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