Background
Cuba was
a Spanish Colony One of the wealthiest in Latin America Economy based on Sugar
exports to US and Europe Spanish controlled the nation politically,
economically and
Socially
Large underclass of Blacks (descendants of Slaves) and poor mestizos
Spanish-American
War
US
occupies Cuba 1899-1902 US helped to write new Cuban Constitution modeled on US
version
Platt
Amendment was added—Gave US the right to intervene in Cuban Affairs, also Guantanamo
Bay became US Naval base
Post War
US sent
troops several times from 1902-1953 Huge US investment in Sugar ($200 Million
by 1913 1/5th of all US
investment in Latin America at the time
Attempted
Revolution of 1933
200,000
sugar workers led an uprising in 1933 In the chaos, a group of military leaders
took control
Led by
Fulgencio Batista He continued to rule behind the scenes in Cuba until 1952
Batista
Took over in a coup in 1952 pro-US Anti labor
Cuban Elites liked Batista Most Cubans did not Was a dictator
Maintained social system, economic dependence
on Sugar, strong ties to US This was the time that Havana was the “hot” spot
for US tourists—night clubs, gambling
The
Cuban Revolution The Revolution itself
It began
with the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953, and ended on January
1, 1959, when Batista was driven from the country and the cities Santa Clara and
Santiago de Cuba were seized by rebels,
led by
Che Guevara and Fidel Castro's surrogates Raul Castro and Huber Matos, respectively.
Fidel
Castro
He led
the revolution and shortly after was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba. Castro
became First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in 1965, and led the
transformation of Cuba into a one-party socialist republic. Castro became
popular for his anti-US policies because Cubans saw US as imperialistic.
Long
Term Causes #1: Sugar
The
Cuban economy was based primarily on Sugar—not diversified Economy rose and
fell on Sugar Most of the Sugar plantations were in the hands of Foreign (US
mostly) investors or wealthy upper class Cubans Seasonal unemployment high Created
structural inequalities in the Cuban population Markets tied to the US
Long
Term Causes #2:
Anti-US
resentment Since the Spanish-American War and Cuban
Independence, a great deal of resentment towards US
control/effect
on Cuban economy and politics
Long
Term Causes #3:
Political
Instability
From
Independence on Cuba had no real stable political experience Some attempts at
reform from time to time, but not much accomplished
Power in
the hands of the elites US essentially ran Cuba 3 different times from 1900s-1930s
Large economic gap between rich and poor Rich elites were
white, small % of the pop. Rest of nation was mestizos, Afro-Cuban Land in the
hands of elites or foreign interests Workers did try to unionize, but not
particularly successful
Long
Term Causes #4:
Social /
Economic Inequities
Short
Term Causes #1:
Batista’s
Regime 1952-1959
Did not bring about reforms Repression At first the U.S. supported the
Batista regime, but as conditions worsened in Cuba, US pulled support Even
middle class went against Batista
Short
Term Cause #2: Rise of Castro
Attack
on Mocada army barracks 1953 failure Castro
arrested, but freed later gives
the revolutionaries some hope and momentum Creation of 26th of July
Movement Defeats of Batista’s forces Appeal, both in Cuba and US, of Castro’s movement
brought more support
The
Cuban Revolution
Aims and
Achievements – Implementing the revolution - Historians
do not agree as to whether Castro was communist from the beginning or not But
beginning in 1959 Castro began to move Cuba towards a more
socialist/communist
state He had several goals:
Economic
Goals:
Nationalization
Nationalized US companies: Oil refineries, telephone,
private companies By October of 1959 all US owned businesses were nationalized US
under Eisenhower begins economic embargo as a retaliation John F Kennedy later
cuts diplomatic ties with Cuba Economic Aims: Industrial Production -- At first
Castro attempted to increase Cuba’s industrial production -- Failed because of mismanagement,
corruption Economic Aims Sugar Production.
In 1970 Castro called for Cuba to produce 10
Million tons of Sugar Mobilized resources across the nation Fell short--8.5 million
tons produced--biggest sugar production ever in Cuba Took resources away from
other sectors of the economy Pushed Cuba to have to embrace USSR in order to survive
Economic Aim Soviet-style economic management After Sugar failure, Castro
turned to USSR, USSR agreed to help but wanted greater control in return Soviet-style
economic management with Soviet advisors making decisions,
State made policies and decisions, Allowed some small private enterprises, State
run business could pay bonuses and fire employees Until about 1976 when the
economy grew, but price of sugar fell to 8¢ pound in ‘77 and economy dropped.
