Overview on Fidel Castro

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Timeline of Fidel Castro

Cuba Before Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro's Ideology

Fidel Castro was not alone - Characters overview

The Cuban Revolution - From Castro's first political appearance to his Provisional government

Castro's rule - consolidation of power (1959-62)

Castro's reforms (1959-62)

The Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961

Cuban Missile Crisis

Economic policies

Status of women under Castro

Education

Religious Groups and Minorities

Propaganda

Castro's treatment of opposition






All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Cuba before Fidel Castro

Political unrest (1934-1952)

Cuba as many other countries who have experienced dictatorship was a county in a chaotic position when the dictatorship was established. In the years 1934 to 1956 the political aspects of Cuba is highly corrupted. Furthermore, in the years between 1934 and 1940 General Fulgencio Bastista controlled the nation by the appointment of puppet presidents. However, in 1940 Batista becomes president himself and rules until 1944 but corruption continues. 
     The unrest though continues. In the years 1944-1952 a quick return to democracy is seen, but the government is still greatly corrupted. All of this happens while the population is faced with inflation and unemployment. On the 10th of march 1952 Batista overthrew President Carlos Prío Socarrás and returns to dictatorship. 

Batista's rule between 1952 and 1959

The corruption continues in all these years and at a shocking level. Sadly as the economic problems worsened, social and political unrest evolved, which lead Batista to maintain control by using repression.  
     The biggest economic problem was the price decline on the sugar market. Cuba depended on its sugar because it was with the money from the sugar they were able to buy goods and oil. This situation is known as 'Deterioration of the terms of trade'. The obligations Cuba had with the US made it impossible to develops its industry to substitute its imports. The unemployment rose to 17%  during the late 50's which was combined with a 13% level of underemployment and low wages for those who were employed. 
     All classes within society were unsatisfied with Batista's rule. The rural workers were poorly housed and under educated, urban workers were affected by the economic problems, students were demanding freedom and democracy and lastly the higher social classes were loosing power and they were as well affected by the unstable economy. The means for opposition was there, but the people were yet to find a leading figure.
    However, the greatest challenge for the government would not be the people but the alternative party Fidel Castro, which gave the people a totally new movement to support.


All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro's Ideology

Actually it was not clear in 1959 that Cuba would be lead with a communistic ideology. It seemed the Provisional government, with the liberals as a part of it, wanted to change tyranny for democracy. Castro had not said anything himself in 1959 it was not before 1961 he declared that he was a Marxist-Leninist. 

Furthermore, the public saw now connection between the 26th of July Movement and communism. Castro simple kept quite and refused to answer questions as what global ideology he would say matched his own.

All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro was not alone - Characters overview

Many helped Castro to a successful 26th of July Movement. Some of these are worth knowing;

Raúl Castro: Castro's little brother who followed Castro from the beginning, as his right hand, to Castro's end in 2008, where Raúl was appointed president. However, Raúl has several leading position from 1956 to 2008; Minister of defense, Vice-president of council of state and head of the communist party.

Vilma Espín: Raúl's wife. Supporting the Granma expedition and later became a member of several government organizations until her death in 2007. Furthermore, she founded the FMC (Cuban women's federation).

Camilo Cienfuegos: Responsible for many victories in the Sierra Maestra mountains. He later became head of armed forces but unfortunately died in an flight accident in 1959.

Ernestro´Che´Guevara: A part of the Granma expedition and was later a leading figure in the Sierra Maestra mountains and became an icon of the revolution. He acted as head of Bank of Cuba and Minister of industry. He traveled to Congo to spread the revolution but was killed in Bolivia.

Haydée Santamaría: A member of the 26th of July Movement and sister to Able Santamaría. She was one of the few women paticipating in the Moncada assault and later helped distribute Castro's speech "History will absolve me". She was fundamental in the Cuban culture after the revolution, because she founded Casa de las Américas (1959) a key litterary institution of Cuba. It was visited by intellectuals from all over the world. She committed suicide on 26th of July 1980.

