Lasting anti-US sentiment in Cuba due to the Platt Amendment and American interference is a long-term cause.
There was political instability in Cuba in the early 20th century with multiple coups.
Rise of Batista
Fulgencio Batista first appeared in the 1933 coup, becoming the head of the armed forces.
Batista was democratically elected president in 1940 but couldn't run for consecutive terms, similar to term limits.
In 1952, Batista staged a coup because he knew he wouldn't win the election.
In 1952, Fidel Castro was running for congress. He came from a wealthy, land-owning family, and later redistributed his family's land to peasants.
The US recognized Batista's government two weeks after the 1952 coup, giving it legitimacy during the Cold War.
The US government preferred Batista's non-communist control.
Batista's Dictatorship
Batista was pro-US and anti-labor union, maintaining US investments in Cuba.
He favored the wealthy, suppressed workers, and suspended the 1940 constitution, revoking political liberties.
Batista aligned himself with wealthy landowners, increased the gap between rich and poor.
Much of the sugar industry and 70% of arable land was in the hands of the US and foreign entities.
Corruption and Resistance
Batista's government had connections to the American mafia, which controlled drugs, gambling, and prostitution.
Cuba was a hotspot for US tourists seeking debauchery.
Batista aligned with US-based multinational corporations like the United Fruit Company.
Repression and economic inequality led to resistance movements.
Long-Term Causes of the Revolution
The Cuban economy was based entirely on sugar, leading to seasonal unemployment and structural inequalities.
Anti-US sentiment stemmed from the Spanish-American War, Cuban independence, and the Platt Amendment, leading to US corporate control.
Cuba experienced political instability with multiple coups and corruption, power was in the hands of the elite.
Economic inequalities existed between the wealthy (often white) and the poor (often Afro-Cuban), with land primarily held by elites or foreign interests.
Short-Term Causes of the Revolution
Batista's increasingly dictatorial and repressive regime.
The rise of Fidel Castro, who offered hope and change. In 1952, Castro ran as part of the Cuban Orthodox party.
Castro was a nationalist, seeking to provide for the Cuban people and remove foreign interests.
His revolution was a David versus Goliath story, with Castro gathering poor revolutionaries against Batista.
July 26 Movement
The July 26 movement (also known as M-26-7) was the rebel movement led by Fidel Castro.
Castro led a raid against the Moncada army barracks in Santiago De Cuba on July 26, 1953, which failed.
Most of the group was killed, but Castro and his brother Raul escaped, eventually being arrested and imprisoned.
The attack on the Moncada barracks was later mythologized as the first shots fired in the Cuban revolution.
The plan was to take over the justice palace and a radio station to broadcast their manifesto.
Trial and Imprisonment
The trial revealed torture of detainees, embarrassing the army and reinforcing negative views of Batista.
Castro was sentenced to 15 years and delivered his famous "History Will Absolve Me" speech.
During his imprisonment, Castro distributed his speech and ideas, gaining support.
Batista released Castro and other political prisoners in 1955.
Castro went to Mexico, organizing Cuban exiles and meeting Che Guevara.
The Granma Landing
In Mexico, Castro met Che Guevara, an Argentinian medical student with anti-US, anti-imperialist sentiments.
Che Guevara had witnessed the Guatemala coup in 1954. Anti US and anti-imperialist sentiments.
In 1956, Castro and 81 men sailed back to Cuba from Mexico on the Granma to overthrow Batista.
The plan was to hid out in the mountains in guerilla warfare, hit and run tactics.
They arrived in December 1956; most were killed, but about 20, including Castro and Che Guevara, escaped.
Sierra Maestro Mountains
Castro and Che Guevara hid out in the Sierra Maestro Mountains with peasant groups.
They gained peasant support by treating them well, talking about land redistribution and education reform.
By December 1957, their forces have grown to 200.
Revolution's Ideology
Castro promoted himself as a nationalist rather than a communist at this stage. Despite potential communist intentions.
In July 1957, he met with members of the Orthodox party to sign the Sierra Maestro manifesto, promising reforms.
He built a coalition of support, isolating Batista.
He was trying to gain support from a number of groups and parties.
US Support and Controversy
The US still supported Batista as a bulwark against communism, with American corporate interests heavily invested in Cuba.
The US provided military and economic assistance to Batista.
Support for Batista was controversial in the US, but the government was aware of the situation.
Civil War and Repression
The country was now in a civil war, with Batista's regime cracking down dramatically, suspending constitutional protections, removing peasants, and sending in death squads.
These actions increased opposition to Batista.
Castro's role of ideology and spreading the view for reforms, the role of propaganda gained popularity.
Role of Propaganda
the media.
The media gave a good image of Castro
US Halts Support
In March 1958, the US stopped arms shipments to Batista and eventually pulled all economic aid.
This was a major blow to Batista, as the US had corporate interests in Cuba as well.
The M-26-7 sabotaged the government by burning sugar plantations, disrupting the economy and eroding middle class support for Batista.
Batista's Last Stand
In July 1958, Batista responded with an all-out attack on the Sierra Maestra.
Desperations from Batista's army became a major issue. By November. the rebels had taken over half of Cuba.
The Pact of Caracas expanded support for Castro, bringing in students, labor movements, political groups, and middle-class business people.
The Pact was a large blow to Batista. The ultra wealthy were the only supporters left.
Victory
The Battle of Santa Clara resulted in 300 rebel troops defeating a government army 10 times larger. The rebels captures and sabotaged a train.
The revolution was victorious on January 1, as Batista flew to the Dominican Republic, ending up in Portugal where he died.
M267 took over and rounded up Batista's supporters resulting in huge controversy.
Castro called for elections but postponed them to "stabilize the country".
US Reaction
The US welcomed Castro after the revolution, remaining unsure but hopeful, since Castro said he was against dictatorships.
Castro's government, who had longed opposed the US, began taking American owned property in Cuba.
Castro started nationalizing American-owned property in Cuba without compensation, leading to a transfer of industries to the government.
Worsening Relationship
By October 1959, all US food businesses were nationalized.
Castro started arresting political dissidents, solidifying people to flee.
Eisenhower began an economic embargo as a retaliation, leading to JFK to cut diplomatic ties in 1961.
Bay of Pigs and Operation Mongoose
April 1961, the CIA trained Cuban exiles to land at the Bat of Pigs in attempt to overthrow Castro, leading Castro to realize the US wanted him dead.
After the Bay of Pigs failed, JFK authorized Operation Mongoose, a CIA program to assassinate Fidel Castro.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Because Castro knew the US was looking to assassinate him, he turned to Nikita Khrushchev and asked for help. In turn, Khrushchev wanted to balance the the missiles. Since he knew we had missiles pointed in The Soviet Union and Turkey, he was going to build missiles near to The US so everybody would win.
Thus, begins the Cuban Missile Crisis. This last few slides are kind of just - I added these actually actually today or yesterday - thinking that you might request this. So you can look at this. I just sort of went over all this, but this is like, "Why did the rebels win?"