Factor 1. Political: Castro's Political Ruthlessness
Facts to Prove Point:
1. Estimated 582 Batista officials shot between 1959-1962.
2. The US government termed the killings a "bloodbath". However, a chilling response was made by the people of Cuba as there were images of Cuban people yelling "Paredon!" meaning "to the wall" (firing squad wall that is).
3. Castro was ruthless to the extent that he was also unafraid of isolating those who had helped him succeed in the revolution. Most famously, in 1959, Huber Matos, who was Castro's Combat Commander during the revolution, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for "treason" as he didn't believe in Castro's push for a total socialist revolution.
Historiography:
Peter Bourne, Author and government official, wrote that "After the revolution, they could either accept that Fidel was committed to true revolution and everything was going to be done the way Fidel wanted, or they could leave."
Factor 2. Social: Castro's progressive social policies
Facts to prove point:
1. On July 26th, 1959, in celebrating the anniversary of the Moncada barrack attacks, it is estimated 1 million cubans turned out to support Castro.
2. The Cuban Literacy Campaign which took place in 1961 was a part of Castro's efforts to improve the education system of Cuba. In fact, after the literacy campaign, an estimated 700,000 adults were taught how to read and write. Amazingly, the black illiteracy rate decreased by 26%, and overall, illiteracy decreased by 20%. At the end of the campaign, only 4% of the population was left illiterate, compared to 28% beforehand.
3. Education wasn't only limited to the Cuban literacy campaign. Castro started nationalising private institutions, offering blacks, whites and all Cubans equal opportunity to attend school. In fact, by 1981, due to the privatisation of schools the graduation rate from high school of blacks was 2% higher than that of their white counterparts. Cuba invested 10% of all state funds into education and continues to do so.
4. Women also benefited greatly under Castro. They were offered equal roles in society and asked to be involved in the economy of the nation. For example, before the revolution it is estimated that in 1954, 25% of all women were occupying jobs in the "domestic work" sector. By 1970, this sector had completely disappeared. Between 1954-1981, there was also a 14.1% increase in the number of women working. In 1953, 10.9% of all women employed were between the ages of 10-14. By 1970, this statistic had been completely obliterated as all the girls were in school. Roughly 45% of the Cuban STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math) were occupied by women by 1981.
5. Healthcare Castro made healthcare free for all cuban citizens and this saw massive improvements to cuban society. Between 1959-1981, the average life expectancy in Cuba rose from 58-76 years old. In addition, the discrepancy between male and female life expectancy was only 1 year. Even now, cuba has an infant mortality rate of 4.7/1000 live births whereas the United states has an infant mortality rate of 7/1000 live births.
6. Minority Groups
a. Homosexuals were classed a "maricones" or faggots by Che Guevara, and in 1965 almost all homosexuals were rounded up and sent to UMAP's or military units to aid production. Historian Ian Lumsden claims the backlash against homsexuals is due to a "continuation of the machismo culture and rigid gender roles in pre-revolutionary Cuba"
b. Mulattos or Afro-Cubans suffered during the special period - when the Soviet union finally fell to its collapse in 1991. This was because the USSR was one of Cuba's sole trade partners, amassing 8.5 billion dollars worth of trade at one point. When it collapsed, the tourist industry became the largest industry, but Afro-Cubans only made up 5% of that industry. In addition, as the exodus to the US in 1959 was 95% white, money being sent home to help was only making the economic gap larger. This can be traced back to May 1st 1962, when Castro announced that " the just laws of the revolution have ended unemployment. They have put an end to villages without hospitals and schools. They have enacted laws discrimination, control by monopolies and the suffering of the people".
Factor 3: Economic: Economic Policies
Facts to prove point:
1. Castro nationalised the International Telephone and Telegraph Company in Cuba on the 3rd of March 1959.
2. U.S. oil companies in Cuba refuse to refine Soviet oil on June 7th. Within the next month all 3 US refineries are nationalised.