Celia Sánchez: An early member of the 26th of July Movement, provider of lang support at the Granma expedition and a close friend of Castro's. A part of the founding of the Mariana Grajales female army in Sierra. She as well occupied several governemt positions until her death in 1980



All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

The Cuban Revolution - From Castro's first political appearance to his Provisional government

Fidel Castro was himself a part of the Orthodox Party under Batista's rule. Several factor made Castro popular; he was a fine athlete, had an extraordinary memory and he was an outstanding orator. Castro planned to run for seats in the congress (1952) but before the election was held Batista had succeeded his coup against Prío Socarrás. Castro did not hide his dislike towards Batista's rule, already in 1953 he tried to depose him for the first time. 

Castro's role in the Cuban Revolution

The Moncada assault

Castro continued to show his opposition towards Batista. In 1953 Castro, his brother and a member of the orthodox party, Abel Santamaría led 140 men dressed in military uniforms into an attack on a military garrison  known as Moncada Barracks. Castro hoped to seize the large amount of ammunition to spark a general insurrection against Batista and he believe because it was one of the places in Cuba with a great social unrest he would gain support. 

      Unfortunately for Castro the military successes in defending the building and half of the rebels were killed and many were captured and tortured to death, one being Abel Santamariá. Castro and his brother Raúl managed to escape but were soon captured and imprisoned by Batista's forces. 

     Batista wanted to show the public how determined he was to crush all opposition, which is why he made a great show out of the rebels trails.  Since Castro was an educated layer her defended himself at the trail. Castro held the speech History will absolve me,  which was not only his defense but later on became a programme for the political and social reform of Cuba. Castro was the only political leader opposing Batista's dictatorship. Furthermore, Batista was worsening his image through repression. torture and persecution. The Moncada assault marked the foundation of Castro's political movement 26th of July. 

     In 1954 Batista attempted to legitimize his rule by running for president. He of course won, with Castro in jail, PSP ( Popular Socialist party) banned and no other active opposition and he claimed his had been rightfully chosen. In 1955 Batista in an attempt to come off as democratic, allowed political parties to regroup and released many political prisoners, among those were Castro who went to exile in Mexico where he prepared the revolution.

The whole Mancada Assault provided Castro with the opportunity to be known by fellow citizens and launches the 26th of July movement known as the foundation of Castro's political movement.

The Granma Expedition (1956)

With 80 rebels Castro returned from exile aboard the overcrowded and poorly equipped yacht, Granma.  The Granma Expedition was unfortunately also a faliur. The urban arm of the 26th July Movement lead by Frank País had prepared a strike in Santiago de Cuba, however the radio aboard failed and therefore the coordination failed too. Castro failed to contact the land support, were spotted by government forces, landed in a swamp, forced to leave behind supplies and ammunition and were eventually ambushed at Alegría de Pío where only 12 survived and had to hide in the Sierra Maestra, regroup and emerge as the Rebel Army.
     It became harder and harder for Batista to be president. Several groups in the cities continued throughout 1957 and 1958 to rebel and tried to seize the presidential palace and murder Batista. He shot himself in the foot in his attempt to maintain order, he was so violent that it embittered the people against him.

Even though the Granma Expedition was a huge failure it marked the beginning of the armed struggle at a national level

The campaign in the Sierra Maestra Mountains (1956-59)

