Castro

Context

❖ During the 19th century, most of the nation’s economy was reliant on slave produced goods &

trade with the USA (In 1890, 94% of sugar was exported to the USA)

❖ In 1985, Jose Marti commenced war for independence against imperial Spain by stirring up a

revolt in the Oriente province.

➢ Although Marti was killed in action in 1985, he built a legacy of being a revolutionist of

the people.

❖ The USA intervened in Cuba by declaring war on Spain due to a US warship blowing up during

its visit to Cuba. However, there were a few underlying reasons:

➢ Political desire to become an empire

➢ Pressure from American corporations with investments in Cuba

❖ The Platt Amendment was signed in the 1901 which gave the US the rights to:

➢ Oversee finances

➢ Intervene in domestic affairs

➢ Lease 3 ports for naval bases

❖ Many Cubans were outraged as they won a war against an imperial nation for another imperial

nation to intervene.

❖ Between 1902-1921, the US intervened militarily four times.

❖ This will be important for Castro’s foreign policy just like the Treaty of Versailles for Hitler.

❖ Cuba was ruled by a dictator, Machado but protests & general strikes in 1933 forced him to flee

to the US.

➢ Martin became the leader and pledged for a sovereign nation & democracy

➢ The US did not recognize Martin’s government which prompted them to help Batista
 ❖ There were 7 puppet presidents controlled by Batista & the US after the counter-revolution

❖ After 1935 strikes, Batista imposed martial law

➢ Strike leaders arrested, unions banned

➢ Opposition leader Guiteras shot dead by soldiers as he tried to flee to Mexico

❖ New constitutions passed in 1940 & Batista elected president

➢ According to Sweig, Cuban government of 1948-1952 became one of the most corrupt

and undemocratic in Cuba’s history

Rise To Power

❖ Fidel & Raul along with 165 youths attacked Moncada army barracks to obtain weapons

➢ It failed and half of them were killed, wounded, or arrested.

➢ Fidel got 15 years & Raul got 13

➢ During the publicized trial, Castro made the “history will absolve me”

❖ Raul & Fidel released from jail in 1955 because Batista tried to improve his image

➢ Because of this, he started planning for July 26th by fleeing to Mexico.

➢ Guevara became a loyal supporter of the M-26-7

➢ In 1956 Castro began to train his army and left Mexico for Cuba

❖ Castro’s forces arrived late and the supporters in Cuba were crushed by Batista in 1956

➢ From 81 revolutionaries only 16 were alive and free

❖ Fidelistas retreated to the Sierra Maestra mountains to organize Guerilla warfare.

➢ As a response, Batista depopulated the area & encouraged paramilitary death squads

➢ Guerilla attacks were mostly successful as it attracted the local population. He did so by

paying for food and helping with harvest. This increased the size of the M-26-7 and

helped them remain hidden (This relates to propaganda).

➢ Matthews (New York Times) met Castro & reported on his success.
 ➢ 1957-1958 Castro’s military grew significantly because they showed respect & sympathy

for the poor.

❖ Castro organized a civic resistance movement

➢ This was established in Havana and Perez was in control

➢ In 1958 the popular socialist party gave its support to Castro which allowed him to have

more rebellions and general strikes in cities.

➢ Perez & Castro led strikes and signed a manifesto together.

❖ In 1958, Castro’s M-26-7 announced a war on property and production to isolate Batista’s

economy.

➢ As a response, Batista launched the “liquidation campaign” to crush Castro’s forces with

12,000 troops (Castro had 5,000).

➢ However, Castro was able to counter this campaign due to the M-26-7’s extensive

knowledge of the Sierra Mountains. Furthermore, as Batista’s army went to the Sierra

Maestra, they left the major cities exposed. This prompted civic movements.

❖ In 1958, due to the advancements of the M-26-7 army into Havana, Batista resigned & fled

➢ This led to his army stopping their resistance

❖ In 1959, Castro arrived to Havana to cheering crowds

Consolidation of Power

❖ In 1959 Castro created the office of revolutionary plans & coordination (Later renamed to the

National Institute of Agrarian Reform)

➢ This was an unofficial committee with his advisors including Raul & Guevara to push the

revolution that they imagined.

