1. Cuba before the Revolution

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 election
After his loss, he left Cuba for time

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Batista Responds to Critics
An “election” was held in 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. January 1, 1959
Rebels enter Havana

17. Castro is sworn in
video

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

19. Sources
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