People all over Cuba felt attracted to the 26th of July Movement because; first, peasants could be in a army who would not suppress its own people, nor did the army steal, they paid for the food the peasants gave them, they respected the women, provided doctors, taught them how to read and write, and lastly if any soldier broke this code they were executed. The Rebel Army gave the people more than they had ever received from the Cuban government. Furthermore, the Rebel Army fought for an Agrarian Reform, promising the peasants a fairer distribution of the land.
      The rebels spread their words with the use of radios. The Rebelde Radio stated to broadcast from the territory of Free Cuba in the Sierra in 1958. Castro used the radio as a source were he could announce how the government censored the fights against Batista. The radio encourage people to rebel and they did; plant homemade bombs to blow up government installations, railways and public buildings. Furthermore they assasinated those they believe to be a counter revolutionary.
     In 1958 Castro had made contact with different political parties and under the Pact of Caracas (consisting of; main political parties including PSP) the majority of opposition recognized Castro as their leader, in the overthrow of Batista. The pact of course harmed Batista a lot since it openly exposed his political isolation. However, Batista did not want help, he even refused military and diplomatic help from the US, who were trying to prevent Castro coming to power. Sadly for Batista, he had to accept his defeat and eventually fled Cuba the 1 of January 1959. The government army refused to fight and ceasefire were quickly established. Castro and his men entered Havana and established a provisional government.

The Campaign in the Sierra Maestra was a huge success which ended in the Rebel Army victorious entering Havana City in January 1959




All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro's rule - consolidation of power (1959-62)

Castro wanted to; redistribute land, improve working conditions, raising living standards, health and education accessible.

Consoldation of power:

First of all he removed all associated with Batista's regime (Citizen who had served in government and armed forced were imprisoned/executed. Those finding this unjustifiable were told the people were endangering the revolution and immediate justice was more necessary than fair trail). Then he consolidated the position of the 26th of July Movement within the provisional government ( the government was lead by Manuel Urrutia as President and José Miró Cardona as his prime minister. Castro self was commander of Cuban armed forces). Third he launched reforms to prove the revolution was living up to its promises and of course to gain support (He made almost daily speeches appealing to the hope of a new Cuba with social justice, economic security and political freedom) . Finally He appealed to the peoples nationalism by exploding the idea of Cuba being threatened by the USA.

     Castro became prime minister in 1959 and had Manuel Urrutia replaced with Oscaldo Dorticós who was president until the 1976 constitution was passed. With Castro as prime minister he was able to pick up the pase of the revolution and started implementing reforms and by the end of 1961 he had transformed the country into a communistic state. 

     Several political parties occurred; in 1961 many revolutionary groups were gathered under the Integrated Revolutionary Organization (OIR) who were formed by the 26th of July Movement, the PSP and Directotio Revolucionario (a revolutionary student organization).  The OIR became PURSC (United party of the socialist revolution of cuba) under the leadership of Castro. This party was renamed in 1965 to PCC (Cuban communist party). PCC remained and is the only official authorized party in Cuba. The party made a propaganda newspaper called Granma, developed a Young Communist League and a Children's organization. 

    It was not all who equally like Castro's turn to left during the revolution. Huber Matos (a leader of the 26th of July Movement) "resigns" as military Chief of Camagüey, because of his dislike towards the communist development. Castro cannot convince Matos not to resign so he has him arrested accused of treason and conspiracy against the revolution and was sentenced 20 years of imprisonment.  

Find more on Castro's treatment of opposition here

All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro's reforms (1959-62)

In Castro's speeches he offered every branch of society what they needed; Work for the unemployed, land for the rural workers, improved working conditions for the urban workers. Women would work equal with men. However, the most significant Castro did in this period was his Agrarian Reform Act:

Anyone having more than the established limit had that extra part expropriated and received bonds as accommodation. Expropriated land was to be organized in cooperatives.  The Agrarian Reform Act nationalized Cuba and ended foreign ownership of large estate, while allowing medium/small private farms. (these were the targets of the second (1963) & third (1968) Agrarian reform laws)
    It was criticized in the Cuban press and raised alarm in the US and Washington began to consider cutting the sugar quota in retaliation.

Some of the other reforms helped the lower classes because it increased the wages and the reduction of rents, however it antagonized the upper and middle classes.
  Import taxes were imposed on luxury goods, making it more expensive hoping to reduce the import. And the money raised by the taxes the government wanted to invest in industrialization and diversification of economy.  Furthermore, living conditions, education and health reforms were initiated.
    The reforms allowed Castro and the PSP to gain support among the people and to consolidate their positions in the government. A small group though opposed, however they were controlled by the government and did therefore not lead major crisis. Between the years 1959 and 1962 250,000 people left Cuba.