3. President Eisenhower cancels the 700,000 tons of sugar remaining in Cuba's quota for 1960 on July 6th 1959.
4. The Soviet Union announces that it will purchase the 700,000 tons of sugar cut by the U.S on July 8th 1959.
5. By 1989, the Soviet Union had struck up trade with cuba rumoured to be within the region of 8.5 billion dollars.
6. There was a mass exodus of 85000 professionals after the revolution, with 20,000 remaining in the country. Half of all the teachers left and 700/2000 dentists left. Cuba was left with no service industry to serve its citixnes, making its turnaround all the more remarkable.
7. Between 1989-1993, Cuba suffered a 35% reduction in its GDP due to a loss of 80% of its trading partners.
Factor 4: Foreign Policies
Facts to Prove Point:
1. The Bay of Pigs Incident took place between the 17th and 19th of April 1961.
2. Americans thought that by using the CIA to train Cuban exiles - known as brigade 2506 - they would then be able to take down Castro's regime.
3. It was a crushing defeat for the Americans. They lost 1,100 prisoners of war to Castro's regime and had to pay a 53 million dollar ransom. They had to give Cuba 500 tractors, valued at roughly 28 million US dollars.
Historiography:
1. Sebastian Balfour: "Castro had skilfully seized all the opportunities that were unique to Cuba..."
2. Jose Marti: "All the glory of the world fits in a single kernel of corn"
3. Castro: "We don't need cadillacs. We need tractors"
SO, we have come to conclusion of unit 1. Remember, all the facts, historiography and primary sources that have been compiled here have been carefully selected so that they may apply to all sorts of questions. You should now be able to talk about Fidel's rise to power, the course of the revolution the consequences of the revolution. Leggo SL history.
- Castro was a true revolutionary and he sought to rid Cuba of any remnants from Batista's regime. He wanted Cuba to start afresh and this meant wiping the government of any parasites.
Facts to Prove Point:
1. Estimated 582 Batista officials shot between 1959-1962.
2. The US government termed the killings a "bloodbath". However, a chilling response was made by the people of Cuba as there were images of Cuban people yelling "Paredon!" meaning "to the wall" (firing squad wall that is).
3. Castro was ruthless to the extent that he was also unafraid of isolating those who had helped him succeed in the revolution. Most famously, in 1959, Huber Matos, who was Castro's Combat Commander during the revolution, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for "treason" as he didn't believe in Castro's push for a total socialist revolution.
Historiography:
Peter Bourne, Author and government official, wrote that "After the revolution, they could either accept that Fidel was committed to true revolution and everything was going to be done the way Fidel wanted, or they could leave."
Factor 2. Social: Castro's progressive social policies
- Castro's social policies included a reform on education, land and gender equality. This was to completely flip Cuba's fortunes on its head and gained Castro a lot of the support he needed to maintain power.
Facts to prove point:
1. On July 26th, 1959, in celebrating the anniversary of the Moncada barrack attacks, it is estimated 1 million cubans turned out to support Castro.
2. The Cuban Literacy Campaign which took place in 1961 was a part of Castro's efforts to improve the education system of Cuba. In fact, after the literacy campaign, an estimated 700,000 adults were taught how to read and write. Amazingly, the black illiteracy rate decreased by 26%, and overall, illiteracy decreased by 20%. At the end of the campaign, only 4% of the population was left illiterate, compared to 28% beforehand.
3. Education wasn't only limited to the Cuban literacy campaign. Castro started nationalising private institutions, offering blacks, whites and all Cubans equal opportunity to attend school. In fact, by 1981, due to the privatisation of schools the graduation rate from high school of blacks was 2% higher than that of their white counterparts. Cuba invested 10% of all state funds into education and continues to do so.
4. Women also benefited greatly under Castro. They were offered equal roles in society and asked to be involved in the economy of the nation. For example, before the revolution it is estimated that in 1954, 25% of all women were occupying jobs in the "domestic work" sector. By 1970, this sector had completely disappeared. Between 1954-1981, there was also a 14.1% increase in the number of women working. In 1953, 10.9% of all women employed were between the ages of 10-14. By 1970, this statistic had been completely obliterated as all the girls were in school. Roughly 45% of the Cuban STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math) were occupied by women by 1981.
