Fidel Castro 1959 to Present El Maximo Lider

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Fidel Castro(1959 to Present)El Maximo Lider
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General Topics/Outline

• Background on Cuba and Castro
• Castros Rise to Power (Long term Origins)
• Castros Rise to Power (Short term Origins)
• Consolidation/Establishment of Castros Power
• Domestic Rule of Castro (Phases 1-3)
• Castros Regional/Global Impact
• Domestic Rule of Castro (Current Phase)
• These steps mirror Paper 2 SPS Guidelines!
• ULTIMATE GOAL
• Compare Castro to other Single-Party State
  Rulers such as Mao, Perón and Vargas

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Cuba

• Beautiful Island nation of 11.2 Million people
• 145 Km (90 miles) from Florida, USA
• Communist, Single Party State
• Led by Fidel Castro
• Main source of income Sugar production

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(No Transcript)
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Sugar and Bananas
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Tobacco and Tourism
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A Tropical Paradise?
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CUBA TODAY

• Human Rights abuses widespread
• Press not free
• Low incomes for people (continued economic
  struggle)
• Highly militarized
• Americans not allowed to visit or trade with Cuba
  Sanctions
• Yet, a proud people that have remained galvanized
  behind Castro
• Tourist Industry increasing
• Social Programs strong low illiteracy/poverty
  rates
• Socialized medicine reaches everyone
• at least one half of the population is trained
  and organized today for defensive combat.
• -- Tad Szulc, Author of Fidel, A Critical
  Portrait, 27

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Havana today living in the past?
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Castro Then and Now

• Fidel Castro is the longest ruling head of
  state in the world next to Queen Elizabeth of
  Great Britain
• .

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Fidel Castro

• Flamboyant
• Always trying to show strength and courage
• Harsh criticisms of the US taunting
• For instance, Castro offered to send observers to
  monitor recounting of ballots during 2000
  presidential elections!
• Long, animated speeches
• Popularity amongst Cuban people
• Wardrobe Army Fatigues and Cigars

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American cartoon featuring Presidents Eisenhower
through Clinton.
RIGHT?
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Background/Childhood

• Born 1926
• Son of sugar plantation owner Angel Castro
• 8 brothers and sisters.
• Extremely charismatic
• Father was former Employee of the American owned
  United Fruit Company
• Father became wealthy after starting his own
  business
• Personality as child - rebellious and determined.
  
• Tried to organize a rebellion of workers against
  his father when he was only 13!
• Did he ever change?
• Cuban sportsman of the year in 1943-44
• Baseball and Basketball were his favorites.
• Offered 5,000 to come pitch for the Washington
  Senators

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Castro loved baseball and basketball. Both
American Sports.
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Education

• Great memory needed to study very little
• Once had fist fight with priest in elementary
  school.
• Educated by Jesuit Priests who were conservative,
  disciplined
• Jesuit Values
• intelligence
• obedience
• honesty
• courage
• sacrifice
• In college Castro walked around campus with a
  copy of Hitlers Mein Kampf
• Recited the speeches of Mussolini in front of a
  mirror.
• Involved heavily in student revolutionary groups
  which held protests and rallies
• Studied Law at university

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Castros Rise to Power

• Long Term Origins

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Cuba Before Castro

• Spanish Colony
• Cuba was a Spanish Colony from 1500s until 1898
• Cubans revolted against Spanish in late 1800s
  under revolutionary Jose Marti.
• US involvement in Cuba (Interventionist Phase!)
• US gained control of Cuba when it helped the
  Cubans defeat Spain in 1898 in the Spanish
  American War.
• At first, Cubans were happy
• BUT 1902 Platt Amendment made Cuba a US
  protectorate! Blank check on economic/military
  intervention and took a long lease on military
  base (Guantanamo Bay)
• US businessmen owned much of Cubas oil, mines,
  cattle ranches, sugar plantations, public
  utilities, as well as half of its railways.
• Castro and others resented the US influence
  like another colonial power
• 1933 The False Revolution
• Gerardo Machado overthrown in August 1933- Ramon
  Grau replaced him. Batista played a big role in
  putting Grau in power.

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Cuba Before Castro (continued)

• GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY ERA IN CUBA Platt Amendment
  rescinded!
• Butquiet US intervention continues! US not in
  favor of Graus radicalism Grau classically
  caught between pull from right and left- US
  Ambassador Sumner Welles collaborated with
  Batista to overthrow Grau in January 1934 to
  prop up pro-US puppets.
• SOWHAT IMPACT DID THE 1933 REVOLUTION HAVE ON
  CUBA? Answer Negative!
• 1934-1940 Machado-like US puppets run Cuba.
  The populist Batista pulling strings behind the
  scenes. Protectorate status essentially
  continues
• Batista was very popular at this time! Elected
  President in 1940 and served until 1944. Grau
  (comeback!) and Carlos Prio succeed him.
• MORE OF THE SAME- POLITICAL INEPTNESS AND
  CORRUPTION!

