IB History 12 2025 - 2026: Authoritarian States - Cuba

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on the authoritarian states in Cuba.

Fulgencia Batista

Cuban dictator before Fidel Castro's revolution.

Jose Marti

A Cuban nationalist leader and martyr for independence.

Platt Amendment

Legislation that restricted Cuba's sovereignty and allowed US intervention.

Teller Amendment

US legislation asserting the US will not annex Cuba.

Moncada Barracks

The site of the failed assault that ignited the Cuban Revolution.

26th of July Movement

The revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro against Batista.

History will absolve me

Fidel Castro's defense speech after the Moncada attack.

Five Revolutionary Laws

Laws enacted by the Cuban government in 1959 to address social inequality.

Jacobo Arbenz

Guatemalan president overthrown in 1954, influencing Castro's policies.

CTC (Central de Trabajadores de Cuba)

Cuban workers' federation established to support the revolution.

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara

Argentinian revolutionary who played a key role in the Cuban Revolution.

Fidelistas

Supporters of Fidel Castro and his revolutionary ideology.

Granma

The yacht that transported Castro and his rebels from Mexico to Cuba.

Herbert Matthews

New York Times journalist sympathetic to the Cuban Revolution.

Jose Echeverria

Cuban revolutionary leader and member of the 26th of July Movement.

Los Barbudos

The bearded ones, referring to Castro's rebels during the revolution.

Autentico Party

Cuban political party that opposed Batista’s regime.

Ortodoxo Party

Nationalist Cuban political party led by Eduardo Chibas.

Popular Socialist Party (PSP)

Communist Party of Cuba formed in 1944.

Raul Castro

Fidel Castro's brother and key figure in the Cuban government.

First Declaration of Havana

Cuban government statement asserting national sovereignty.

Agrarian Reform Act

Law redistributing land to reduce inequality in Cuba.

Bay of Pigs

Failed US-backed invasion of Cuba in April 1961.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Confrontation between the US and USSR over missiles in Cuba in 1962.

INRA

National Institute of Agrarian Reform in Cuba.

Nationalization

The process of transferring private business to state ownership.

PCC (Communist Party of Cuba)

Ruling party in Cuba established after the revolution.

Sugar Quota

Cuba's sugar production target set by the government.

Revolutionary Offensive

Campaign to nationalize and expand the economy in Cuba.

US Trade Embargo

Economic sanctions imposed by the US on Cuba.

Vilma Espin

Cuban revolutionary and wife of Raul Castro, leader of the FMC.

Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR)

Neighborhood organizations to report counter-revolutionary activities.

Special Period

Difficult economic period in Cuba following the fall of the Soviet Union.

Mariel Boat Lift

Mass emigration of Cubans to the US in 1980.

Rectification Campaign

Reforms initiated in Cuba during the 1980s to address economic issues.