| CUBAN REVOLUTION |
| The Cuban Revolution was a major event in the spreading of communism throughout the world. In 1959, Fidel Castro successfully overthrew the government run by Fulgencio Batista and established a communist government. This was the first communist country in the Western Hemisphere and presented a deadly threat to the United Sates. Fidel Castro completed a long and tactical route to overthrow the military government. Castro’s main reasons for wanting reform were because of America’s interest in the sugar plantations, and because of the corruption with Batista. Americans owned about 35% of the sugar plantations in Cuba, and with Batista the corruption was rampant. Batista was a puppet of the US, promoting American investmens, while also trying to make a more diverse economic system to reduce the dependance on sugar. In 1956, Castro and about 80 other fighters sailed from Mexico to Cuba. They landed in Cuba by shipwreck, and Batista’s troops killed most of the men. The surviving fled to the Sierra Maestra Mountains and set up their guerilla campaign. Castro moved on, promoting his cause, including things such as free elections, constitutional government, and land reform according to the constitution. He also affirmed the people that he was not a communist. He managed to gather a force of around 400 men. Batista’s army of 12,000 proved useless in defeating the rebel fighters. In December if 1958, the only true battle took place. Castro’s troops attacked in Santa Clara in central Cuba. Batista’s army retreated and deserted, and Batista fled the country. His regime had ended and Castro was now in power. Castro converted the government to communism and allied his nation with the Soviet Union. Many people did not approve of Castro’s rule, and millions of people fled within the first three years of his rule, mainly middle class business owners, and people continue to flee today. The nation was on scare in October 1962, when the Soviets began to install missiles in Cuba. This was called the Cuban Missile Crisis. America and Cuba are still on stiff terms, with the American embargo on Cuban products. Although the tensions are easing, and Cuba poses no military threat now, it may be some time before the two nations can agree. |