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• See Casa Historia notes for more details of Long
  Term Origins!

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Castros Rise to Power

• Short Term Origins

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Early Politics

• Not originally a Marxist/Communist
• Influenced by Spanish Fascist Parties and
  Mussolini, Hitler, Franco
• Adopted Fascist tendencies with emphasis on
  Supreme order, control, flashy uniforms, military
  orientation - all appealed to Castro
• Revolutionary movements had been the norm for
  years - many corrupt politicians and people who
  disliked US presence
• Participated in active rebellion against the
  corrupt governments that ruled Cuba
• Joined nationalist revolutionary groups, even
  took part in an attempted assassination of member
  of a rival group
• Radical views - 1947 one of many who signed a
  declaration promising to sacrifice his life for
  freedom.
• Many, including his father opposed his radical
  behaviors.
• Castro built his revolution primarily on
  the
• sentiments of Cuban History.
• - Tad Szulc, Author of Fidel, A Critical
  Portrait.
• Was Castro an Opportunist or a Visionary?

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Chibas and the Orthodox Party

• Castro joined political group called the
  Orthodox Party who opposed corrupt leadership
• Led by Eduardo Chibas
• Vocal Opponents to Ramon Grau but at first
  supported Carlos Prio.
• Carlos Prio took power in 1948 and promised
  honest leadership, however, he too was corrupt
• Castro and Chibas turned on Prio
• Protests, literature, rallies, etc
• Suicide of Chibas (1952)
• In the ultimate publicity stunt, Chibas
  committed suicide on a live radio broadcast.
• Wanted to ignite a popular uprising by making
  himself a martyr!

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• In 1952 Chibas attempted to galvanize public
  opinion against the government, to awaken the
  civic conscience of the Cuban people, he said
  before the event. He shot himself during a
  broadcast of his popular weekly radio show.
  Fidel, ever the opportunist, used the death of
  Chibas to advance himself. He took over the
  plans for the funeral in order to position
  himself in the public eye and benefit from the
  outpouring of sentiment from Chibas supporters.
  
• - Beyer, Don. Castro! Pg 33

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Castro Runs for Elected Office

• Legitimately ran for seat in Cuban House of
  Representatives with help from his father.
• Following the death of Chibas, Fidel felt sure
  enough of himself within the Orthodox party to
  run for the Cuban House of Representatives on the
  Orthodox ticket. The party did not officially
  support him because of his radical reputation.
  Angel Castro, however, did contribute financially
  to Fidels campaigning, probably seeing it as a
  move toward respectability by his son.
• - Beyer, Don. Castro! Pg 33
• BUTElection was cancelled by a coup by Fulgencio
  Batista in 1952.
• After this setback, Castro felt his rise to power
  would have to be made untraditionally no more
  politics! The idea of revolution was born!

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Pro-US dictator General Fulgencio
Batista(1952-1959)
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• Had been heavily involved in Cuban politics since
  1933 Revolution
• For many years a populist leader who drew much
  appeal from Cuban people
• Cuban President Carlos Prio overthrown by
  Fulgencio Batista in 1952 Coup
• By this point he had changed significantly
  Corrupt, harsh military dictatorship
• Supported by US who gave him money, weapons, etc
  because he was anti-communist and friendly to
  US interests.
• No longer in touch with the needs of the people
• Those who opposed him were executed or tortured.

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Batista on the cover of the American Magazine
Time in 1937. Why is this source useful?
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Castros Response

• REVOLUTION

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The July 26th Movement (1953) The launching of
the Cuban Revolution

• Also called the Moncada Attacks
• Attack on Batistas Regime by Castro
• Took place on a holiday celebrating former Cuban
  patriots and revolutionaries which Castro
  identified with.
• Goal To inspire further popular uprisings in
  Cuba.
• The attack failed for several reasons
• 1. Group was untrained
• 2. Little familiarity with each other
• 3. Few weapons underestimated strength of
  troops at barracks.
• 4. Wrong Turns some got lost and were
  late!
• Results 0f the 160 who took part in the attack
  (including two women).
• 2 killed in original attack
• 68 executed later by government
• 32 put on trial (including Castro)
• The rest escaped to surrounding hills
• Castro was captured.
• Many of his followers were tortured brutally and
  many killed by Batistas men.
• Sympathy for the cause of Castro and his
  followers was high martyrdom

