Cuba before the Revolution 1900-1959

Early years US had direct involvement in Cuba in the early 1900s Platt Amendment Army occupations Sugar Boom By the 1920’s, Cuba is characterized by its dependency on an outside power (US) and a single crop (sugar) After the Depression, US involvement became more indirect Quotas on Cuban sugar increase discontent there Provided indirect support to Bastista

Batista’s First Coup: September 4, 1933 An army coup led by Fulgencio Batista overthrew Cuba’s government Signals the origin of army influence in the running of the state Batista remained in the background, using a series of puppet leaders to rule from 1933-1940

Batista and the US The US government supported Batista because he was open to American economic interests Mobsters liked him too, and Havana became a destination for some of America’s most famous mafia leaders Reforms included public works, education, and a new Constitution (1940) In 1940, Batista was elected President legitimately His rule would last for four years before he lost in the 1944 election After his loss, he left Cuba for time

Batista’s Second Coup: March 10, 1952 This coup occurred 3 months before upcoming elections Castro was a candidate in this election, but was not running for President Castro’s party, The Cuban People’s Party, had been expected to win these elections Eisenhower’s government recognized Batista formally a few weeks later Shortly thereafter, Batista suspended Cuban rights (temporarily of course)

Batista’s Rule Paved the way for large-scale gambling Government matches for casino construction! Havana becomes the “Latin Las Vegas” Some estimate Batista’s share from the casinos was 30% International Drug Trade Increased Reorganized the government and placed supporters in powerful positions; very corrupt Suspends the Constitution Rewarded US contractors with huge construction projects across Cuba Opposition is crushed video

July 26, 1953 A small rebel group led by Fidel Castro attacks, but fails to take, the Moncada army barracks in Santiago (2nd largest) Half of the attackers are killed, wounded, or captured Castro survives even though Batista had ordered the military commander to “kill ten rebels for every soldier killed” He is sentenced to 15 years in prison

Effects of the Raid The attack, though badly executed, proved to be inspirational to many of the people of Cuba Castro uses his trial to garner media attention His trial is the site of his famous “History Will Absolve Me” speech “I know that imprisonment will be harder for me than it has ever been for anyone, filled with cowardly threats and hideous cruelty. 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.” Underground resistance movements spring up It is regarded as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution

Batista Responds to Critics An “election” was held in 1954- guess who is the only legal candidate? Released Castro and the other surviving rebels in May 1955 to improve his image They flee to Mexico to plan further revolution—more on them later! Student protests and riots start in late 1955 Violently repressed by police

Things get worse… Media censorship increases Military police patrol the streets Closed the University of Havana because of its continued opposition Various dissenters were killed, ranging from student leaders to strike leaders Refuses to hold elections in 1956

The (Armed) Revolution Begins! December 1956: The landing of the Granma Castro, along with other revolutionaries including Che Guevara, lands in Cuba This marks the beginning of armed conflict They call themselves the July 26 Movement, after the date of their attack on Moncada in 1953 Their invasion does not result in the countrywide revolutionary uprising they hoped for, poorly planned Spend days evading Batista’s army and searching for food

Sierra Maestra Mountains The remnants of Castro’s group (12 out of 82) flee here to regroup and wage guerilla warfare against Batista

Che’s Account …we were eating our meager rations - half a sausage and two crackers - when we heard a shot. In a matter of seconds a hurricane of bullets - or at least this is what it seemed to my anxious mind during that trial by fire - rained on the troop of eighty-two men. I felt a terrible blow on the chest and another in the neck, and was sure I was dead. Arbentosa, spewing blood from his nose, mouth and an enormous wound from a .45 bullet, shouted something like, "They've killed me," and began to fire wildly, although no one was visible at that moment. From the ground I said to Faustino, "They've got me" (but I used a stronger expression). Still firing, Faustino glanced at me and told me it was nothing, but in his eyes I read a sentence of death from my wound. I immediately began to wonder what would be the best way to die, now that all seemed lost. I remembered an old story of Jack London's in which the hero, knowing that he is condemned to freeze to death in the icy reaches of Alaska, leans against a tree and decides to end his life with dignity. This is the only image I remember. Someone, crawling near me, shouted that we'd better surrender, and behind me I heard a voice, which I later learned belonged to Camilo Cienfuegos, shouting back: "Here no one surrenders…" I am not sure of this, for I was thinking more of the bitterness of our defeat and the imminence of my death than of the specific incidents of the battle. We walked until night prevented us from going any further, and we decided to sleep huddled together. We were attacked by mosquitoes, tortured by thirst and by hunger. Such was our baptism of fire on December 5, 1956, in the district of Niquero. Such was the beginning of what would become the Rebel Army.

The Revolution Foreign support for Batista wanes 1958 US arms embargo Castro’s army increases Very dependent on the support of the rural Cubans for information, food, and protection Struggle is romanticized by media (NY Times) Behavior of Batista’s troops also helps Castro Castro’s ideology develops

The End of Batista November, 1958 Dec 31, 1958 Batista calls for an election, but the Cuban people do not vote en masse 75% in Havana, 98% in Santiago! Dec 31, 1958 Batista chooses a successor and flees Cuba for the Dominican Republic

January 1, 1959 Rebels enter Havana

Castro is sworn in video

Homework—online reading Spartacus Bio History will Absolve me speech-excerpt Later becomes the doctrine of the revolution

Sources http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?action =read&artid=122 http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/batista.htm http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/sidebar1.ht m