5. Healthcare Castro made healthcare free for all cuban citizens and this saw massive improvements to cuban society. Between 1959-1981, the average life expectancy in Cuba rose from 58-76 years old. In addition, the discrepancy between male and female life expectancy was only 1 year. Even now, cuba has an infant mortality rate of 4.7/1000 live births whereas the United states has an infant mortality rate of 7/1000 live births.
6. Minority Groups
a. Homosexuals were classed a "maricones" or faggots by Che Guevara, and in 1965 almost all homosexuals were rounded up and sent to UMAP's or military units to aid production. Historian Ian Lumsden claims the backlash against homsexuals is due to a "continuation of the machismo culture and rigid gender roles in pre-revolutionary Cuba"
b. Mulattos or Afro-Cubans suffered during the special period - when the Soviet union finally fell to its collapse in 1991. This was because the USSR was one of Cuba's sole trade partners, amassing 8.5 billion dollars worth of trade at one point. When it collapsed, the tourist industry became the largest industry, but Afro-Cubans only made up 5% of that industry. In addition, as the exodus to the US in 1959 was 95% white, money being sent home to help was only making the economic gap larger. This can be traced back to May 1st 1962, when Castro announced that " the just laws of the revolution have ended unemployment. They have put an end to villages without hospitals and schools. They have enacted laws discrimination, control by monopolies and the suffering of the people".
Factor 3: Economic: Economic Policies
- Castro sought to nationalise all of Cuba's industries which were under the control of the United States. This brought upon Cuba the infamous US embargo. However, Cuba then went and started to create economic ties with the USSR.
Facts to prove point:
1. Castro nationalised the International Telephone and Telegraph Company in Cuba on the 3rd of March 1959.
2. U.S. oil companies in Cuba refuse to refine Soviet oil on June 7th. Within the next month all 3 US refineries are nationalised.
3. President Eisenhower cancels the 700,000 tons of sugar remaining in Cuba's quota for 1960 on July 6th 1959.
4. The Soviet Union announces that it will purchase the 700,000 tons of sugar cut by the U.S on July 8th 1959.
5. By 1989, the Soviet Union had struck up trade with cuba rumoured to be within the region of 8.5 billion dollars.
6. There was a mass exodus of 85000 professionals after the revolution, with 20,000 remaining in the country. Half of all the teachers left and 700/2000 dentists left. Cuba was left with no service industry to serve its citixnes, making its turnaround all the more remarkable.
7. Between 1989-1993, Cuba suffered a 35% reduction in its GDP due to a loss of 80% of its trading partners.
Factor 4: Foreign Policies
- The most important part of Castro's foreign policy, apart from the economic trade he established with the Americans, was the Bay of Pigs incident. This was a reaffirmation of Castro's strength and power as a leader, for he was able to force the hand of the seemingly indomitable Americans.
Facts to Prove Point:
1. The Bay of Pigs Incident took place between the 17th and 19th of April 1961.
2. Americans thought that by using the CIA to train Cuban exiles - known as brigade 2506 - they would then be able to take down Castro's regime.
3. It was a crushing defeat for the Americans. They lost 1,100 prisoners of war to Castro's regime and had to pay a 53 million dollar ransom. They had to give Cuba 500 tractors, valued at roughly 28 million US dollars.
Historiography:
1. Sebastian Balfour: "Castro had skilfully seized all the opportunities that were unique to Cuba..."
2. Jose Marti: "All the glory of the world fits in a single kernel of corn"
3. Castro: "We don't need cadillacs. We need tractors"
SO, we have come to conclusion of unit 1. Remember, all the facts, historiography and primary sources that have been compiled here have been carefully selected so that they may apply to all sorts of questions. You should now be able to talk about Fidel's rise to power, the course of the revolution the consequences of the revolution. Leggo SL history.