All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro - The Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

Whilst Cuba was making ties with the USSR, the USA was planning an invasion of the Cuban Island. The US would use exiled Cubans, and train them as a paramilitary force. They were trained in Guatamala and Nicaragua, and they would hopefully create a popular uprising against Castro in Cuba. The Cuban Revolutionary Council was ready to take place in the government after the alleged downfall of Castro. Former Cuban Prime Minister Miró Cardona led the group.

The Invasion failed. When the troops landed in Bay of Pigs, Castro and his own forces were there and they won over the exiles. Over 1000 were imprisoned. It was hoped that the events would spark uprisings all around the island, but this was not the case.

Because of Castro's victory, he became more powerful than ever, after the Bay of Pigs invasion. It was a confirmation for the Cubans that Castro was making Cuba a stronger country, and it reaffirmed the revolution's credibility. The invasion's failure also created a clear enemy to the Cubans. The USA.  Lastly the incident led to even stronger ties with the USSR, and larger military presence.

(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - The Cuban Missile Crisis

If you have been studying Fidel Castro for some time, you know by now the relationship between the United States of America and Cuba was not awesome. The Cuban Missile Crisis followed from the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October 1962. What triggered this episode was Washington and Moscow confronted each other with the Soviet placement of nuclear missiles on Cuba. With 13 days of negotiations the Soviets agreed to remove and dismantle the sites. However, USA had to sacrifice something as well, which became their own nuclear missiles which was located in Turkey. Furthermore, they promised not to invade Cuba. This was a disappointment to the great Castro who now face a future without the protecting of the Soviet. 



All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th Century World, Authoritarian and single-Party States', 2010

Fidel Castro - Economic Policies

Fidel Castro wanted to industrialise Cuba and to make it economically independent. This was not easily possible, as the Cuban economy was to be remained linked to other nations' policies and decisions. A few different international economic decisions shaped Castro's economic policies.

Moral incentives and voluntarism

Che Guevara was a revolutionary who was the President of the National Bank of Cuba and, later became, Minister of Industries. Guevara believed that the best ideology to follow was the one of communism instead of capitalism. He wanted a centrally planned economy where the key value would be self-sacrifice, as he believed the people should work and fight for the values of the revolution rather than any personal interests. All workers would receive equal wages, and overtime work would not be paid, as it was seen as the voluntary personal contribution to the revolution. Cuba changed their currency in 1962, which meant that anyone who had savings in banks that were not owned by the state, would lose them overnight, and in cities rents were abolished. In 1963, a second agrarian law was informed, which reduced the amount of and that could be owned personally. After 1963, the state owned 70 % of all land on the island.

After the exodus of counter-revolutionaries, Cuba was missing specialised personnel and technicians, which meant that assessing and finding solutions to problems was limited. Farmers in collective farms were forced to sell their produce to the state at very low prices, which lowered the incentive for the farmers to produce more that needed to survive. Castro, still determined to advance in industrialisation, continued to buy machinery, which merely increased Cuba's debt. By 1964, Cuba had to intensify sugar production in order to reduce its debt.

The Revolutionary Offensive (1968)

The aim of the 'Revolutionary Offensive', which was launched in 1968, was to eradicate the remains of capitalism, so Cuba would be purely communist. Again, the campaign emphasised the value of self-sacrifice. The last privately owned enterprises were expropriated, and self-employment was banned.

The 'Offensive' did not succeed, as it did not increase productivity, and merely created administrative chaos. At the same time, the return of the self-sacrifice values led to many refusing to go to work, and even some vagrancy.