➢ This created a situation of dual power with the cabinet.

❖ In 1959, Castro became the prime minister and suspended elections

❖ From 1960, the National Institute of Agrarian Reform had significant power, causing the

centralized rule by Fidel and a few cabinet members.

➢ Castro held all executive & legislative powers and appointed new judges.

❖ In 1961, the US sent 1,400 Cuban exiled who were trained by the US military & the CIA to

invade Cuba (Bay of Pigs). This was done to spark a popular uprising amongst the Cuban people

to overthrow Castro’s government.

➢ However, to the surprise of the US, there was very little uprising. In fact, this helped

Castro as the police were able to arrest the most prominent anti-Castro activists.

➢ Additionally, the Cuban radio broadcasted a warning to the people that invaders were

attempting to undo the revolution which surged pro-Castro sentiments.

➢ The attempted invasion of the US also increased his public support & image as it showed

the world that Castro was right about American imperialist ambitions

➢ After the Bay of Pigs Invasion was the first time Castro referred to the revolution as

being a communist one.

❖ Resistance of the communist party such as Huber Matos was arrested

➢ A campaign called the Escambray Rebellion from 1960-1965 tried to overthrow castro

but due to Castro’s military power, they failed

➢ By 1965, most of Castro’s domestic opponents had been arrested

❖ From 1972, the committee of 8 enlarged and the government focused more on collective

responsibility in order to create a more formal democratic system.

➢ Castro no longer had unlimited authority

❖ In 1959, Castro implemented free universal health care and education.

➢ Castro placing importance on equality in terms of healthcare can be seen from his free

vaccination programme between 1962-1971 that eradicated Polio, Malaria, and

Diphtheria
 ❖ Since the revolution, there have been many flights to the USA from Cuba. In 1965 alone 29,790

Cubans left Cuba for the US. This allowed a large number of the opposition to leave.

Maintenance of Power

❖ In the 1970s, Cuba followed the Soviet advice of allowing greater liberalization

❖ However, by 1985, Castro fired Perez (the person who studied in Moscow and pioneered the

greater liberalization in society and economy) and the Rectification Campaign began,

➢ Castro's centrally planned economy allowed investments in rural infrastructure, which

meant that improvements to health care could reach remote & needy areas.

➢ All Cuban citizens had access to education up to university.

➢ Literacy rate grew from 78% in 1953 to 99.8% in 2014.

❖ Following the collapse of the USSR in 1989-1991, Castro’s maintenance of power was

challenged due to the economic recession. This period would be called the “special period in time

of peace” or “The Special Period” in short.

➢ Cuban GDP fell by 34% from 1991-2003

➢ Oil imports dropped to 10% of pre-1990 levels.

➢ Fall in food imports led to famine: this is because in 1989, 63% of Cuba’s food imports

came from the USSR

➢ Medical imports fell dramatically according to Aylward.

❖ Castro’s response to the special period

➢ In 1990, the “Food Programme” was launched to encourage farmers to increase food

production. This included:

■ Mass mobilization of the unemployed to work on plantations. This also partially

helped the unemployment crisis,

 ■ As the sugar subsidies from the USSR were gone, the economy shifted to tourism

related industries. 160,000 American tourists annually traveled to Cuba in the

2000s.

➢ In 1995, Castro allowed US Dollars to be used as a currency in the economy.

■ This increased national output as the US Dollar was already used in the illegal

market.

■ However, this also created inequalities as people with US Dollars had more

economic advantages.

➢ During the 1990s, to a certain degree, Castro also reintroduced capitalist elements such as

farmer’s markets and private ownership.

❖ According to Balfour, the reason why Castro maintained power during the special period

➢ Absence of an organized & effective opposition

➢ Castro used his charisma & popular appeal to ensure Cuban unity.

➢ The army’s loyalty to Castro

➢ Disloyalty to Castro & the regime being a punishable offense.

➢ The government controlled the media.

❖ The Special Period increased the number of oppositions and the vulnerability of the Cuban

government.

➢ The youth called for more economic & political freedom. However, the conservatives in

the party opposed this,

➢ Party members who pushed too aggressively for reforms and liberty were removed.