Social
Aims
Free universal education, Universal
Health care, Child care, Government subsidized housing, Social security
programs
Cuba had the most equal
distribution of wealth in the Americas
Borrowed heavily from Canada,
Europe Japan--unable to pay back in the 1980s
Political Aims
Cuba as leader of
revolutionary movements around the world, Castro wanted to export the revolution
around the globe
Help other revolutions
against imperialist/colonial powers, Central America, Africa, Vietnam. Cuba
sent troops and support
Helped to bring about a
Marxist government in Angola in the 1980s, also helped to bring a Socialist
government to Nicaragua in 1979.
Effects
of these attempts?
Successful in bringing about
revolutions in a few places, failed in others (Bolivia for example). Castro
support for Marxist rebel group, MPLA in Angola hurt chances for an improvement
in US-Cuban relations when the US was ready.
Support of USSR in their war
in Afghanistan damaged Cuba’s position as the leader of the Non-Aligned Nations
(Countries not tied to US or USSR during the Cold War). Created a large group
of Cubans serving as aid workers and doctors around the world (by 1979 14,000
Cubans were working overseas).
Political Aims - Control Dissent within Cuba, Thousands
of Cubans were arrested and detained for speaking out against the Revolution or
government policies Created anger and resentment among many Cubans and human
rights groups • In Cuba, social and economic trends led to a revolution. There,
social inequality and heavy U.S. influence led to a revolt that brought
communism to this large Caribbean island. • Cuba very dependent on U.S. • 1950s, hotels, casinos owned by wealthy Americans, Cuba’s elite • U.S. owned sugar, tobacco
plantations.
Reasons
for Revolt
• Valuable exports from
plantations • Little
land for peasants to farm • Cuba one of richest Latin American countries
• Most Cubans could not
earn living
Rich
and Poor
• Business interests encouraged
U.S. government support of corrupt dictators
• Anticommunist Fulgencio
Batista took power in 1952 military coup with U.S. Support.
The
Cuban Revolution
• The coming of Castro - • Batista’s Cuba
• “A rich country with too
many poor people”. • Batista’s coup stirred discontent nationalist among poor
Revolutionaries under Castro Led unsuccessful attack in 1953; guerrilla war
became fullscale revolution in 1955
• Batista fled in 1959;
Castro took control • Castro focused
on ending U.S. dominance, redistributing wealth, reforming society • Energies
went to restructuring economy, society, government, foreign policy • 1961,
program virtually eliminated illiteracy in one year • Created medical care system, raised
life expectancy
Castro’s Programs
• Broad support
for revolution to remove Batista
• Most did not
know what kind of revolution Castro would lead
• Middle-class
Cubans supported moderate democratic reforms
• Many Castro
revolutionaries, including Che Guevara, wanted Marxist
regime
Goals
of the Revolution
• Changes
under Castro
• Limited
size of landholdings
• Nationalized
private property, businesses
• To
ensure he had power to make changes
• Took
full control of government
• Took
away freedom of press
• Result
of radical actions
• Led Cuba
more toward communism
• Led Cuba
toward confrontation with U.S.
•U.S. Involvement
• Cuba’s
move toward communism troubled U.S. leaders
• Viewed
Latin America as part of U.S. sphere of influence
• Wanted
to keep communism out of region
•Cuban
Missile Crisis
• 1962,
CIA learned Soviet Union building nuclear missile site in Cuba
• President
John Kennedy ordered naval blockage to keep Soviet ships out
• World
came close to nuclear war before compromise, missiles removed
•Organization
of American States
• Set up
shortly after World War II to promote economic, military cooperation
• 1961,
U.S.-trained invasion force of Cuban exiles landed at Bay of Pigs
• Mission
to spark nationwide uprising against Castro; mission failed
The
Cuban Revolution
• Mixed results
as well; economy suffered from U.S. embargo
• Castro’s
policies led many Cubans to leave country, many for U.S.; caused economy to
struggle
• Castro relied
on Soviet Union for economic support; Soviet collapse in 1991 hurt economy
Economic Effects of Revolution
• Mixed results
since Cold War; good access to health care, education
• People’s civil
liberties restricted under one-party system
• Government
jails opponents, spies on citizens
Results of the Revolution
Mixed results as well; economy suffered
from U.S. embargo
• Castro’s policies led many Cubans
to leave country, many for U.S.; caused economy to struggle
• Castro relied on Soviet Union for
economic support; Soviet collapse in 1991 hurt economy
Economic Effects of
Revolution
• Mixed results since Cold War; good
access to health care, education
• People’s civil liberties
restricted under one-party system
• Government jails opponents, spies
on citizens
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