The 'Year of the Ten Million' (1970)

To repair the damage of the 'Offensive', Castro announced that Cuba was to break its previous sugar production record and reach 10 million ton output in 1970. The aim was to be able to pay off the debt, by selling the surplus of sugar. It was intended to show those who were still doubting the revolution and its goals.

In order to create motivation for the people of Cuba, posters of Castro himself in fields harvesting sugar, were hung in the streets. Student, emigrants, law breakers, etc, all worked in the sugar cane fields as 'volunteers'. Free time entertainment, such as theatres and bars were closed, and holidays such as Christmas and New year and their celebrations were cancelled in order to increase productivity.

Cuba did reach a record amount of sugar, but they did not reach the 10 million tons that Castro had aimed for. 'Only' 8.5 million. The intense productivity had worn on the machinery and the people. It had harmed the forestry and fishing parts of the economy, and the military felt their status diminished, as the soldiers had been used to cut cane, instead of defending the nation.

The blow hit Castro both economically and politically. In a speech addressed to the nation on July 26th 1970, he admitted the failure, and by blaming the administrative side instead of the peoples commitment and offering his resignation to a crowd that was cheering his name, he managed to stay in power, and withhold his political position.

Following this, Castro had to abandon Guevara's ideas of voluntarism and self-sacrifice, and accept greater economic dependency on the USSR. State owned companies were given enough autonomy to be able to make their own decisions without having to run it by the state bureaucracy first. Despite these improvements, Cuba remained in the same similar economic state.

Cuba was badly hit by the international economic situation as the USSR cut the price it paid Cuba for sugar. Unemployment and debt were some of the factors that ended up leading to the 1980 Mariel exodus when 125000 people abandoned Cuba to go to America.

The Rectification Campaign (1986)

Castro returned to the self-sacrifice values once again during the 'Rectification Programme'. Farmers' markets were prohibited again, bonuses, extra pay were abolished, and self-employment was discouraged. Yet another Agrarian Reform Act was implemented, causing the percentage of land managed by independent farmers to drop to less than 2%.

The results of the programme, economically, were poor. Productivity fell, and once again workers refused to go to work. There was a reduction in the supply of milk, oil, textiles and suger, which led to the prices increasing. Transport and electricity prices also increased, and black markets started to reappear in the country.

The Special Period (1991)

After 30 years of economical and social cooperation, the USSR suddenly and unexpectedly ended it with Cuba. Soviet technicians abandoned projects as they left Cuba, and subsidised goods, oil and access to international loans that the USSR provided to Cuba were finished. 

This lead Castro to announce that Cuba had entered a 'special period of peacetime'. Hereon after Cubans faced tighter rationing. Energy had to be saved as the USSR had cut off their oil supply, which limited the working hours of the population, and it induced long black-outs and restricted public transport.

To come through these rough times new policies were implemented:

- State-owned farms began to be run as worker-managed cooperatives

- Cuba was opened to international business. (Tourism in particular developed positively)

- (1993) Cubans could now buy and sell US dollars

- Farmers' and handcraft markets reappeared and some level of self-employment was allowed.

By 1994 Cuba showed signs of economic recovery, as sugar was being replaced by tourism.

(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - Status of Women

Already in 1934, before the revolution, women had the right to vote in Cuba. They also had the right to work, study and sue for divorce. Despite the fact that they had the rights for equality, these rights were not upheld. Only occupations such as teaching or nursing were deemed appropriate for women, as they held less responsibility that other occupations. In the middle and upper classes the home were encouraged to be housewives.It was in Cuba's interest to defend women's rights as the women were much needed in the workforce in order to produce record harvests. This meant that the government had to fight both the discrimination towards women at workplaces, and finding a way to balance the women's work and household life.

To enable this new laws were implemented, that enforced the old equality laws. The women were offered training at technical and professional levels to prepare them for occupations with greater responsibility. This opened many fields to the female population of Cuba.

