The Cuban Revolution took place from 1953 to 1959 led by Lawyer/Revolution Leader Fidel Castro against the home government of Fulgencio Batista the president of Cuba. Batista became president of Cuba after seizing power from Carlos Prio Socarras and then cancelled all elections. Fidel Castro became angered at these events, and led multiple attacks in attempts to overthrow the government over the next seven years. This revolution is another example of revolutions beginning to correct a system of government that it will then revert to once the revolution ends (much like The French Revolution).
Although Batista had seemed like a progressive president in his first term, he soon became dismissive or indifferent to the concerns of his people. Cuba lacked proper infrastructure and suffered from unemployment and American companies dominated their economy. Batista's rule became near dictatorial as he ignored the suffering of his country and instead worked with groups in organized crime to make more money. During a large part of his term, Batista was supported by the communist party, but due to his strong ties with the United States he became a staunch Anti-Communist to win the favor and as a result get political and economic support from the U.S.
Fidel Castro expressed his dissatisfaction with the Batista's way of government first by petitioning against it. He accused Batista of being a tyrant and his illegal means of making money. His arguments were brushed off in the Cuban courts and his constitutional arguments were rejected by Cuban officials. He decided the only way to better Cuba was by leading a revolution by force; this meant he would be leading an armed force. Castro and his brother Raul created a group called "The Movement" which was a militant organization recruiting members from the angry, dissatisfied working class.
Castro and 160 other Movement members launched their first attack on Batista's government in 1953. They planned a series of attacks on military barracks belonging to him. Castro and his troops first attacked the Moncada Barracks. They were defeated, and most of them were captured. Fidel Castro was tried in an intensely political trial where he uttered that "history will absolve me,". He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was pardoned by Batista in 1955 when he freed all political prisoners in Cuba, including others captured at Moncada. Castro and the rest of his recruits set off to Mexico to plan their next move. There, they met other dissatisfied revolutionaries including Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto "Che" Guevara. In 1956 they again set sail to Cuba. Batista's troops already heard of their arrival and ambushed them. A small number of rebels including Castro and his brother made it to wooded areas surrounding them and staged full on guerrilla attacks on Batista's troops. No matter how they tried, the troops could not find the rebels. After this event, Castro grew more powerful with other rebel groups in cities allying themselves with him and carrying out attacks, one almost killing Batista. From December 28-30 in 1958, they led an attack capturing small villages and finally defeating a large force in Santa Clara.
After observing Castro's inevitable victory, Batista fled from Cuba in fear of his life. The people of Cuba were overjoyed, they celebrated the rebels and congratulated Castro. He then went to work prosecuting and executing over 550 of Batista's associates. As prime minister in the first 10 years Castro was progressive in his reforms, calling for equality for Black Cubans and women. He also introduced proposals to improve medical facilities, health, and communication. Castro also advocated for education and by the end of the 1960s Cuban children were receiving some type of education and unemployment was decreasing.
However, Castro started to go down the same path of corruption and oppressive behavior as Batista had engaged in. He suspended all elections and declared himself "President for life" and established Cuba as a communist government. He sought relations with the Soviet Union and was responsible for exacerbating the Cold War with The Cuban Missile Crisis.
Although many Cuban citizens stay in Cuba and support Castro's communist regime in spirit of the revolution, it begs the question as to whether or not the Cuban Revolution was a true success. Are the principles of the Cuban Revolution still relevant in today's Cuba?
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