestizo leader of Cuba.
a. His origin led to exclusion from the rich upper class circles of Cuba.
v. Took power once again in 1952 and chose to be on good terms with the U.S. This time around, Bautista wanted money and
power for himself.
vi. 1953 - Defeated Castro’s first coup attempt with Bautista’s forces killing most of the militants and imprisoning the rest,
including Fidel Castro and brother Raul.
vii. 1955 – Through arrogance and desire to display his power, Bautista released Castro rather than have him serve a full 15
years in prison.
B. The Orthodox Party (Cuban People’s Party)
i. 1947 - Party founded by Chibas to renew Cuban dignity after corrupt officials began ruining the state starting in 1944.
a. Goals were to establish a Cuban national identity, economic independence, (especially from the U.S), and overall social
reforms.
ii. 1952 – Roberto Agramonet, cousin of the founder, speculated to win the 1952 election before the coup d’état by Bautista.
iii. Fidel Castro was an active member of the part and planned to run as member for a seat in parliament in 1952.
iv.Eduardo Chibas (1907 – 16 August 1951)
a. Ran for the presidential election in 1948, but came up in third place.
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b. Consistently used radio broadcast to spread his ideals and denounce the corrupt governments of the late 1940’s and early
1950’s.
c. 5 August 1951 – Planned to present evidence of embezzlement committed by another government official, but his sources
failed to go through with the leak. Instead, he talked about the possibility of Bautista planning a coup d’état.
 Chibas believed the only way to repent of his failure was to commit suicide on air.
1. Chibas forgot that his runtime was only twenty-five minutes, so his self-inflicted gunshot occurred during a
commercial break, ruining his plan for a grand finale.
d. Failed to survive the attack even though initial signs looked good, died after eleven days of hospital care.
e. Considered a great role model for Fidel Castro, although he was anti-communist. Castro wrote an essay praising Chibas
decades later (2007).
C. Fidel Castro (13 August 1926 –)
i. While studying law at the University of Havana, Castro joined revolutionary movements in the Dominican Republic and in
Columbia. Graduated in 1950 with a Doctorate of Law.
ii. Highly nationalistic, angered by Batista’s selfish usurpation of the government.
iii. Formed the 26th of July Movement before return to Cuba in 195, in homage to the original failed attack.
iv.July 1959 – Contacts Soviet Union to help form a Communist government.
D. Ernesto Che Guevara (14 June 1928 – 9 October 1967)
i. Argentinian, studied medicine in 1948, but took time off to journey around Latin American on a motorcycle.
a. Che was horrified by the terrible working conditions and unfair treatment of the lower classes.
b. Desired to leave medicine and join politics to save people, as at time during his journey he could not save children for he
had no money for medicine or supplies.
c. Witnessed the overthrow of the Arbenz government in Guatemala by the U.S, from then on focused on the idea that the U.S
was an imperial country bent on preventing any social or economic betterment for the lower classes in Latin America.
d. September 1954 - Working in a hospital in Mexico City where he was introduced to Raul Castro and then Fidel, enamored
by the cause he joined the 26th of July Movement.
e. Helped found the Rebel Radio in 1958, which allowed for communication between rebel forces and spread of The
Movement’s ideals.
f. Played a critical role as a guerilla warfare commander, especially in the Battle of Las Mercedes.
E. Frank Pais (1935-1958)
i. Student leader from the University of Santiago met with Castro and placed in charge of small M-26-7 groups.
ii. Instructed to commit anti-Bautista strikes and attacks on police headquarters, eventually he and his brother were killed by the
police in 1958.
F. Camilo Cienfuegos (1932-1959)
i. Leader of Castro’s other military guerilla force, the first one being led by Che Guevara.
III. Major Events
A. 25 November 1956 – Castro and followers return to Cuba aboard the Granma.
i. Only 20 of the 82 men are successful in reaching hiding places in the Sierra Maestra Mountains, due to a betrayal by their
guide. Twelve of these men eventually regroup and become the commanding core of the struggle.