In Castro's reign women were expected to:

- Leave their families and homes for an extended period of time to work at 'Agricultural Legions' helping with agriculture.
- Be efficient workers
- Participate in Political life
- Volunteer to serve the revolution

STILL being:
- Wives
- Mothers
- Housewives

Women's newly enforced role in the workforce created some problems. Whilst women got more time in the workplace, the men did not give up more, or any, time for the household work, nor did they want to live with a woman who potentially would be economically independent. This lead to many women giving up their working life, and returning to being housewives only.

In the 1970's a new 'Family Code' was implemented, which states that men had to share the household deeds and help in the education of the children, and not complying was to be punished as exploitation women. The 'Family Code' was not as successful as hoped.

(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - Education

Cuba had one of the highest illiteracy rates in Latin America, and Castro wanted to fight this. There was a lack of schools and a lack of teachers, and Castro fought this by building more schools, and implemented a training programme for 271,000 teachers. Besides this, everyone who was already literate, had to volunteer as 'Brigadistas'. They would live with a rural illiterate family, and teach them. The campaign both lowered the illiteracy rate (to around 4%) and it opened the middle classes' eyes to the rural Cuban's lives and it made the illiterate peasants got another reason to support the revolution as they learned what it could do for them.

When Cuba, in 1961, shifted towards communism, all private schools were nationalised. A large scholarship programme for gifted and committed students was established, and the participants were selected by the government, who also often decided which subject area the student should specialise in. The students' free time, was to be used to do volunteer work. Teachers who did not support the revolution were fired, and the new ones who were to replace them would realise that the students acted as spies. Teachers who did support the regime were rewarded with training in the USSR and in Eastern Europe where communist values were reinforced. The teachers were given new textbooks focusing on the history of the revolution and the lives of the heroes (Fidel, Che and Camilo). Castro believed the aim of schools "is the ideological formation of revolutionaries, and then by means of the revolutionaries, the ideological formation of the rest of the people." Libraries were searched for inappropriate material, and Castro believed that Cuban culture had been marked by foreign influence, and he wanted to establish new organisations that would ensure art with the Cuban values.

(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - Religious Groups and Minorities

After the revolution the relationship between the government and the Catholic church worsened, because the church saw it as an opportunity to ask for achieving social justice and this lead to the government questioning the bishops were if they have enough loyalty to the revolution.

In 1976 the constitution stated that: "It is illegal and punishable by law to oppose one's faith or religious belief to the Revolution, education or the fulfilment of the duty to work, defend the homeland with arms, show reverence for its symbols and other duties established by the constitution."

Pope John II visited Cuba in 1998, and addressed the lack of political freedom in Cuba, whilst at the same time criticising the US economic embargo.

Hereafter the government changed the PCC statute, allowing religious people to join, however the seperation between the government and the church was still excitant and religious education was still forbidden in all schools.


(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - Propaganda

Castro used propaganda to mythologise the revolution and to create a cult around himself. He used Radio (Radio Rebelde), TV, Magazines (Bohemia) and newspapers (Granma). These were used to create a persistent presence of the revolution and the government in the Cuban's homes, and to raise awareness of the government's ideals and actions in order to increase the public's commitment to politics. Castro also used his speeches as propaganda, and helped him keep his power from 1959.



(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)

Fidel Castro - Treatment of opposition

As every other political leader, Fidel Castro had to face some opposition. This was not acceptable, so Castro, naturally, tried to abolish it. In 1960 he created the CDR (Committees for the Defence of the Revolution), and these committees were used primarily to report any counter-revolutionary activity. After 3 years of the CDR's presence, one third of the entire country were members.

The ones who were caught doing counter-revolutionary activities were between 1963 and 1965 sent to UMAP labour camps (Military Units to Aid Production). The camps were shut down in 1965, by Castro who firmly states that he did it of his own accord, despite both international and domestic pressure to do so.

Multiple times Fidel Castro allowed for counter-revolutionaries to emigrate, and some times even encouraged it, instead of imprisoning them.

(All information is from Pearsons 'History, 20th century world, Authoritarian and Single-Party States', 2010)