Methods used to establish Communist Cuba

List persuasion and coercion

• History will absolve me

• Treating peasants fairly

• Coercion by guerillas

• Broad alliances

Describe History Will Absolve Me

• Castro’s oratory and charisma mobilised support

• his “History Will Absolve Me” speech (October 1953) outlined a programme of land reform, industrialisation, education, and justice

• convincing many Cubans that he was a genuine reformer.

Describe fair treatment of peasants

• Guerrillas used persuasion by treating peasants fairly

• in the Sierra Maestra, they bought food instead of seizing it, held literacy classes, and provided rudimentary healthcare, winning rural loyalty.

Describe guerilla coercion

• Coercion was also key:

• guerrillas sabotaged railways, ambushed Batista’s troops, and executed informers,

• showing both discipline and ruthlessness.

Describe broad alliances

• Castro built broad alliances,

• persuading students, workers, and middle-class reformers to rally under the 26th of July Movement (M-26-7),

• became the unifying force of the revolution.

Evaluate persuasion and coercion

Castro’s rise relied on a dual strategy of persuasion and coercion.

His charisma and reformist image broadened support beyond the guerrillas, while the use of violence and sabotage ensured Batista’s regime was destabilised.

This balance of legitimacy and force distinguished Castro’s revolutionary movement from other failed insurrections in Latin America.

List leaders

• Fidel Castro

• Che Guevara

• Raul Castro

• Frank País

Describe the role of Fidel Castro

• Fidel Castro was central

• his survival of the Moncada Barracks attack (1953), imprisonment (1953–55), exile in Mexico (1955–56), and regrouping after the failed Granma landing (Dec 1956) demonstrated resilience that inspired followers.

Describe Che Guevara’s role

• Che Guevara was an Argentine doctor

• became strategist and ideologue

• he organised guerrilla tactics

• promoted Marxist-Leninist ideas

• embodied the revolution’s internationalist dimension.

Describe Raul Castro’s role

• Raúl Castro served as Fidel’s deputy

• enforcing strict discipline

• ensuring security within the guerrilla movement

• preventing infiltration by Batista’s agents.

Describe Frank País’ role

• Frank País, a young teacher and student leader

• organised crucial urban resistance networks until his death in July 1957

• turned him into a martyr and galvanised opposition.

Evaluate leaders

The revolution’s success was inseparable from its leadership.

Fidel provided vision and resilience, Che added ideological depth and tactical innovation, Raúl ensured discipline, and País extended the struggle into cities.

This collective leadership broadened the revolution’s base, but Fidel’s dominance meant that post-1959 power was ultimately highly centralised around him.

List ideology

• Initially not Marxist

• Moncada Programme

• Anti-imperialism

• Cuban socialism

Describe early ideology

• Initially, Castro avoided Marxist rhetoric

• presenting a nationalist and reformist agenda focused on sovereignty, social justice, and ending corruption — appealing across classes.

Describe the Moncada Programme

Moncada Programme (1953)

• outlined concrete reforms: land redistribution, profit-sharing for workers, rent reductions, educational reform, and industrial development.

Describe anti imperialism

• Anti-imperialism was central

• Castro denounced US ownership of land and industries as modern colonialism

• promising Cubans control of their resources.

Describe socialism

By 1958, as alliances with Marxist factions strengthened

ideology evolved toward socialism

Evaluate ideology

Castro’s ideological flexibility was crucial: nationalism and reformism united a broad coalition against Batista, while the gradual shift toward socialism ensured coherence and international backing after victory.

This adaptability allowed Castro to transform rhetoric into revolutionary legitimacy.

List use of force

• Moncada Barracks attack

• Granma landing

• Guerrilla warfare

• Battle of Santa Clara

Describe the Moncada Barracks attack

The Moncada Barracks attack (26 July 1953)

• failed militarily (61 of 165 rebels killed)

• launched the revolutionary movement and gave it its enduring name.

Describe the Granma landing

The Granma landing (2 December 1956)

• nearly disastrous (only 12 of 82 survived)

• lost element of surprise as a result of arriving later than expected

• yet Castro rebuilt a guerrilla base in the Sierra Maestra, showing resilience that strengthened his reputation.

Describe guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare (1956–59)

• combined ambushes, sabotage, and harassment of Batista’s forces

• victories such as La Plata (July 1958) undermined Batista’s control of rural areas.

Describe the Battle at Santa Clara

The Battle of Santa Clara (December 1958),

• led by Che Guevara

• decisively broke Batista’s army morale

• culminated to the capture of the city

• leading to Batista fleeing Cuba on 1 January 1959.

Evaluate use of force

The use of force was indispensable: though early failures nearly destroyed the movement, the rebels’ resilience, tactical adaptability, and symbolic victories eroded Batista’s authority.

Crucially, military success amplified Castro’s political legitimacy, making armed struggle the decisive pathway to power.

List propaganda

• Radio Rebelde

• Guerrilla fighters

• History Will Absolve Me speech

• Underground media

• Victory marches

Describe Radio Rebelde

• Castro and his guerrillas used Radio Rebelde (1958)

• founded by Che Guevara

• broadcast revolutionary messages from the Sierra Maestra

• spread news of rebel victories and undermined Batista’s control of information.

Describe guerrilla fighters as propaganda symbols

• Guerrilla fighters became propaganda symbols themselves:

• the bearded, uniformed rebels embodied sacrifice and authenticity,

• contrasting with Batista’s corrupt, US-backed regime.

Describe History Will Absolve Me speech

• Castro’s trial speech “History Will Absolve Me” (1953) was widely circulated as a manifesto

• framing him as a principled patriot

• giving the revolution a clear ideological programme.

Describe underground media

Urban underground groups distributed leaflets, pamphlets, and clandestine newspapers, spreading revolutionary slogans in Havana and Santiago despite censorship.

Describe victory marches

• Castro carefully staged victory marches in January 1959

• projecting unity and mass support

• international press coverage amplified his image as a charismatic liberator.

  • Herbert Mathews

Evaluate propaganda

Propaganda was crucial in shaping perceptions: media, imagery, and rhetoric projected the rebels as authentic nationalists, delegitimised Batista, and secured both domestic and international sympathy.

By controlling the revolutionary narrative, Castro ensured that limited military successes translated into mass political legitimacy.