➢ Although many called for the implementation of capitalist elements, Castro made it clear

that although they were implementing a limited number of capitalist elements, they were

not abandoning their core beliefs.

➢ When a university in Havana suggested to the government to implement economic and

political reforms, its leading members were forced to leave.

Ideology

❖ According to Grott, nationalism was a more important ideology than socialism for his rise to

power. He focused more on uniting the nation against the corrupt government of Batista and the

imperialist control of the US

❖ The ideals of Cuban nationalism are called Cubiana.

Economic Policies

❖ Prior to Castro’s rule, the prices of sugar between 1952-1954 declined which caused a recession

❖ Due to the sugar industry becoming increasingly American, in 1957, unemployment was 17%.

❖ Starting from 1959 and ending in 1963, Castro began nationalizing major industries such as

public utilities, power companies, & telephone companies

➢ These large companies were broken up into smaller units & turned into corporatives

➢ Land from large companies were also confiscated and then redistributed to peasants. In

fact, more than 200,000 peasants were given land.

➢ In the eyes of the M-26-7 leaders, land reform was the path towards achieving the social

justice that inspired the revolution. The reasons for the land reforms are the following:

■ Social & economic justice was long overdue

■ Peasants were desperate for the promised improvements

■ Rapid & radical action was necessary to ensure that the patience of civilians were

not worn out

➢ These reforms were successful in gaining popular support (especially among the

impoverished) and buying himself enough time to consolidate his position.

❖ From 1968, they were increasingly dependent on the USSR

➢ Around 1989, around 80% of both Cuban imports & exports came through the USSR.
 ❖ According to Coltman, Castro was a nationalist and implemented economic policies based on the

needs of the nation and Cuban independence.

➢ For example, his Agrarian reforms were influenced by Catholicism instead of

communism or socialism.

❖ Cuba had a high unemployment rate during Batista’s rule. However, due to nationalization of

industries and the centralization of agricultural production, there was even a labor shortage in the

mid-1960s.

➢ It can be said that production output fell due to the lack of incentives from a socialist

economic system. However, this view does not take into account the effect of the US

trade embargo against Cuba.

❖ During the Special Period, the decline in food production (as a result of oil and agricultural

imports from the USSR falling) led to a famine that resulted in people stealing the majority of

Cuba’s cattle.

❖ However, by 1985, Castro fired Perez (the person who studied in Moscow and pioneered the

greater liberalization in society and economy) and the Rectification Campaign began.

➢ This campaign called for a more centrally planned economy

Use of Force

❖ Castro’s harsh punishments during the publicized trials of Batista supporters in 1959 showcased

to the population that Castro will uphold law.

➢ Castro himself pointed out that these trials prevented the collapse of law & order,

➢ Additionally, this ensured that the post-revolution Cuba did not descend into chaos and

vigilantism

❖ In 1959, Ochoa and several military leaders were arrested for corruption. Although the main

reason was that they were attempting a coup.

 ❖ Castro also had a secret police that had the purpose of getting rid of any opposition without any

legal repercussions.

➢ The secret police also had the task of preventing external threats such as Dominican

Republic’s attempted coup in 1959 and Operation Mongoose from 1960 (which includes

the Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1960)

➢ Since 1966, there have been 628 attempts to kill Castro according to a retired Cuban

senior counter intelligence officer.

❖ Response to the Bay of Pigs

➢ The Cuban government arrested 200,000 suspected dissidents

International Affairs

❖ In 1962, the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to convince the US, Britain, and France to

withdraw from West Berlin. Meanwhile, Cuba’s motivation behind having a nuclear missile is to

discourage another US invasion.

➢ This situation escalated tension & brought both sides closer to a global nuclear war.

➢ The USSR ended up removing the soviet missiles from Cuba which infuriated Castro as it

left Cuba exposed.

❖ Throughout the 1960s, Castro embarked a foreign policy of assisting other anti-imperialist

revolutionary groups.