B. 13 March 1957 Student Revolutionary Directorate failed attempt to assassinate President Bautista.
C. U.S pulls support of Bautista, placing an arms embargo on the official Cuban government.
i. Though it outnumbered Castro’s forced 400 to 1, Bautista’s army proved unwieldy and consistently retreated in the face of
heavy causalities inflicted the guerilla fighters’ hit and run tactics.
ii. End of weapon supply further spelled troubled for Bautista’s army.
D. 1958 Operation Verano
i. 12,000 men are sent into the mountains in a direct offensive attack.
ii. Battle of La Plata (11 July – 21 July 1958)
a. Castro’s forces only lose three men, Bautista’s lose 500. (240 are captured.)
iii. Battle of Las Mercedes 29 July – 8 August 1958
a. Cuban Government General Cantillo predicts an ambush by Castro, and trapped his forces in the procces.
b. Castro’s forces were almost defeated, was it not for Guevara’s decision to wait before arriving.
c. Castro called for a negotiation of peace, but in the six days of unfruitful talks Castro’s army slipped away back into the
mountains.
d. Though technically a Baustista victory, the failure to end the conflict demoralized the Cuban Army even further.
E. 1 January 1959 – Bautista flees the capital of Havana for the Dominican Republic and is replaced by a military junta
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i. Castro’s forces had just begun an offensive of their own and captured the city of Santa Clara.
ii. Out of fear, Bautista flees, leaving with millions of dollars. Castro’s forces walk into Havana unmolested.
iii. 8 January 1959 – Castro places order for 50,000 rifles and machine guns to defend his Revolution in Havana.
F. Castro proceeded to prosecute former Bautista-regime officers.
G. 16 February 1959 - Fidel Castro takes power as prime minister.
After: Results/Effects
I. Immediate results
A. Land and wealth reforms.
i. 17 May 1959 - First Agrarian Reform limits land size per owner and prevents foreign ownership.
a. The U.S lost their land in Cuba without compensation. (U.S declines negotiations for compensations)
 Loss estimated at about $850 million.
B. Social Reforms
i. Ends of 1960 – Homosexuals are placed in concentration camps to be re-educated.
C. July 1959 – The USSR sent advisors to help Fidel Castro set up a Defense committee.
D. Intervention by the U.S
i. CIA began monitoring Cuban phone calls and activity in 1959, send saboteurs by the end of that year.
ii. April 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion
a. 15 March 1960 – U.S trains Cuban exiles for a beachhead invasion of Cuba to remove Castro.
b. Through radio interceptions and KGB intelligence, Cuban government learns of impending invasion.
c. When planned is launched, 1300 Cuban exiles land, but do not find help from the Cuban townspeople.
d. Kennedy decides not to use U.S Air Force to back the exiled force up, the invasion is stifled in less than 3 days.
 90 men killed, rest taken prisoners, overall a major embarrassment for the U.S.
II. Long-term effects
A. Cuban fear of the U.S.
i. After the invasion of the Bay of Pigs, Castro spreads word that the U.S will try again to take over Cuba. Anti-U.S sentiment
spreads in Cuban people.
B. Opening relations with USSR upsets the U.S.
i. February 1960 Castro agreed to buy oil from the USSR and severed ties with U.S oil companies, highlighting the transition
from U.S to USSR influence on the government.
ii. 1961New Year’s Day Castro parades Soviet Tanks.
iii. U.S feared a Soviet base so close to the homeland.
C. Complete severing of ties with U.S and the rise of Communism.
i. 2 December 1961 – Castro finally declared that Cuba was to become a Communist state in the Marxist-Leninist image.
ii. U.S placed embargos in 1962 and 1963 on Cuban trade and tourism.
D. Cuban Missile Crisis
i. 1962 – Soviets begin to build launch areas for nuclear missiles on Cuba with Castro’s approval.
a. Nuclear warheads could strike anywhere on the continental U.S.
b. Reaction to U.S deploying Jupiter missiles in Europe that could reach Moscow.
c. 28 October 1962 – Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev agree that the USSR dismantle offensive weapons in Cuba and
return them to Russia, while the U.S will never invade Cuba.