It’s meaning is simple. “The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events” (Dictionary). That is exactly what the Cuban Revolution was all about, the battle for power. Fulgencio Batista was the leader of Cuba before and during the revolution. He was the deep-rooted cause of the Cuban revolution. Batista became far more dictatorial when he took control of Cuba. He became indifferent to popular concerns or commands. The Cuban Revolution pitted Batista against Fidel Castro (and the Cuban people) in a fight for control of Cuba. This fight eventually also involved the USA and Russia, which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. At this time, Cuba had become the first Communist state in the western hemisphere. This scared the U.S.; they didn’t want the “Red Menace” in their own backyard (Green 77). For the Cubans, the Cuban Revolution marked the end of half a century of unstable government, international and national corruption and foreign dominance by the United States (Stoner 1). Although a controversial figure for most Cubans, Fidel Castro successfully overthrew an unfair and cruel government system by overcoming several significant roadblocks, developing unusual allies to plot the overthrow of Batista and finally taking control promising democracy, land reform and other major political and economic …show more content…
Castro intended to run in elections for the House of Representatives scheduled for 1952, but General Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government and the elections were cancelled. He claimed that his so-called “coup” was needed to rid the government of corruption (Green 81). When Castro heard about the coup, he declared himself in favor of an armed revolution. Castro stated, “The present moment, is revolutionary, not political….The Revolution opens the way for true merit, for those who bare their chest and take up the standard. A revolutionary Party needs young revolutionary leadership drawn from the people in whose hands Cuba can be saved” (Green 81). Castro’s quote shows his anger towards the unfair elections. He felt that since this was an unfair way of governing, he was going to start his own revolution. Castro’s initial plan was to run (legitimately) for a leadership role in Cuba. Instead, Batista overthrew the government, so he could do so under the new circumstances. He was furious towards the coup, and indignant
Wright continues the telling of this historical event, under the topic of Fidelismo and the radicalization of Latin American politics. The combination of Castro’s actions and Che Guevara’s calls for revolution in the western hemisphere had a direct and profound effect on Latin American politics. This powerful force came to be known as Fidelismo and broken down to its core “it was simply the attitude that revolution should be pursued immediately” (Wright p. 39). On of the most noticeable symptoms of Fidelismo was an intense growth of demands for change. Wright notes that during this time, the intensity of political activities in many other Latin American countries increased, especially after Castro’s victory.
January of 1959, Cuba welcomed the first of the Cuban Revolution, and had become a communist country under the rule of Fidel Castro as mentioned in “Document D”. The US, against communism, became much involved in Cuba during 1962, when
The artist is criticizing how Fidel Castro failed to lead Cuba successfully because he did not follow “The Marxist Theory” which explains how the artist shows Castro burning the book as if to show how Castro was opposing and Marx and Engels theories. Furthermore, the artist aims to say that not following “The Communist Manifesto” exactly would result in consequences such as a failed state. Castro’s plans for Cuba were unsuccessful and placed Cuba in horrific situations economically and socially to this today which is seen in the cartoon where the artist depicts Cuba as an isolated and torn-down state. The artist of the political cartoon criticizes how Castro poorly handled leading the country of Cuba for many years as a Prime Minister and as a President. The artist criticizes Fidel Castro as a leader but does not criticize the theories of Marx and Engels and of communism as a whole.
The Cuban Missile Address is delivered October 22nd, 1962 in the Presidential office through a major radio and television address (Podell, Anzovin, and States United 705). Historically, it is worth mentioning that United States had attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro, who was at the time Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, in at least two occasions known as the Bay of Pigs Operation and Operation Mongoose, because of his communist regime and close relationship with the Soviet Union (Pious). Then, after the Bay of Pigs incident, Fidel Castro urged Nikita Khrushchev, the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to send support and weapons to Cuba, because of the fear of another attack to his person/regime, Nikita did by sending missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, hence, this major crisis that lasted 14 days ending October 28, 1962 (Deinema and Leydesdorff). In addition, the target audience for this speech is the American people as President starts his speech with the phrase, “Good evening, my fellow citizens” (Kennedy); however, the secondary audience would be the Cuban people, whom he describes as captive people, the Soviet Union leaders, whom he directly addresses and even quotes, and Fidel Castro of course (Kennedy). As noted above, the cultural, socio-political context is important to understand the seriousness of this crisis and
Therein lies the irony of solidarity mixed with ideas of superiority, a principle that De La Fuente should have emphasized rather than glazing over as it is crucial to examining revolutionary Cuba. In the other portion of the chapter, De La Fuente continues with Batista’s Cuba, but in a different light.
