Cuba

Cuban War of Independence (1895–1898): The final major Cuban rebellion against Spanish rule, organized by José Martí with guerrilla warfare led by Gómez and Maceo. U.S. intervention in 1898 ended Spanish rule but established American influence, creating a legacy of revolutionary Cuban nationalism.

Spanish-American War (1898): Brief conflict sparked by U.S. economic interests, public sympathy, press coverage, and the USS Maine explosion. The U.S. defeated Spain and occupied Cuba until 1902, leaving Cuba under major U.S. influence.

José Martí: Intellectual and symbol of Cuban independence who opposed Spanish rule and warned against U.S. imperialism. Killed in battle in 1895, his martyr status was later invoked by Fidel Castro to legitimize his movement.

Platt Amendment (1901–1934): American-imposed constitutional clause granting the U.S. military intervention rights and a lease for Guantánamo Bay, severely restricting Cuban sovereignty.

Sugar Intervention (1917–1922): U.S. Marine deployment in eastern Cuba during WWI to protect economically critical sugar plantations and infrastructure amidst domestic political instability.

Gerardo Machado: Cuban president (1925–1933) who became an authoritarian dictator. Economic collapse from the Great Depression and political repression fueled widespread opposition, culminating in his 1933 overthrow.

Sergeant’s Revolt (1933): Uprising of lower-ranking military personnel led by Fulgencio Batista. It elevated Batista to military commander, allowing him to dominate Cuban politics throughout the 1930s.

University of Havana: Center of student radicalism and direct-action political culture in pre-revolutionary Cuba. Fidel Castro studied law here in the late 1940s, gaining experience in activist organization.

Impact of World War Two on Cuba: Caused a temporary sugar boom and foreign reserve growth, but failed to fix underlying economic weaknesses like U.S. dependence and severe unemployment.

Fulgencio Batista: Dominant figure in Cuban politics (1933–1959). After serving as elected president (1940–1944), he seized power in a 1952 coup, leading an increasingly authoritarian regime until overthrown by Castro in 1959.

The Auténtico Presidencies (1944–1952): Governments under Grau and Prío that preserved democratic elections but became synonymous with corruption, political violence, and unfulfilled social reforms.

BRAC: Anti-communist security agency created by Batista in 1955 to share intelligence with the U.S. and suppress political dissent during the Cold War.

Batista’s Coup (1952): Preempted scheduled elections, dismantled constitutional democracy, and convinced figures like Fidel Castro that armed revolution was the only path forward.

Fidel Castro (Rise to Power): Lawyer and Ortodoxo candidate who organized armed resistance after the 1952 coup. Led the 26th of July Movement and Sierra Maestra guerrilla war, overthrowing Batista in 1959.

Ortodoxos: Political party founded in 1947 by Eduardo Chibás targeting government corruption and promoting social reform. Split after 1952 over peaceful reform versus armed resistance.

Eduardo Chibás: Popular anti-corruption leader of the Ortodoxo Party whose passionate radio broadcasts mobilized Cuban youth. His suicide in 1951 left the reform movement leaderless.

CIA: U.S. intelligence agency formed in 1947. Monitored Cuban politics during the Cold War, provided support to Batista, and later organized covert operations against Castro's government post-1959.

Raúl Castro: Fidel’s younger Marxist brother, key strategist in the Moncada attack, Granma expedition, and guerrilla front commander in the Sierra Maestra.

Attack on the Moncada Barracks (July 26, 1953): Failed armed raid led by Fidel Castro. Though a military disaster, it made the Castro brothers national political figures.

History Will Absolve Me Speech: Fidel Castro’s defense speech at his Moncada trial, framing his rebellion around constitutional restoration and social reform.

Moncada Program: Socioeconomic platform outlined by Castro calling for land reform, worker profit-sharing, education expansion, and restoration of the 1940 Constitution.

Movimiento de 26 de Julio (M-26-7): Revolutionary organization founded by Castro that launched the 1956 Granma expedition and waged rural guerrilla warfare and urban sabotage against Batista.