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Castro after being captured with the other
survivors of the attack on the barracks
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The Moncada Barracks Today. They are
preserved as a memorial to the revolution. You
can still see the bullet holes.
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Castros Trial

• Castro was allowed to defend himself at the
  subsequent trial.
• Mistake by Batista?
• During the trial Castro took advantage of the
  situation
• tried to wear judges uniform, made fiery
  speeches, appealed to media.
• Government didnt like this and moved his trial
  to obscure location and kept from limelight.
• Found Guilty of Treason.
• At the end of the trial Castro borrowed words
  Hitler used at his own trial following the Beer
  Hall Putsch in 1924 when he said.
• History will absolve me
• Became famous quote in Revolution in Cuba.
• Fidel was sentenced to 15 years in prison

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Castros Prison Experience

• 1953-1955, Isle of Pines
• Promoted Castros reputation
• Castro continued organizing his revolution from
  Prison
• He educated himself on Marxist-Leninism
• Poor conditions there highlighted the savagery of
  the Batista Regime- terrible treatment of
  prisons, etc motivate more revolutionaries to
  fight.
• When Batista and his men visited the prison,
  Castro and prisoners chanted revolutionary
  slogans. Batista was shocked!
• In order to increase his popularity and win favor
  with people, Batista let revolutionaries free!

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Castro being freed in 1955 after receiving
amnesty from Batista after spending nearly 2
years in prison.

• Don Beyer called the amnesty
• .a serious mistake in judgment by Batista.
  

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Assessment of the July 26th Movement

• Announced his 5 Revolutionary Laws which
  became his
• justification for coming to power.
• These laws were vague yet seen as promising to
  the people
• M-26-7 - new name for Castros revolutionary
  organization
• However, the Moncada Attacks fell short of
• a) Putting Castro in Power
• b) Establishing a clear, specific policy
• In prison, Fidel achieved much of the
  recognition that eluded him on the outsidehe
  became a symbol of resistance to the illegal
  Batista government.
• - Don Beyer, Castro!

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Castro flees to Mexico in 1956

• Castro quickly embarks on revolutionary
  activities again
• Batista pursues Castro.
• Castro Flees to Mexico in 1956
• Castro Meets Che Guevara
• While in Mexico, Castro meets Latin revolutionary
  
• Become lifelong friendsand competitors!
• Castro will eventually give him high positions in
  Cuban Government

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Castro Returns The Cuban Revolution Resumes

• December 2, 1956
• Secured money from Cuban exiles in Mexico and
  former Cuban President Prio who gave 100,000 to
  Fidel in exchange for hopes Fidel could help him
  return to power in Cuba.
• Money helped Castro buy boat from American in
  Mexico which was named for his grandmother
  Granma
• Castro and his followers come back to Cuba.
• While happy to take Prios money, Fidel had no
  intention of serving Prios ambitions.
• - Don Beyer, pg 54
• Opportunism?
• His boat ran aground when he reached Cuba
• Batistas men were waiting for him.
• His forces pursued Castro and his followers for
  days engaging in intermittent fighting with
  several deaths of his men.
• This event was seen by many as the beginning of
  the Revolution

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(No Transcript)
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Castro Returns to Cuba - 1956

• Castro landed his boat Granma
• here in SE Cuba.

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2 Years of hiding in the Sierra Maestra
Mountain Range
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Herbert Matthews and the NY Times Feb.1957

• The Herbert Matthews Interview Fidels use of
  the American Media
• While in hiding Castro sent a messenger to Havana
  to find a foreign correspondent who was willing
  to meet with him.
• New York Times Correspondent Herbert Mathews met
  with Castro in Hills of Cuba called the Sierra
  Maestra and conducted an interview.
• Castro marched the same 30 men back and forth to
  give correspondent feeling of a huge army or
  revolutionaries and exaggerated the strength of
  his support and following.
• Picture of Castro and Mathews in New York Times
  embarrassed Batista who had claimed Castro had
  been killed.
• Revolution now Romanticized in the eyes of the
  American people who supported Castro.
• Most importantly, the article was important in
  giving him credibility in Cuba.

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RADIO REBELDE

• Used as an important propaganda tool for Castros
  Revolution
• Set up by Che in 1958 in the Sierra Maestra
• Broadcasted speeches by Castro
• Also served as communications link between
  Castros Armies

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Castro with his revolutionary followers in the
Sierra Maestra in 1958, one year before
overthrowing Batista.
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1958 Cuba steeped in Civil War

• Castros militant efforts in Oriente province
  creating huge disruptions
• Other movements in Havana revolting as well
• Batista used American military equipment to
  attempt to crush the rebellion US cuts all
  military aid in March 1958
• Batista launches all out assault on Castro in May
  1958 failed!

