5.1: The Cuban Revolution
I. Conditions Leading to the Revolution (Causes)
• The Platt Amendment (1901–1934): Although repealed in 1934, its legacy established Cuba as a US protectorate. It granted the USA the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and led to the perpetual lease of Guantánamo Bay.
◦ Analysis: This created deep-seated nationalism and resentment toward US "imperialism," which Fidel Castro later leveraged to gain support.
• Economic Inequality and Dependency: The Cuban economy was a "boom and bust" system dependent almost entirely on sugar exports.
◦ Unemployment: Between 1943 and 1957, unemployment rates fluctuated between 20% and 30%.
◦ Land Ownership: One-third of all agricultural land was owned by massive sugar plantations and cattle ranches, leaving rural peasants landless and underemployed.
• Social Disparities: While Havana had an 88% literacy rate, rural areas were neglected. Healthcare and education were accessible mainly to the professional classes.
• Political Corruption: The regime of Fulgencio Batista was characterized by repression and corruption, providing the "social malaise" necessary for revolutionary sentiment to grow.
II. The Revolutionary Struggle (1953–1959)
• Moncada Barracks Attack (July 26, 1953): A failed attempt by Castro and 160 supporters to spark an uprising. It led to Castro’s imprisonment.
• "History Will Absolve Me": Castro’s famous defense speech during his trial, which outlined his grievances against Batista and his vision for reform.
• M-26-7 Movement: After being pardoned, Castro formed the 26th of July Movement in Mexico, eventually returning to Cuba to wage guerrilla warfare.
• Victory: Batista fled on January 1, 1959, and Castro’s forces entered Havana.
III. Post-Revolutionary Reforms and Consolidation
• Political Consolidation:
◦ JUCEPLAN (Junta Central de Planificación): Established in 1960 to centrally plan the economy.
◦ CDRs (Committees for the Defense of the Revolution): Local militias formed in 1960 to monitor "subversive" activity and provide domestic security.
• Economic Reforms:
◦ INRA (National Institute for Agrarian Reform): Aimed at nationalizing US-owned sugar mills and land. It broke up large estates and redistributed land to rural workers.
◦ Nationalization: By 1960, most small businesses (approximately 58,000) and major industries were state-owned.
• Social Achievements:
◦ Literacy Campaign (1961): 300,000 volunteers were sent to rural areas to teach reading and writing, significantly reducing illiteracy and fostering national unity.
◦ FMC (Federation of Cuban Women): Led by Vilma Espín, this organization trained women for the workforce and advocated for the Family Code, which legally required men to share household duties.
IV. Cold War Context and US Relations
• The US Boycott/Embargo: In response to the nationalization of US property, the USA implemented a trade embargo.
• Soviet Alliance: The USSR became the primary buyer of Cuban sugar and provided essential military and economic aid.
• The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Triggered by the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. While it prevented a US invasion, Castro was frustrated at being excluded from the final negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev.
• Alliance for Progress: The US-led economic aid program for Latin America designed specifically to prevent more "Cuban-style" socialist revolutions in the region.
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V. Important Definitions for IB HL History
• Platt Amendment: A 1901 clause in the Cuban constitution allowing US intervention; its legacy fueled 20th-century Cuban nationalism.
• Boom and Bust: An economy highly vulnerable to price fluctuations of a single export (e.g., sugar).
• Expropriation: The government takeover of private property for public use, often without compensation.
• Zafra: The annual sugar cane harvest, which became a focal point of national economic goals.
• M-26-7: The revolutionary organization led by Fidel Castro.
• Nationalization: The process of bringing private assets under state control.
• Embargo/Boycott: A ban on commercial relations as a form of political punishment.
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VI. Analysis Level: Impact and Significance
• Transformation of Social Structure: The revolution effectively removed the "dominant classes," leading to mass emigration (mostly to the USA). While this caused a "brain drain" of expertise, it allowed Castro to build a more equitable, albeit centrally controlled, society.
• Nationalism vs. Communism: Analysis of Castro’s early policies (like the Literacy Campaign) suggests they were driven by nationalism and a desire for social justice as much as by Marxist-Leninist ideology.
• Economic Vulnerability: Despite attempts to diversify, Cuba remained heavily dependent on sugar. The shift from dependency on the USA to dependency on the USSR meant that the "boom and bust" cycle remained a systemic risk.
• Regional Catalyst: The revolution served as a "beacon" for other leftist movements (e.g., the FMLN in El Salvador) and forced the USA to militarize its diplomacy in the region to prevent further communist spread.