Conditions leading to Castro’s rise to power 

Conditions: economic, social, impact of war and political

Political

1. Domination of USA

   1. The ‘Platt Amendment’ of 1901-1934

      1. Gave the USA control over Cuban foreign policy, the right to station troops and intervene ‘to preserve independence’.

      2. Guantánamo Bay became a US military base.

2. Failure of Cuban Government – corrupt and repressive

   1. First president Tomas Estrada Palma (1902-06)

      1. Dependent on the USA.

      2. Iintimidated opponents and won elections through fraud.

      3. He neglected social justice and ideas of independence, believing that it was impossible. An army revolt eventually forced him to resign

   2. García Menocal (1913-21) – presided over imaginary building projects and did little to improve Cuba

   3. Gerardo Machado y Morales (1925-33)

      1. Assassinated Marxist rival Antonio Mella

      2. Gunned down striking workers in 1925.

      3. He outlawed rival parties in 1928

      4. Faced a failed general strike in 1930.

3. Batista’s excess in repression, torture and persecution affecting his image, allowed Castro to rise

   1. By late 1955, student protests and anti-Batista demonstrations were threatening to topple his government. He used violence to kill student protesters – making them into martyrs.

   2. Batista refused to hold elections in March 1956.

   3. 20 000 killed during his dictatorship

4. Other Cuban political parties weren’t seen as good alternatives

   1. Partido Auténtico – the leaders ruled during corrupt and undemocratic periods in Cuban history

   2. Partido Ortodoxo – leader committed suicide

   3. Popular Socialist Party – banned from participating in elections

Economic

1. Cuba was the world’s largest supplier of sugar, this reliance on monoculture exposed the economy to price fluctuations.

   1. The sugar crop worth $200m in 1929 was only worth $40m in 1932.

   2. Initially the USA committed to buying 50% of the annual sugar crop. Yet under pressure from the Congressional Sugar Lobby, this quota was reduced to 29% in 1937.

2. USA’s domination

   1. The Sugar trade brought in 80% of Cuba’s foreign earnings – USA, as prime buyer of Cuban sugar power over the Cuban economy

   2. The Banco Nacional collapsed, and the USA took economic control of Cuba for over three years.

3. Unemployment was 17% in 1956-57.

   1. Sugar workers were seasonal, and mostly owned by upper class or foreign companies

   2. ¼ of all workers lost their jobs during the Great Depression

4. Inflation

   1. Raising prices of imports, but lower sugar prices in the international market, therefore no money to buy imports

   2. It was threatening the living standards of all Cubans, rising to 40% a year for foodstuffs whilst pay levels stagnated.

Social

1. Social inequality

   1. 20% of the population lived in Havana yet it accounted for over 80% of investment in construction and 62% of salaries and wages.

   2. Rural areas lacked running water or electricity

   3. Ownership – upper class only

2. Suicide rates had climbed to over 1000 per year in 1955, compared to 849 in 1951.

3. Lack of access to education and healthcare

   1. 50% illiteracy

   2. Rural areas suffered from poor health and educational services with a ratio of 1:227 doctors in Havana compared to 1:2423 in Oriente.