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Castros Political Maneuvering

• Castro created the Sierra Maestra Manifesto
  July of 1958.
• Purpose to consolidate power against Batista
• Political Document
• Castro motivated leaders of the many
  Revolutionary groups to sign it.
• He (Castro) played one group against the
  other, giving assurances to both communists and
  anti-communists, depending on which group he
  happened to be talking to at the moment. Fidel
  used people, and he used them well to serve his
  own interests.
• - Don Beyer referring to Castros
  political maneuvering.
• According to Don Beyer, his motivation was to
• create a united front among the opposition
  political parties, all civic institutions, and
  all revolutionary forces.
• - Don Beyer, pg 75

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FALL 1958 The Final Push

• Castro and his revolutionaries come down form the
  Sierra Maestra and begin fanning out across the
  Cuban country side
• Huber Matos Took surrender at Santiago de Cuba
• Che Moved West blew up supply train at Santa
  Clara and took the city

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January 1959 Castro Takes Power The March on
Havana
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The Initial Steps

• Castro and His Government
• Temporary held position as Commander-in-chief of
  the armed forces until the democratically elected
  civilian leaders took the role.
• A provisional government was established with a
  former judge as President, Castro eventually
  named Prime minister.
• Elections called for in 18 months
• Many advisors (cabinet positions) were loyal to
  Fidel.
• No true unifying vision for the country existed
  
• Among members of the government there was a
  mixed bag of political ideas.
• - Historian Don Beyer

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• Castros Claims
• he was not interested in leading the government
  and that he was not a communist.
• Cubas 1st President
• Manuel Urratio

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Castro Consolidates/ Establishes his Power

• Execution of Batistas Followers
• Land Reform
• 1st Visit to the US
• La Coubre Incident
• Use of Radio, TV, Speeches
• 2nd Visit to the US
• Castro Antagonizes the US.

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SWIFT ACTION

• Execution of Batistas Followers
• Executed hundreds of followers after brief trials
• Harshly criticized by US.
• Condemned US for harboring war criminals
  members of Batistas regime who went to exile
  there.
• Popular Moves
• Provided Benefits to the People.
• In 1959 created laws that mandated
• Cut long distance phone rates,
• Agrarian Reform Laws gave land to farmers

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1st Trip to US Who is This Guy ?

• April 1959
• Agrarian Reform Laws motivate US government to
  accuse Castro of communist leanings which he
  adamantly denied
• Ours, is a revolution of the poor and for the
  poor. A revolution as Cuban as our palms. Not a
  red revolution but an olive-green revolution.
• - Fidel Castro in the US in 1959
• Also, show trials and executions of ex-Batista
  loyalists have many people worried

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Communist Policies?

• Agrarian Reform Laws
• May 17, 1959
• Shortly after his first trip to the US
• Land Reform Legislation introduced by Castro just
  before his 1st visit to the US
• gave 200,000 peasants a minimum of 67 acres of
  land.
• 25,000 total acres given away
• Peasants could not buy or sell their land
• Peasants had to grow what they were told and the
  prices were set by the Government
• Foreign companies could not own land as they had
  in the past
• The revolution might be olive-green on the
  outside, said his critics, but, like a
  watermelon, it was red on the inside.
• - Don Beyer, Castro!

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July 1959

• Urratio in charge until the president publicly
  warned of Castros communist leanings.
• Castro then cleverly discredited him.
• Eventually, Urratio resigned and fled to
  Venezuela by dressing as a milkman.

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THE FATE OF HUBER MATOS

• One of Fidels top commanders
• By mid-1959, Matos had grown concerned about the
  leftist/communist direction the revolution was
  taking
• Matos wrote a letter to Castro resigning his
  command.
• Castro branded him a traitor to the cause!
• Sentenced to 20 years in prison

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Sugar-for-Oil Deal w/ USSRSaddling up with the
Soviets?

• February 6, 1960
• Soviets will take 5,000,000 tons of sugar
• In return, they will provide Cuba with crude oil,
  wheat, fertilizers, machinery.
• In addition, Cuba would receive 100 million
  dollars in credit at 2.5 interest.
• US concerns about Communism seem to be confirmed
  correct

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La Coubre Incident
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• March 4, 1960
• French ship unloading arms and dynamite which
  exploded in Havana Harbor
• Killed or wounded 275
• Blamed on the US
• Skillfully, Fidel milked the Coubre incident
  for all its propaganda value to cast eh United
  States as the enemy bent on destroying the
  revolution. He also used it to justiify the need
  for armaments from the Soviet Union to protect
  Cuba from further Yankee aggression.
• - Don Beyer, Castro!
• Castro then began to use phrase Cuba si, Yanqui
  no! in his speeches.