She thinks otherwise. In light of the choices she was asked to make, Castro claims, “It was all too reminiscent of the old divisions long demanded of us: you must think or feel, not both,” (On Becoming 271). The dichotomies of society need dismantling in order for improvement of people within that society. To do this people must be able to attain both side of the “or” they are presented with. Castro seems to choose both thinking and feeling.
The fear of being overcome by Western ideals of consumerism and capitalism pushed the people of Cuba to search inward for what it meant to be Cuban. Instead of searching outward as capitalistic materialism of western culture urges it’s inhabitants to do. Post revolutionary Cuba was not a place where such economic and social injustice could exist. The people of Cuban were looking for an escape from the Brazil, in particular, was adamant about being different from its neighbors.
The Cuban Revolution took place in Cuba in the 1950’s and affected Latin America and surrounding areas in many ways. In summary, Fulgencio Batista was the leader of Cuba, and at that time the U.S. and Cuba were on friendly terms. The Cuban revolution happened in 1959 when Fidel Castro overthrew Bastista’s government. When Castro aligned with the Soviet Union, it strained the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Once the people in Cuba suffered a loss of freedoms many fled to America which still has a large Cuban American population today.
When one looks at all the revolutions the earth there are many differences. Evry revolution is different but every revolution have one thing in common, one group of people is being oppressed by another. For this essay we are supposed to compare two different revolutions to the American Revolution. The two others I chose are the Cuban revolution and the Haitian revolution. To begin, I will look at a little back ground of each revolution and then the main cause.
Castro pushed education for his people to assist his aim in creating a well-rounded Cuba. In politically, economically, and socially declining environments, Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro both gained power and attempted to bring the change the people so desperately
Given the ongoing Cold War between the US and the USSR, countries worldwide were compelled to choose sides. This resulted in either supporting or opposing Cuba, leading to the Organization of American States severing relations with Cuba and creating a significant reliance on the Soviet Union ("Fidel Castro"). With deteriorating relations between the US and Cuba, Cuba had no alternative but to turn to the USSR, although not entirely willingly. Unfortunately, the Sino-Soviet conflict posed a dilemma for Castro, as he desired neutrality but faced pressure from the Soviets to support them, straining relations
Nothing changed things got worse and worse and worse. Cuba remained the same as it did earlier with Batista; a poor country in debt whose livelihood depends on sugar production. At first the United
Phase 1 of the guerrilla warfare principles emphasise on the importance of popular support, which Castro strongly related to. Additionally, the warfare encouraged troops to fight on land that is not only readily available, but an area rebels have cohesive knowledge on. Guerrilla warfare has proved to be successful method of initiating liberty on numerous occasions. It worked for Tito in Yugoslavia, the Viet Cong in Vietnam and certainly for Fidel Castro in Cuba. The country was free after four centuries of neocolonialism, and ‘Cuba Libre’ was finally
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, the man we know simply as Fidel Castro, was born in Birán, Cuba August 13, 1926. A son of the wealthy businessman, Ángel Castro and his wife Lina Ruz González, Fidel acquired a deep understanding of self early on. Often defying his parents and other authority figures, he quickly became known for his ferociousness and eagerness to succeed. Baptized Roman Catholic, Fidel found his true faith and allegiance within the Jesuit belief system, attending multiple boarding schools during his adolescence and young adulthood. At just nine years of age, Fidel became a student at the Colegio Dolores in Santiago, ultimately influencing the young Fidel and shaping the man we know today.
Late president Nikita Khrushchev (from USSR), agreed to assist Castro and took immediate action. He installed missiles in Cuba, which the US thought was a threat to the security of their nation. In summary, I think that this was a defensive move by the Cubans. I most definitely agree with