Fidel Castro
A Very Brief Summary of Cuba
• Cuba was originally ruled by Spain until a treaty in 1902
due to a war and United States intervention in the SpanishAmerican War. The same year, Cuba became an
independent state on paper. However, US occupation
continued and applied the highly unpopular Platt
Amendment.
• However, Cuba has a history of rebellions, coups, corrupt
elections, and overthrows. Between 1902-1959 (57 years),
Cuba experienced 4 changes in leader through the methods
mentioned.
• Cuba is largely an agricultural economy. It’s top two
exports are sugar and nickel. It has a population of about
11,000,000 people.
The Leader: Who Was He?
• Fidel Castro Ruz was born
August 13, 1926 as an
illegitimate son of a sugar
cane planter.
• He went to the University of
Havana to be a lawyer and
was very politically active as
he joined many groups that
wanted to achieve political
power.
• By the time he achieved his
degree, he was already
participating in political
uprisings.
Mini-Biographies: Raul & “Che”
• Raul Castro was the younger
brother of Fidel Castro born
June 3, 1931. He is a loyal
supporter of Castro and his
reforms. He was exiled to
Mexico along with Fidel in
1955. Raul played a vital role
in overthrowing along with
“Che” in military tactics. In
2006 he became President of
Cuba when Fidel was ill &
needed surgery. He strove for
economic reforms to increase
productivities in the
government.
• Ernesto “Che” Guevara was
born June 14, 1928 in
Argentina. He joined a leftist
movement in Guatemala with
Jacobo Arbenz. However,
when Arbenz was
overthrown, he fled to Mexico
where he met the Castro
brothers. Later, in 1956 he
went with them to Cuba to
help overthrow Baptista. He
was vital in that he was a
skilled guerilla tactician.
When the overthrow was
successful, we implimented
vital economic policies in
which ties to the United States
were severed and nurtured
ties to Communist countries.
The Others: Raul Castro &“Che”
Historical Background:
1940s
• Between 1934 and 1940, Batista gained power and controlled
Cuba by the "Revolt of the Sergeants".
• In 1940, a Constitutional Convention was held that created a new
constitution for Cuba. Batista was elected the constitutional
president.
• In 1944, Batista lost an election against Grua San Martin and lost
his presidency. Four years later, Grau's successor Carlos Socarras
becomes president.
• During Socarrras' regime, Political groups were created to stop
communism in the unions. They would able to kill people and get
away with it because they used the University of Havana as their
refuge, where no military police were allowed according to the
constitution.
• Batista saw this as an opportunity for a coup (March 10, 1952).
Historical Background:
The Cuban Revolution
• When Fidel Castro was running for election, Fulgencio
Batista succeeds in staging a coup and became the dictator of
Cuba. March 10 1952
• In response to the coup, Castro joined a group to overthrow
Batista.
• Cuban Rebels attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago,
Cuba and also the barracks in Bayamo, Cuba in July 26 of
1953.
o 60 rebels died: 5 died fighting, Batista killed 56.
• Fidel and his brother, Raul, were jailed in the Isla de Pinos
prison. Fidel for 15 years and Raul for 13 years.
• In 1955, Batista freed all political prisoners in Cuba because
of political pressure.
The Cuban Revolution
• Fidel Castro went to Mexico to prepare a revolution against
Batista.
o There he met and joined forces with Che Guevara
o Trained by Alberto Bayo- a leader in the Spanish Civil
War.
• The Granma (yatch) arrived in Cuba and the rebels made
their way to Sierra Maestra, where they were attacked by
Batista’s army.
• In the mountains, Raul and Che helped Fidel gain control by
killing Bastista supporters and Castro rivals.
• In January 1 1959, Batista left the country and Castro took
leadership control.
Cuban Revolution Leaders
Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara in
Havana 1959
Castro's Ideology I
• Castro's plan was known as
"Stealth Socialism."
o
He didn't want people to know what he
was planning.
• He wouldn't share his political
plan with anyone.
• Castro and "Che" created "The
New Man's Theory."
o Work to benefit everyone in the
society.
• He wanted to restore Cuba's
wealth, get back the land Cuba
lost, and strengthen the nation's
identity.
Castro’s Ideology II
• Castro believed in “unitary
democracy” over “adversary
democracy.”
• Unitary democracy is when
each individual has a vote and
decisions are made through a
majority opinion. Adversary
democracy is voting for
representatives.
• Another key difference is that
he believes in “democratic
centralism” versus “liberal
democracy.”
Castro's Platform
• Castro implemented almost impossible reforms to nationalize
factories and plantations.
• Wanted to makes his armies stronger for Cuba's defense;
created an alliance with the USSR during 1960.
• Castro intended to build a socialist state with a stateowned, government planning economy.
• Stopped private profit business so that all of Cuba had equal
job opportunities and boost the economy.
• According to constitution, all Cubans were entitled to receive
free medical, hospital, and dental care.