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1960

• February 6 Sugar-for-Oil deal reached with
  Soviets.
• March 4 La Coubre Explodes
• March 17 Eisenhower pushes for action against
  Cuba
• Eisenhower cuts much of the sugar orders from
  Cuba
• Ends oil deliveries
• Begins organizing plan to invade Cuba with exiles
• April 19 Russian crude oil arrives in Cuba. US
  government tells Shell, Esso, and Texaco not to
  refine it.
• July 1 Cuba nationalizes Texaco, Esso, and
  Shell Oil refineries
• July 5 - Cuba nationalizes all US business and
  commercial property
• July 6 - Eisenhower cuts remaining sugar orders
• July 8 USSR agrees to purchase sugar the US
  just dropped.

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Castros 2nd Visit to the US

• Sept 1960
• Castro comes to NY to speak at the UN
• Fidel and delegation not allowed outside a small
  district of NY city.
• Castro decided against staying at posh hotel
• Instead, stayed in Harlem neighborhood at a cheap
  hotel called the Teresa
• Suggested this hotel was appropriate for a
  champion of the victims of Imperialism.
• Media loved it!

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Castro in NY

• At the UN, Presidential candidate JFK came to
  speak.
• Fidel called JFK an illiterate and ignorant
  millionaire.
• Asked for an apology for the US supply of bombs
  and planes used by Batista on Cuban people.
• Fidels plane was impounded by US for nonpayment
  of debts. Borrowed a Russian Airliner to return
  to US.
• Met Khrushchev for 1st time

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US concerned over Soviet/Cuban relationship
containment?
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1961

• January 2 During UN security council session,
  Cuba charges that US is preparing an invasion of
  Cuba
• January 3 - US breaks off diplomatic relations
  with Cuba US ambassadors are recalled.
• January 28 JFK embraces Ike plan to remove
  Castro
• April 15 Mystery bombers destroy 27 of Cuban
  fighter planes on the ground
• April 17 Bay of Pigs - 1500 Cuban exiles
  trained by US invade Cuba
• April 19 Castro announce the revolution is
  socialist
• May 1 Castro calls Cuba a socialist country
• November 30 Kennedy authorizes Operation
  Mongoose which aims to eliminate Castro and the
  Revolution
• December 2 Castro declares himself a
  Marxist-Leninst
• March 23, 1962 Full sanctions against Cuba
  imposed by Kennedy - all trade with Cuba illegal
  (import and export)

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Castro and the US

• US owned vast resources and industry in Cuba
  cheap labor, low costs US owned about 1
  Billion dollars in assets in Cuba.
• Castro promised compensation for Nationalized
  industries, but never gave it
• Castro asked US for loans to help rebuild the
  economy. Rejected by US.

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Soviet Cartoon from 1960. This sign being held
by the US Secretary of State says I forbid you
to make friends with the Soviet Union.
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The Bay of Pigs Invasion

• April 15, 1961
• Purpose spark a coup to overthrow Castro with
  popular support
• Plans created before Kennedy took office
  Kennedy hesitantly went along with them
• 1500 Anti-Castro emigrants trained and supported
  the CIA invaded Cuba at Cohinos de Bayo
• US misjudged feelings of Cuban people
• Expected popular uprising that didnt happen
• Invading force was easily defeated in 72 hours
• 1300 captured

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Results of the Bay of Pigs Fiasco

• US Seen as an aggressive bully
• US and Kennedy totally embarrassed.
• US watched Cuba even more closely
• Castro seen as a victim of US aggression
• Strengthened Cuba Soviet relationship
• Resulted in the Cuban government announcing a
  policy of socialist reconstruction and asked the
  USSR for military support in 1962.
• Inspired the spread of communism and
  revolutionary fervor rather than containing it?
• US Reaction
• Kennedy was so upset he supposedly ordered the
  CIA to find a way to kill Castro.
• Poisoned capsules were smuggled into Cuba in a
  jar of face-cream the cream inadvertently
  dissolved the capsules

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Why did Castro Adopt Communism?

• Announcement made nearly 2 years after his regime
  took power.
• Because of the sad state of the Cuban economy
  and the threat of invasion from the United
  States, Fidel needed the Soviet Union more than
  ever.
• - Don Beyer, Castro!
• Fidel embraced communism because it suited his
  purposes to do so.not because he was a
  communist.
• - Don Beyer, Castro!
• Question
• Did Castro become a communist because of the Bay
  of Pigs, because of economic needs. Why did he
  not become a Stalinist?

