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Objective 4: Describe the policies of the Castro Revolution
Policies: Political, economic and social reforms; Consolidation of the revolution; Nationalism
and communism and Opposition to the U.S
Castro’s Plans for Development
o The independence of Cuba from American influence and economic domination.
o No private property. All the factors of production would be owned and controlled by the
state.
o Opposition press would be stifled
o Courts would be purged of middle class judges
o Health, Education and other social services would be free. Syllabus reflecting the needs
and culture of Cuba were written and implemented.
Castro’s policies in Action
o 1959 Agrarian Reform Act: land owned by major American cattle ranchers, sugar and
tobacco estates companies were seized without compensation and made the property of
the government. Castro then proceeded to redistribute it in smaller parcels to landless
locals at the rate of 27 hectares per family.
o He installed interveners in November 1959 to oversee the operations of several large
American companies. This he said to prevent them from being tempted to falsify their
accounts: tax returns, profits made and so on. The utility companies were also asked to
cut their rates and charges.
o
Most of the senior government officials who had served during the Batista regime were
dismissed and those loyal to Castro and the policies of the revolution were hired in their
place.
o The police, army and navy were purged of corrupt officers. Some 483 of them were
found guilty of serious crimes against the Cuban people and were consequently executed.
o
In order to show their disapproval of Castro's nationalization program the U.S. enforces
a trade embargo. They refused to sell him any weapons or lend the country any money.
The mighty one was buying approximately half a billion tons of sugar from Cuba and
paid a bonus of 2 cents above the market price. She refused to buy any more of their
sugar. Castro responded by charging that the U.S. was practicing economic aggression
and economic slavery. He was right. They hoped that without oil and parts for the
numerous pieces of American machinery on the island Castro would ‘come to his
senses'.
o February 13, 1960: Russia signs a trade agreement with Cuba to purchase 5M tons of
sugar over a five year period and to supply her with needed technicians as well as oil and
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arms. Khrushchev declared that the Munroe Doctrine was dead and suggested that it be
buried so that it would not poison the air. The U.S. was outraged at the violation of their
Munroe Doctrine and warns Russia.
o The U.S. reacts by refusing to refine the crude oil bought from Russia at her refineries
still in Cuba: Texaco, Royal Dutch and Standard Oil or to allow the Cuban government
to take them over. Castro's contempt for U.S. superiority and hegemony of the region
(Western Hemisphere) was hard for them to swallow.
o March 1960: Castro questioned America's right to the naval base at Guantanamo
o May 1960 : Castro established formal diplomatic relations with Communist Russia
o July 1960: He nationalized all remaining U.S. nickel plant, rice mills, cinemas and
stores.
o August 1960: the government takes over all utilities- phone and light as well as oil and
sugar mills. The U.S. responded by placing a ban on all U.S. exports to Cuba except
foodstuff. They warned their citizens not to visit Cuba thus stopping the island's income
from tourism.
o
December 2, 1961: Fidel Castro declares himself to be a Marxist Leninist. He begins to
implement social programs designed to improve the standard of living of the masses. For
example: new affordable housing schemes for the masses and road works were started as
early as 1960.
o
A number of Cuban middle class went into exile mainly in Florida.
o January 1961: Castro ordered the U.S. Embassy to cut its staff from 300 to 11.
President Eisenhower (1953-1961) reacted by severing ties with Cuba on January 3,
1961. He left office 17 days later. It was up to the new President J. F. Kennedy to
determine what to do.
o
He inherited among other things a ‘plan' to overthrow Castro and put an end to the
revolution. He hoped that the CIA nicknamed the Cuba Invasion Army would have the
same success it had in Guatemala in 1954. Some 1500 Cuban refugees were secretly
trained to help in the invasion. JKF had two choices: adopt or abandon the plan. Public
opinion was in favor of the former. They were tired of Castro's insults.
o April 11, 1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failure and a fiasco. Castro and his army of
some 250,000 men and women were well armed and ready to meet the small invading
forces. The CIA bungled the job perfectly. They arrogantly assumed that this would be a
pushover.
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o 11,000 U.S. men were imprisoned. Castro exchanged them for a hefty ransom price of
$53M in much needed food and medicine.
o Castro then felt the need to fortify Cuba. He thought that the U.S. would never dare to
attack the island if Cuba had nuclear missiles and the result would be the annihilation of
nearby U.S. cities
o October 1962: aerial photos show hundreds of Russian technicians installing 40 nuclear
missiles with estimated range of 1000 to 2000 miles. This was clear chronic wrongdoing
in her backyard.
o
The U.S. acted quickly and decisively. Khrushchev and Kennedy met and negotiated a
settlement. On October 28, 1962 the Russian President agreed to pull his weapons out of
Cuba while Kennedy agreed to lift the quarantine on Cuba and promised not to invade
the island.
How was Castro able to retain power?
So Castro gained support in the initial stages from those who were tired of Batista's cruel and
oppressive regime. How was he able to retain authoritarian power and dictatorship in a sea of
democracy and in the face of external hostility and opposition led by the mighty U.S.?
o Ironically the aggressive response of the U.S. to the Cuban revolution gained him crucial
support in the first five years. The Bay of Pigs invasion and the many attempts to
assassinate Fidel not only failed but backfired. A number of Cubans joined the fight, not
to support Castro, BUT for their country and their independence. Nationalism and
national pride grew stronger.
o
The support of Russia
o Castro's socialist transformation of Cuba won the support of the peasants and masses
who experienced real meaningful changes in their standard of living- better health,
housing and medical facilities.
o
A strong army loyal to Castro and the revolution defended it from both internal as well
as external opposition.
o Castro received crucial support from the island's women. Before this they had largely
been ignored. Castro's socialist revolutionary policies proclaimed them as equals! They
were drafted in the army, held top ranking government posts that were once considered
the exclusive rights and domain of the men. New labor legislations were passed that
benefited the women in particular: for example security of jobs for pregnant women.
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o
Mothers gave the revolution their support. Why? There was the creation of schools for
women. Their children were entitled to free education to include lunch and educational
material. By 1964, over 90% of children born in hospitals were immunized as well as
students in elementary schools.
o The common man benefited from the Agrarian Reform of May, 17, 1959, that facilitated
the distribution of land to small peasants. They could also access economic and technical
aid through the various associations that were created.
Castro signs the Agrarian Reform
o We cannot forget the Afro-Cubans. They bore the brunt of the Americans' racial
discrimination and prejudice. The revolution destroyed that.
o
A number of businessmen supported Castro for removing their competitor the U.S. and
because of his progressive tax policies that favored Cuban over foreign investments.
o
The support of Grenada, Guyana and Jamaica came at a crucial juncture. The 1970’s
was the next decade after the first ten successful years. (1959-1969 and 1970-1980). It
gave the revolution not just the momentum but the sort of legitimacy and affirmation that
it lacked in the region. It was no longer isolated.
o Her intervention and involvement in World Affairs: Africa and the Middle East. She
showed herself as a force to be reckoned with.
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