Fulgencio Batist The Cuban Revolution

Fulgencio Batista stared his rule on October 10, 1940 by being elected President of Cuba. He served until his termed ended in 1944. During his last year he introduced taxes to help America and their war efforts. Cubans did not like this because many of them were poor (history). After his term, Batista went to America only to return in 1952. He tried to run for President once again but was defeated. Upset by his defeat, he led a military coup. A military coup is a military force that carries out actions without knowing the political objective (definition). By 1952 Batista had become a dictator over Cuba. Because Batista would “match, dollar for dollar, any hotel investment over $1 million, which would include a casino license” (pbs) there was an influx in gambling, so much so that Meyer Lanksy and many other rich Americans got involved (pbs). It is said that Batista took 30% of money raised and his wife took 10% (history). There was very little done for the poor and on July 26, 1953 a group attacked Santiago. This attack failed. Unhappy about the attack Batista’s police tortured and killed the men who attacked. He captured Castro and held a public trial. Castro turned the tables on Batista “by making the trail about the power grab” and saying it was his “civic duty” (latin). He was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Castro and other prisoners were eventually released and they regrouped in Mexico (latin). America became unhappy with Batista and severed ties with Cuba during this time. The Cuban poor were receiving no benefit from all the money the country seemed to have and seemed to be spending. People became increasingly unhappy and started to side with Castro. Castro began to aid the poor on the island by helping on their farms, creating basic schools, and giving them medication. This was called the “hearts and mind policy (history)”. It very successful and it gave Castro a boost with the people as he moved onward towards Batista. There were rebel groups that were not involved with Castro that helped him in some attacks. In 1958 Batista sent “a large portion of his army into the highlands (latin)”. His plan backfired and the rebels annihilated Batista’s soldiers. Later in 1958 Castro divided his forces and, while the rebels “liberated” towns, the Cuban government was trying to negotiate with Castro to try and get control of the situation. As much as the government tried, Castro had Cuban right where he wanted it. On the first of January 1959 the Cuban revolution ended and the Castro brothers took charge. Future of Cuba Once the Fidel Castro took charge Cuba was in for something new. As time went on two countries were at each other’s doors waiting to attack each other. These counties were America and The Soviet Union. Both countries tried to gain allies where they could. Castro decided to align himself with the Soviets, giving the world the history we know. The Soviets internal intervention within Cuba changed the country completely. Now that the Soviets have control within Cuba, a country so close to America, it (America) chose to step away from Cuba. The Soviets intervention caused Cuba to lose all future help from America until recent history. Fidel Castro as Dictator Fidel Castro was born on August 13, …show more content…
His father, Angel, owned a sugar plantation (bio). He had five siblings and received private education at a Jesuit boarding school. Castro was not only intelligent but he also pitched for one of his school’s baseball teams (bio) before entering law school at the University of Havana. While becoming a lawyer he found himself becoming involved with politics. Castro had always had a “passion for reform (bio)”. He once traveled to Dominican Republic to join a group trying to overthrow its dictator. Soon after Castro joined the Orthodox Party; this party was highlighted to help economic independence, standards of living workers, and balance of social classes to name just three (party)”. At age twenty two Castro had married (though he divorced in 1955) and had one child. By the age of 32 he had taken control away from Batista. Then on February 16, 1959 Fidel Castro become the prime minister of Cuba