• All citizens had the same rights regardless of who they were.
• Provided payment for elders and pregnant women workers.
• The right to free education to the highest university level.
Why was Castro Successful?
• As a lawyer, had much charisma. He used it to his advantage
to convince people to his side. One of his well known
speeches was made as a self-defense in court after the
Moncada attack where he said, “But I do not fear prison, as I
do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives
of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me. It does not matter.
History will absolve me.”
• Even if people didn’t agree with his ideology, the peasant,
who largely made up his support, were swayed by the idea of
improving their lives and of gaining land for themselves.
• However, as Castro based nationalist and populist issues
known, the middle class started to side with Castro as well.
Elimination of Opposition
• The main idea of Castro’s over throw of Baptista was to
deprive Baptista of allies and forced him to flee, resign,
or killed. Though in the end, Baptista did flee.
• Castro gave the option of dissenters to leave Cuba via a
port open for them.
• Other forms of elimination would be censorship. Castro
censorship the media that gave capitalist ideas, but did
allow petitions and revision of government within
socialist bounds.
Propaganda
“United we fought… united we win.”
Totalitarianism
• Attracting support
– 1947 Castro joined the Cuban People's Party
– 1952 Fidel Castro became a candidate for
Congress for the Cuban People's Party.
• The party was predicted to win the election
but Fulgencio Batista won.
– 1953 Castro attacked the Moncada Army
– He was send to trial and was sentenced to 15 yrs.
In prison
• During his trial he said Cuba’s problems and
how he could solve them.
http://media.wkrg.com/images/sized/media/news/02-222008_castro-300x225.jpg
Totalitarianism
• Attracting support
– Batista allowed Castro to be released after 2 years due to public
demand.
– In 1956 Castro and many others went to Cuba they were known as July
26 Movement.
• They wanted to set up a base in the Sierra Maestra mountains
– Batista would order his army to attack civilians in order to gain
information.
• Caused many people to go against him
• 1958 ; 45 organizations signed an open letter supporting the July 26
Movement
– Castro marched into Havana on January 9,1959 and became Cuba's new
leader.
Totalitarianism
• Forms of government control
– controls the centralized economy, labor market and the media.
– 1959-Castro signed First Agrarian Reform Law (limited the size of land
holdings and forbade foreign property ownership.)
– Castro announced an end to democratic elections in Cuba
– denounced American imperialism.
• Repression of opponents
– Castro accepted economic and military aid by the soviet union.
– a trade agreement signed in order to buy oil from the Soviet Union and
established diplomatic relation
– 1966, Castro founded the Asia-Africa-Latin America People's Solidarity
Organization in order to promote revolution.
– executions and imprisonments, and forced emigration.
http://cuba.foreignpolicyblogs.com/files/2009/03/1nyprotest.jpg
Totalitarianism
• Extent of opposition
– Proyecto Varela is a group that demanded freedom of press. They gathered
over 10,000 signatures and the government responded by making their own
petition drive to make the socialist system "untouchable (99% voter
approval.)
– In 1960 U.S. companies and properties are nationalizes.
– Defense of the Revolution committee is established to watch over enemies.
– January 1961 the US ends diplomatic relations with cuba
– 1962 Castro is kicked out of the group Organization of American States
– 1980 activist Ricardo Bofill is arrested for spreading "enemy propaganda“
– 1984 The U.S. and Cuba reach an immigration agreement,.
– An anti-Castro station funded by U.S. is launched. And the Cuban
government blocks the signal.
Castro and Status of Women
• Once he took power he
believed in equality
between sexes.
• He believed that women
deserved rights.
• After the Cuban revolution
women’s status changed
• The Cuban constitution
gives women economic,
social, political, cultural
and family rights and
opportunities that are equal
to men
• "The liberation of women is
dependent upon the
Revolution's success in
attaining its primary
objectives: to establish a
wholly socialist economy
and society. Women can
be free only to the extent
that they commit
themselves first and
foremost to the
Revolution.“1
Castro and Status of Women
• Article 32: enforces that
women and men have equal
rights. (social, economic,
political, cultural)
• Article 41: All citizens have
equal duties
• Article 42: Sex
discrimination is forbidden
• Article 43:Everyone has the
right to education, work and
career advancement,
housing, transport and public
areas.
Castro and Religion
• After the revolution in 1959 Castro restricted
religious practices.
• From 1959-1961 many catholic priest left Cuba.
• Believes in the separation between church and
state.
Castro and Religion
• In 1992 he agreed to loosen restrictions on
religion.
• Christmas became officially a holiday in 1997
• “I feel a great respect for all religions.” -1998
speech
The Downfall
The factors that led to Castro's downfall are:
•
The Cuban Crisis
•
The Decline of Cuban Sugar
•
The Emergence of Anti-Castro Groups
•
Alliance System
•
The Unied States Embargo Act of Cuba
•
Castro's Security Threats
•
Castro's Illness
The factors listed above caused the downfall of Fidel Castro
which falls under political, ecnomical, and social issues in
Cuba.