➢ Cuba sent troops to Angola, Bolivia, Chile, etc. However, none of the expeditions had a

real impact on his global image. Instead, it was used to further propagate his efforts to

fight imperialism to the Cuban population

❖ Cuba became more communist as they became more reliant on the USSR economically

➢ By 1968, Cuba was extremely reliant on the USSR and adopted a soviet-like economic

structure.
 ❖ During the height of Cuba’s economic downturn (The special period), the US implemented the

Helms-Burton Act of 1996 that placed sanctions against:

➢ Any US businesses that imported products originating from Cuba, even if the product is

sourced through a foreign nation.

➢ Any country, institution or business that traded or provided loans to Cuba.

➢ Any foreign businesses that used resources previously owned by US companies that had

been nationalized by Cuba.

❖ This embargo would not be lifted until:

➢ Castro’s government was replaced by a transitional government.

➢ All nationalized property is to be returned to its “original owners”.

➢ Compensation was paid to US corporations & individuals for their nationalized property.

➢ Balfour called this “one of the most controversial bills in the history of the US”

➢ This Act failed as foreign nations saw this as breaking the law of free trade (especially

EU nations who ignored this act). Thus, failed to prevent Cuba from gaining FDI &

Cuban public resentment rose

Propaganda

❖ According to Herbert Matthews, Castro was inspired by patriotism.

➢ This made him similar to marti, thus, contributing to his public popularity.

❖ His first manifesto was titled “Manifest of the revolutionaries from Moncada to the nation”.

➢ Mainly talks about economic-social justice, foreign control, industrial modernization, and

the restoration of the constitution.

❖ His second manifesto was “History will absolve me”

➢ A speech with promises of agrarian reforms, expansion of education & health care, and

nationalization of foreign companies

 ❖ Throughout his Sierra Maestra campaign, he used the radio and the press to gain support across

the nation. Such as the interview with Matthews and radio Rebelde.

❖ From 1960, newspapers & radio stations were censored and forced to close if they angered the

government.

❖ There were communists who were outspokenly critical of Castro which led him to censor the

media with the excuse of being for public security.

➢ University professors & journalists who criticized the increase in communist elements

were arrested.

➢ Newspaper, magazines, and radio stations that spoke against Castro were threatened with

closure unless they changed their political stance.

➢ Franqui who was an ally of Castro who ran the radio rebelde during the Sierra campaign

was sent into exile due to his criticism of Castro’s silencing of media.

❖ Charismatic Personality:

➢ Uses Jose marti as a martyr

➢ Weras military clothing all the time

➢ Use of education to ensure loyalty to the state.

Role of Women

❖ In 1959, only 15% of the workforce were made up of women.

❖ After Batista’s fall, the Federation of Cuban Women was created with the goal of integrating

women into the workforce. This was created by governing parties.

➢ This was seen as important as women were given support in first-aid training which

directly helped to counter the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

➢ This organization helped establish day care centers in 1961 and maternity leave pay law

in 1963.

➢ Between 1969-1970 more than 100,000 women entered production forces.

❖ However, there were many failures to The FCW

➢ While 700,000 joined from 1969-1974, 500,000 joined during this time

➢ Societal norms did not change as doing work did not excuse women from doing house

chores, thus, many suffered from burnout.

■ To fix this, programs for groceries and increased numbers of day centers were

established

■ Additionally, a legal obligation in the Cuban Family Code (1975) resulted in a

legal obligation for men to do housework

■ Family Code and Constitution declared equal statues of men and women.

❖ The FWC implemented laws that made it easier to obtain divorce.

❖ The bad impact of economic reforms on women:

➢ Decentralized management in semi autonomous enterprises replaced management of

production which made it more difficult to implement programs for women in the

workplace. Decentralization makes discriminatory conduct harder to identify.

❖ Affirmative action taken for women in economics

➢ Hilariously, there was great success in terms of women in medicine and law, therefore,

there was affirmative action law to help men.

❖ Benefits and paternalism:

➢ Fully paid maternity leave for 18 weeks.

➢ Additional non-paid leave up to one year after childbirth may also be taken with a

guarantee that the woman can return to her original position.

❖ Castro believed that reliance could not be placed on anti-discrimination laws alone - “It has to be

the work of the party, because we need to straighten out what history has twisted”.

❖ Conclusion:

➢ Cuban women found their voice in their revolution

➢ Statute and law to back up their demands

➢ Demanding eradication of barriers and enforcement of their rights.