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Why was Castro so Popular?
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Effective use of Television and Radio
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Use of Public Appearances
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• Castros Domestic Rule/Policies
• Phase 1 1959-1963
• Phase 2 1963-1970
• Phase 3 1970-1990

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Domestic Situation in the 1960s

• Cuban economy in early 1960s faced many
  challenges
• US Sanctions hit hard.
• Food rationing had to be used
• Sugar exports drop
• Urban Reform Law
• October 13, 1960
• most privately and locally owned businesses,
  industries, and banks are taken over by the
  government.
• Castro Establishes his own Secret Police
• called the G2
• Thousands arrested jails overflowing
• All opposition branded as CIA spies
• Committees for the Defense of the Revolution
  (CDRs)
• Neighborhood security organizations
• Encouraged neighbors to spy on one another and
  report
• Those who opposed Castro arrested.

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DOMESTIC POLICY GOALS OF CASTRO

• RAISE STANDARD OF LIVING OF CUBAN PEOPLE
• (Egalitarian Goals)
• ESTABLISH ECONOMIC DIVERSITY IN CUBA
• (move away from the monoculture of sugar)
• ESTABLISH ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY IN CUBA
• (economic self-sufficiency)

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Revolutionary Economics

• Advantages
• Short guerilla campaign
• Communication and transportation systems in place
• Rural population already proletarianized by
  sugar easy for land reform
• A lot of unused land and industrial capacity
• Several socialist states available for help

76
Revolutionary Economics (cont)

• Disadvantages
• Revolutionaries inexperienced in economic affairs
• Disruptions in socialist reorientation
• American embargo was crippling! Shortage of
  parts, etc.
• Technicians fled BRAIN DRAIN
• No material incentives for workers. Moral
  incentives would win the day. New Socialist
  Man Will of the people will overcome! (Mao
  anyone???)

77
PHASE 1 1959-1963THE ILL-ADVISED FIRST STEP

• Short term prospects excellent
• Wages increased 40
• Unemployment wiped out
• Egalitarian goals were addressed (healthcare,
  education and housing esp. in Urban areas)
• ButLong term?
• Redistribution of income long range problems
  More money to spend demand for food increases
  (over killing of cattle)
• Rents and utility rates lowered even more
  disposable income available, BUT with very little
  imports it was hard for Cuba to produce in order
  to keep up with consumption!

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RESULT

• Instead of limiting consumption by raising
  prices, By March of 1962 Cuba begins RATIONING
  consumer goods has been with Cuba on and off
  ever since!

79
Agricultural Diversification??

• Break the sugar monoculture!
• Transfer sugarcane land and idle fields into land
  to produce cotton, vegetable oils, rice,
  soybeans, peanuts.
• Serious problems encountered however
• - Government inability to organize, plan
  and administer economy hampered these efforts
• - Many farms remained in private hands!

80
Economic Sovereignty??

• Che was named Minister of Industry and faced
  daunting task for previously stated reasons.
• Industrialization proved too difficult and was
  abandoned in 1963.
• From 1962 to 1970 Cuba put a remarkable portion
  of its gross domestic product into investment,
  but that achievement was largely wasted through
  inefficient administration and poor planning. -
  Keen pg. 445

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Assessment of Phase One

• Egalitarian goals getting there.
• Economic diversity mixed results
• Economic sovereignty NO

82
PHASE 2 1963-1970A RETURN TO SUGAR

• Cuba accepts aid from other nations (USSR), but
  trying to establish sovereignty
• Castro decides to reemphasize agriculture before
  its too late
• Return to intensive sugar production and
  diversification programs. Generate revenue now
  will lead to industrialization later
• The symbol of the times 10 million tons of sugar
  to be harvested in 1970
• But.