The Cuban Crisis
• Castro's ineffective ways of
leading the
conomy delayed the free
markets in Cuba and the
progress and prosperity of
the economy.
• Central Planning Board
(1960) was an attempt to
control the Cuban
economy.
• The Revolutionary Law of
1963 eliminated private
businesses and free market
activities.
• The Institute for Agrarian
Reform nationalized private
farms and agricultural systems.
• Alliances are weaken between
the Soviets and Russia.
• The supplier of oil, limber,
food, and spare machine parts
ended.
• The Soviets were only able to
deliver 8.6 million tons of oil to
Cuba, instead of 10 million
tons.
The Decline of Cuban Sugar
• Sugar is Cuba's staple agricultural export which is consists of 75
% of Cuba's export income
• The production of sugar has decreased from 8.1 million tons to
5.5 miillion tons.
• The failure of sugar production, due to unable to purchase
proper fertilizer/farm equipment, agricultural machinery, and
low international sugar prices.
• To make matters worse, all Soviet trade subsidies to Cuba were
eliminated on January 1, 1992 where the power is transferred to
the former Soviet republics.
• The shortage of aid for energy had caused a ration for gasoline,
diesel fuel, and liquid gas and affected factories, transportations,
and constructions.
• Castro response was to have 'perfect socialism' and that 'Cuba is
ready to confront the world alone through socialism'
Emergence of Anti-Castro Groups
As the ecnomy continues to deteriate,two groups formed in
Cuba: those who oppose Raul and Fidel Castro and those who
support.
Cuban Democratic Coalition Democratic Convergence
(Disagree)
(Agree)
• Led by Daniel and Thomas
• Led by Elizardo Sancez, a
Aspillaga.
professor of Marxist
• Seeks a transition to democracy philosophy.
and supports the contiunation of• Negotiates to improve the
US economy sanctions.
human rights, but do not call
• Calls for democratic elections
for elections.
and respects for human rights.
• More likely to expand due
to bureaucrats, military
personnel and etc.
Alliance System
• As Cuba's former communist allies ended, he searched for
new allies and dictatorships.
• Tried to allie with China which is the most significant trading
power in Latin America.
• In 1990, the trade between China reached $420 million: Cuba
exchanging citrus fruit, medical products, and sugar for
China's food supply and industrial goods.
• Also, signed a trade protocol of exporting biotechnology
products, tobacco, and rum for bicycles, clothing and textiles.
• North Korea provide Castro's government with technical
assistantance for Cuban sugar.
The United States Embargo Act
• The embargo restricts United States exports to Cuba and vice
versa.
• Forced Castro to cut government spending and reduced his
support for Third World communist regimes and caused
difficulties to the economy.
• Annually Cuba depended on United States imprts, but have to
rely on less advanced, cheap supplies from the former Soviet
Union and Eastern Europe, instead.
• Limited to export to the Third World, where he can't afford
ship supplies and advisors for terrorist groups.
• The Soviet Union have to support Cuba's military and
economy around $75 billion of aid which weaken its own
economy.
• Cuba's economy had setback when the Soviet Union collapse
which was the support for its aid.
Politcal Cartoon of the United States Embargo Act
Castro's Security Threats
Castro's leadership abilities weakened when the Soviet aid was deceased
and the isolation of Cuba, managed to continue the security threats.
o Continued but limit support for revolutionary groups based on his
economical conditions.
o Support for international drug cartels to help earn hard currency and more
control over laws.
o Mariel type refugee crisis to improve the jail system and get rid of
Cuban's political opponents.
o Threat to Guantanamo to encourage unsatisfied Cubans to seek refuge on
the base naval.
o Chemical and biological weapons capabilites where Castro can sell the
weapons to terrorists or used against US.
o The military machine buildup created by Soviet Union to go against US.
o Also, Cuba had been building nuclear plants which is a threat.
Castro's Illness
• July 31, 206, castro transferd his powers to his brother Raul
Castro.
• The "temporary" transfter due to his recovery from surgery due
to acute intestinal intestinal with bleeding.
• On Decemeber 2nd, 2006 Castro was not present for the 50th
anniversary of the Granma boat landing and his 80th birthday.
• Castro's health had improved drastically, but he announced his
retirement on February 18, 2008.
• February 24, 2008 he chosed his brother Raul Castro to
succeed as President of Cuba.
Castro's Legacy
• Castro was president of Cuba
for 49 years, almost half a
century.
• Cuba is one of the world's
highest literacy rates and most
efficient healthcare systems,
and a stable government.
• Was able to keep his platform
of controlling Cuba's
independence and isolation by
media were banned in
private homes.
• Octobr 2009, was named
"World Hero of Solidarity" by
UN General Assembly.
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