The Cuban Revolution Kay Speight Period 1 Batista Regime First Coup • September 4, 1933: In an uprising called the “Revolt of Sergeants” Batista overthrew the liberal Cuban government of Gerado Machado. • Marked the start of the army’s influence over politics • April 1933: US Ambassador Benjamin Sumner Welles, sent to mediate opposing political forces to the Cuban government, found an ally in Batista • Batista asKed the ambassador what could be done for recognition of Batista’s power, Welles responded "I will lay down no specific terms; the maer of your government is a Cuban maer and it is for you to decide what you will do about it.“ • To Batista, this was an invitation to rule Batista Regime (2) Second Coup • March 10, 1952: Batista tooK over the Cuban government a second time from elected president, Carlos Prío SoCorras • TooK place 3 months prior to the elections Batista was sure to lose • March 27, 1952: Batista’s rule was formally recognized by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower Fidel Castro’s Early Years • Born August 13, 1926 in small town Birán to a wealthy Spanish sugarcane farmer and one of his father’s domestic servants who bore him out of wedloCK • He aended a few Jesuit sChools where he exCelled at baseball • Castro enrolled at the University of Havana where he joined an anti-corruption Orthodox party where he participated in an aborted coup aempt against the brutal Dominican Republic dictator, Rafael Trujillo • 1950: Castro graduates from UH and opens a law offiCe • 1952: Castro ran for the Cuban House of Representatives however the election didn’t happen because Batista overthrew the Cuban government a second time Revolution of 1959 • July 1953: Castro leads about 120 men on aacK on the Moncada Army barracKs in Santiago de Cuba – The assault failed – Castro sentenced 15 years in prison – US bacKed Batista and released Castro as part of general amnesty • Castro fled to Mexico where he met revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara and ploUed his return Revolution of 1959 (2) • One year later Castro and 81 other men sailed on the yacht, “Granma” to the eastern Coast of Cuba – They were immediately ambushed and the estimated 18 survivors (including Castro’s brother, Raul and Guevara) esCaped into the Sierra Maestra Mountains in southeastern Cuba with virtually no weapons or supplies – ACCording to Castro, they reorganized with only 2 rifles – By early 1957, they were gaining recruits and winning small bales. • In 1958 Batista aempted to end Castro’s revolution with a massive offensive including air force bombers and off shore naval units – The rebels kept their ground and gained control from Batista on January 1, 1959 • One week later, Castro arrived in Havana and became the prime minister • Revolutionary Tribunals began trying and executing members of the old regime for “war crimes” • Batista fled to the Dominican Republic life under Castro • Abolished legal disCrimination • Brought electricity to the countryside • Provided full employment, advanced education and healthcare – Mostly by building new sChools and medical centers • He closed down many oppositional newspapers and jailed thousands of political opponents – Made no move towards elections • limited the amount of land one could own, abolished private business, controlled housing and consumer goods shortages Cuba Relations with Russia • After coming to rule, Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in late 1961 • May 1960: Castro formed diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union – US retaliates by disallowing the import of Cuban sugar, to make up for the loss, the Soviet Union agreed to buy the sugar • Cuba was increasingly dependent on the Soviet Union for economic and military support Cuba Relations with Latin America • Castro hoped to spread communism throughout Latin America • He supplied many leftist guerilla movements with supplies and weapons • Most of the Marxist revolutions that Castro supported failed • Overall, relations with many countries and Cuba began to slowly normalize with the exCeption of the United States Cuba Relations with America • 1960: Castro nationalized all US-owned businesses including casinos, oil refineries, and factories – Eisenhower was prompted to end all diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba – He also implemented a trade embargo • After JFK became president he expanded the embargo to a full economic embargo which included strict travel restrictions • 1961: US begins to pursue covert operations to overthrow Castro • The failed Bay of Pigs invasion lead to a secret agreement allowing the Soviet Union to place nuclear missiles aimed towards America in Cuba Bay of Pigs • Kennedy inherited Eisenhower’s CIA plan to train and equip Cuban exiles – He was sKeptical of the plan but was assured that US involvement would be kept secret and if anything, the aacK would spark an anti-Castro uprising • The first part of the plan was to destroy Castro’s small air force so it could not resist invasion • April 15, 1961: Cuban exiles set off from Nicaragua with American B-26 bombers painted to looK like stolen Cuban planes – Castro already knew of the plan and had moved his air force to safety • April 17: Cuban exile brigade begins at an isolated spot on the island’s southern shore known as the Bay of Pigs – However, a radio station (which the CIA reconnaissance failed to spot) reported every detail of the plan of invasion to thousands of Cuban listeners • Unexpected coral reefs sunk some of the exiles ships and bacKup paratroopers landed in the wrong place • Castro’s men soon pinned the exiles on the beach and after less than a day of fighting, 114 exiles were killed and 1,100 were taken as prisoners Aftermath of the Bay of Pigs Invasion • The CIA and the Cuban exiles hoped Kennedy would use American military to intervene on their behalf – Kennedy did not because of the fear of starting a WWIII • His efforts to overthrow Castro did not falter • In 1962, Kennedy’s failure with Cuban Missile Crisis only further strained the United States and Cuba relationship Bay of Pigs Video Cuban Missile Crisis • In 1962, the Soviet Union secretly stationed ballistic missiles in Cuba that could deliver nuclear warheads to cities in the US • OCtober 1962: US disCovers nuclear weapons have been stationed just 90 miles from Florida • In a TV address on OCtober 22, 1962, Kennedy notified the American public of the missiles and explained his decision to enact a naval bloCKade to protect the US militarily by whatever means were necessary – After a 13 day standoff, Russian leader, Nikita KhrusChev agreed to remove the nukes against Castro’s wishes (Castro was not involved in negotiations) – In return, the US publicly agreed not to reinvade Cuba and privately consented to removing American nuclear weapons out of Turkey OriginValue This iscartoon a political is very cartoon valuable by Edmund Valtmanbecause itcalled allows “What modern You day Need, Man, IsAmericans a Revolution to understandLike Mine” which the was Publishedmajority feeling in the towardsHartford Cuba Times on Augustfrom the 31, United 1961 States. For the most part, the United States believed Castro to be arrogant Purpose and an unrelenting dictator. Valtman created this cartoon to This cartoon’s value is that it also emphasize on the pride he himself is a perfect primary source. It not sees within Castro. Valtman only tells the story of Castro and drew this cartoon to show the American Cuba but it also provides insight public how seemingly ignorant Castro into Brazil’s economic and political truly was to the real problems his Crisis. Country was being faced with Limitation While this cartoon is an exCellent Contentprimary source, it is extremely bias. ValtmanValtman drewportrays Castro Castro as a as larger a cruel man Thandictator the who other is two also to to show ignorant his to Arrogance.realize Cuba He is alsoin as boasts bad of of shape his as RevolutionBrazil. However, yet he thisholds cartoon a man does in chains not Behindshow any him. of the good deeds Castro had done. It merely showed Castro as an enemy. ReferencesReferences Renwick, Danielle, Brianna Lee and James McBride. "U.S.-Cuba Relations." 26 February 2014. Council on Foreign Relations . April 2016. Sierra, Jerry A. "Batista." n.d. History of Cuba. April 2016. Staff, History.com. "Fidel Castro." 2009. History.com. April 2016. Thor. "Cuban Revolution." 18 November 2012. History Wars Weapons. April 2016. Valtman, Edmund. What You Need, Man, Is a Revolution Like Mine. The Hartford Times. Valtman: The Editorial Cartoons of Edmund S. Valtman. Baltimore, 1961. Ink, tonal overlay on paper. .