83
Diversification???

• Attempts to diversify agriculture had
  paradoxically ruined some of the best cane land!
• 1962 horrible harvest (worst since 1955)

84
1970 THE TEN MILLION TON HARVEST

• Sugar harvest on a grand scale! Planned as the
  largest in Cubas history. 3 million more than
  ever produced!
• IRONY Castro was resorting to the sugar
  monoculture to keep Cuba afloat!
• Equipment and manpower had severe shortages and
  badly administered
• Only 20 of professional cane cutters left on
  island

85
RESULT

• Massive outpouring of support within Cuba and
  throughout the world. A MASS EFFORT TO REACH THE
  GOAL
• Castro himself cut cane for four hours a day!
• Cuba ended up producing 8.5 million tons well
  short of goal but a new record for Cuba.
• Butcrippled economy severely
• Everything else was neglected in the push for 10
  million tons!
• Economy too highly centralized, Castro had been
  micromanaging for most of the decade with harmful
  results.
• Still an emphasis on moral incentive and not
  material ones

86
July 26, 1970

• Castro gives Mea Culpa speech offers to resign!
  Cuban people say NO!!!!!!
• Castros prestige has taken a big hit
• He goes on to promise that changes will be
  made,but the revolution will go on

87
Assessment of Phase 2

• To what extent had Economic Diversification and
  Sovereignty been achieved?

88
PHASE 3 1970-1990THE SOVIETIZATION OF CUBA

• The Soviets, while remaining on the periphery
  throughout the 1960s (e.g.- absorbed 1 billion
  in Cuban trade deficits Castro visits Moscow in
  1963 and 1964 to sign trade agreements) begins to
  take much more active role.
• Decentralization of government and economy needed
  to keep Cuba going
• Castro makes clear line of separation between the
  army (now had generals, instead of Castro being
  the sole general), government and the communist
  party (very Soviet-esque).
• Labor Unions were formed. Workers had more
  rights.
• Moved away from just moral support material
  incentives added as well. Work quota system
  established between 1971 and 1973 increases
  production by 20

89
RESULT

• Between 1971 and 1975 GNP grew at an average
  annual rate of over 10 percent. Compared to 3.9
  a year from 66 to 70
• Still a very heavy dependency on sugar not much
  economic diversity
• Sovereignty?? Soviets are sending more aid than
  ever before.
• Government and economy are making comebacks in
  Cuba, but at the cost of economic diversity and
  sovereignty!

90

• Castros Regional and Global Impact

91
Evolution of Castros Foreign PolicyCUBA AND
THE WORLD

• 1960s Cuba was promoter of World Revolution
• Assisted Algerian Independence Movements and
  guerrilla movements in Zaire, Portuguese African
  colonies and Tanzania during the 1960s
• Castro vowed to turn all of Latin America into
  one big Sierra Maestra!

92
COOLED OFF

• Late 1960s After massive economic failures and
  increasing pressure from the Soviets to chill out
  (imperial big brother?), the Cuban government
  moderated a bit. Lessons from the Cuban Missile
  Crisis
• Castro did not denounce USSR invasion of Czech in
  68
• Pushed to establish diplomatic relations w/ other
  Latin American countries

93
Che Guevaras FateMid 1960s

• After his failed stint as Minister of Industry
  Che falls out of favor with Castro.
• Che begins to criticize the USSR as a new
  imperialist power! (Bad political move for
  Castro)
• Heads to Zaire in Africa to lead a revolution
  there.
• It fails, and he quietly returns to Cuba
• Soon off to Bolivia, but is eventually captured
  by government forces and executed in 1967.

94
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95
Castros Foreign Policy

• 1970s With the economic situation improving,
  with the US less of a threat, and as Cubas
  non-aligned status grew (!!) Castro exerts
  influence in Latin America and Africa once
  again.

96
AFRICAN EXPLOITS

• Angola (1975)
• Granted independence from Portugal in 1975
• Castro sends fifty thousand troops to support
  communist revolutionaries
• 14 year struggle against forces backed by the US
  and apartheid forces in South Africa
• Orthodox Perspective Americans believed that the
  USSR was behind the Cuban support
• Revisionist Perspective Castro acted alone.
• Post-Revisionist A little of both!
• Ethiopia (1978)
• - Eleven thousand troops sent to repel invasion
  from Somalia

97
Nicaragua - 1979

• Castro supports Sandinistas cause against
  tyrannical Somoza regime
• Revolution aided by US cut off of aid to Somoza
  (Jimmy Carter and his human rights agenda)
• Daniel Ortega and Sandinistas were successful!
  Only other example of successful leftist
  revolution in Latin America during the Cold War!

98
ASSESSMENT

• CASTRO WAS A WORLD PLAYER!
• Amazingly enough, he was able to maintain his
  non-aligned status despite continued aid from the
  USSR
• Fall of 1979 High point of global impact.
  Elected head of the Non-Aligned movement!
• ButUSSR Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and
  Castros lack of denunciation hurt his prestige a
  bit

99

• Back to Domestic Rule in the 1980s and
• The Current Phase (4)

100
Domestic Concerns

• While grandstanding on international stage, there
  were issues at home!
• Peruvian Embassy incident Spring of 1980. Let
  them flock to the embassies!
• Led to MARIEL BOATLIFT
• Over 125,000 people fled Cuba from April to
  September on overcrowded boats to USA
• Many criminals released from jails sent to US.
  Castros motivations?

