Morgan Wright & Leah Banks

 Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on 8/13/1926
 In 1945 he entered the University of Havana(law school) and developed interests in political climate of
Cuban nationalism, anti-imperialism and socialism
 Within his years in law school Castro joined Partido
Ortodoxo, an anticommunist political party founded to
 reform government corruption in Cuba.
Castro’s goal was to spread word about the corruption of General Fulgencio Batista.

 Joined army at a young age; where he rose from private to sergeant and eventually made political connections.
 Oversaw the Constitution of 1940
 Revamped the Cuban political system
 Incorporated labor/education law reforms
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Dominated Cuban politics for quarter of a century(1933-1958) as president and then following as Cuba’s military dictator
“Throughout Cuba people are growing more repulse by the brutality of the Batista regime. He has jailed and killed thousands, as he tries in vein to keep his grasp on power, the tighter he squeezes the more his power slips away”( history.com
)

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Castro
Middle and lower class was Castro’s supporters
Cuban leader Fidel Castro (1926-) established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere
He ruled over Cuba for nearly five decades, until handing off power to his younger brother Raúl in 2008
During his reign, thousands of Cubans have sought exile In the United States.
Brought social reforms to Cuba, but has been criticized for oppressing human rights and freedom of speech.
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Batista
Batista took power with claims that he would honor all international agreements, guarantee lives and property and continue public work projects.
The army was Batista's main support in Cuba, and also many Cuban businessmen gave Batista their support
Some from the middle and upper classes were opposed to Batista, while his major opposition was from students -- also from the upper and middle classes
The United States and Cuba were enjoying a good relationship. Economically, Cuba was thriving and tourism was Cuba's second largest industry
But Batista also failed Cuba by failing to invest government funds wisely

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Castro's plans to run for the House of Representatives on the Ortodoxo ticket were cut short by the military coup of
1952, instigated by General Fulgencio Batista.
Castro and approximately 150 supporters attacked the
Moncada military barracks(Santiago de Cuba)in an attempt to overthrow Batista but failed.
Batista's forces killed or captured most of the attackers including Castro, his brother Raul and Che Guevara
Castro's forces waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government, organizing resistance groups in cities and small towns across Cuba.
To stay connected with the people Castro managed to control provinces with agricultural and manufacturing production

 In 1958 Castro successfully used military campaigns throughout Cuba to capture and hold key areas of the country for his support and popularity.
 With losing support and control of the military
Batista's government rule came to and end due to
Castro's efforts.
 In January of 1959, Batista fled to the Dominican
Republic.
 At the age of 32, Castro successfully achieved his goal and overthrew Fulgencio Batista

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 named a cabinet composed of followers from the 26th of
July Movement and the old communist party.
Castro's government also began to establish relations with the Soviet Union
The United States retaliated by cutting Cuba's import quota on sugar.
1,400 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in an attempt to overthrow the Castro regime.
Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist and announced the Cuban government was adopting communist economic and political policies
On February 7, 1962, the United States imposed a full economic embargo on Cuba

 Castro’s regime was successful in reducing illiteracy, stamping out racism and improving public health care, but was widely criticized for stifling economic and political freedoms!

http://www.history.com/videos/kennedyand-the-cuban-missile-crisis#castro-andthe-cuban-revolution

 "Bay of Pigs Invasion." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.
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CNN Library. "Fidel Castro - Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Dec. 2012. Web.
06 Jan. 2013.
Dallek, Robert. "The Untold Story of the Bay of Pigs." Newsweek 29 Aug. 2011: 26. History
In Context. Web. 6 Jan. 2013.
Fidel Castro." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jan 06 2013, 06:56
Fidel Castro." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.
Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web.
06 Jan. 2013.
Pino, Julio, and Pino Julio. "Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar." Great Lives From History:
Notorious Lives (September 2007): 1. Biography Reference Center, EBSCOhost
(accessed January 6, 2013).
Pino, Julio César. "Fidel Castro." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2000. Web. 7 Jan. 2013.