101
PHASE 4 1990-PRESENTPOST COLD WAR CUBA

• With the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Cubas
  most important trading partner had disappeared.
• US Embargo was tightened, an intense rationing
  period resumed in the early 90s.

102
Modern Political Cartoon about Cuba after the
fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. What is the
emphasis of this Cartoon?
103
Diversification of the Economy

• The continued push to diversify the economy began
  to make some progress (started before the
  collapse of the USSR)
• Tourism surpassed the sugar monoculture as the
  main source of revenue in mid 90s.
• Tobacco, nickle mining, developments in
  biotechnology

104
Economic Sovereignty?

• Collapse of USSR loss of oil!
• The doors to foreign investment were thrown open
  in the mid 1990s.
• By 1997 57 nations 5 billion dollars
• Led to an rise in GDP and trade.
• Sovereignty?

105
Assessment of Achievements and Failures

• A strong argument can be made that the
  Egalitarian Goals Castro set for Cuba were
  achieved (and then some!)
• Economic Diversity? To a lesser extent.
• Economic Sovereignty? Still heavily dependent on
  aid from other countries. (Venezuela has
  replaced USSR as surrogate)

106
Evaluation of CastrosDomestic Policies

• Cuba before Castros Revolution
• Many corrupt and harsh Leaders (Grau, Prio,
  Batista)
• In 1956 40 of Cubans were illiterate
• In 1956 only 2 of population owned 50 of land
• US companies and influence widespread
• In 1956 Cuba was virtually bankrupt.
• Domestic Living Conditions Today
• One of only 2 communist states
• Good Education - Nearly 100 percent literacy
• Excellent healthcare - 76 Year life expectancy
  highest in all of Latin America
• State of the art Medical facilities and
  techniques
• But.TERRIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD!
• No freedom of press, few individual rights
• Single Party State Dictatorship no political
  choices
• Dissenters dealt with harshly
• Poverty increasing, especially since USSR
  collapsed

107
Not everyone inside or outside Cuba sees Castro
in a Positive light. He is accused of many human
rights abuses.
108
Many throughout the world oppose the continuation
of 40 years of US sanctions against Cuba.
109
What Next?
110
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111
EDIT!!!!

• Cuba
• Life in Cuba
• Castro
• Background/Education
• Early Politics
• Coup Attempt
• Batista Frees Castro
• Castro in Exile
• Castro Returns
• March on Havana
• Castro Takes Power
• Visit to the US
• Bay of Pigs
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Detente
• US Sanctions Against Cuba
• Castros Human Rights Record

112
EDIT CONCEPTS!!!!!!

• United Fruit Company Fugelinco Batista
• Eduardo Chibas July 26th Movement
• President Carlos Prio Land Reform
• Herbert Matthews Sierra Maestra Manifesto
• March on Havana (Coup of 59) Agrarian Reform
  Laws
• Fascism Guantanomo Bay
• Moncada Barracks Attack 1st Visit to US
• The 5 Revolutionary Laws 2nd Visit to US
• Dwight D Eisenhower Isle of Pines
• La Coubre John F. Kennedy
• John F. Kennedy Central Intelligence Agency
• Bay of Pigs G.2
• Naval Blockade U-2 Spy Plane
• Deterrence Sierra Maestra
• Non-alignment Test Ban Treaty
• History will absolve me. Che Guevera
• Hot-line Balance of Power
• Granma Opportunism
• Cuban Revolution Agrarian Reform Laws

113
EDIT Essay Questions!!!!

• Assess the statement Castro built his
  revolution primarily on the sentiments of Cuban
  History.
• Why did Castro become a Marxist-leninist?
• To what extent could it be argued that Castro was
  an opportunist.
• Compare the domestic policies of Castro and
  Stalin
• To what extent did Castro and Stalin use
  propaganda as a means of consolidating and
  maintaining their power?
• Evaluate the statement Fidel embraced
  communism because it suited his purposes to do
  sonot because he was a communist.
• To what extent was the July 26th Movement a
  failure for Castro?
• Describe the foreign and domestic policies of
  Castro.
• Compare and contrast the rise to power of Joseph
  Stalin and Fidel Castro.
• Account for the Rise to Power of Joseph Stalin
  and Fidel Castro.
• Discuss the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis
  on Cuba, the US, and USSR.
• Explain the origins of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  
• Analyze the reasons that the Soviet Union and the
  US did not go to war during the Cuban Missile
  Crisis.