The Cuban Revolution Essay

The Cuban Revolution The society on the island nation of Cuba had experienced many events in the twentieth Century which motivated the revolution. Cuba’s separation from Spanish rule in 1898, the American interest and influence on Cuba (1783 to the 1950’s), the rise of the Batista regime into government (1940 to 1959), Castro’s fight and overall succession in 1959 and the involvement of the Cold War on Cuba (1960 to 1991). These were all factors contributing to the overall outcome of the Cuban revolution. Cuba had been a colony of the Spanish empire from 1511 till 1898 and in the nineteenth Century there many attempted rebellions made to claim independence and break the ties with Spain. As Cuba had great fertile soil the agriculture created great wealth in fruit, sugar and tobacco, though none of the profit went to the Cubans as it went out of Cuba and into the Spanish empire’s treasury. This loss of wealth angered many Cubans and in 1819 the first of several rebellions to break ties with the Spanish empire took place in Cuba. The revolt was crushed under the Spanish, there were another six rebellions between 1819 and 1855 all were defeated. In an effort to suppress the rising civil unrest in Cuba, which imposed an increasing threat on severing ties with Spain, the Spanish government imposed many restricting and repressive rules on the citizens of Cuba. The laws included laws banning Cubans from setting up businesses, taking public posts, taking legal actions against a Spaniard and travelling without permission. Marriages between Cubans and Spaniards were annulled (dissolved as though it had never taken place). These new laws imposed by the Spanish government created even greater hostility between the people of Cuba and Spain. In 1868 the Ten Years’ War broke out between the Cubans and the Spanish government and in 1878 when the war had stopped, conflict was still continuing between the Cubans and the Spanish. A revolt against the Spanish, led by Jose Marti, broke out in 1895. The rebellion broke Cuba’s tie with Spain but did not make Cuba an independent nation. To aid the revolt in 1895, the Committee of Cuban Exiles was established in the United States to encourage American citizens to support Marti. The Committee of Cuban Exiles also handed stories of the War to American newspapers in an effort to propagate a winning support for their cause. By 1897 many of these stories about Spanish atrocities were published in major newspapers became very much exaggerated and even false. The USS Maine sailed to Cuba in 1898 on a ‘courtesy visit’ and on February 15 exploded in Havana harbour killing 260 sailors. This outraged many Americans, demanding war with Spain. On 25 April 1898 the United States declared war on Spain. When Spain was defeated the United States signed the Treaty of Paris on 20 December 1898, surrendering Cuba to United States’ rule. Spanish rule ended in Cuba on 1 January 1899. The United States had been interested in Cuba from 1783 and created many impacts on Cuban society during the Twentieth Century. In 1783, United States President John Adams described Cuba as ‘a natural extension of the North American continent’. Then President James Monroe made a speech to Congress in 1823 in which he stated ‘that the United States would no longer become involved in European affairs and that Europeans should no longer interfere with any part of the Americas’. President Monroe also affirmed that if any European nation would interfere with any independent nation in the Americas that it would be seen as an attack on the peace and security of the United States. Therefore the United States had the power and right to act as a ‘protector for the region. These declarations became known as the Monroe Doctrine. The establishment of this act created a close tie between the United States and the countries in the Americas, including Cuba. America’s relationship with Cuba strengthened even further when the United States defeated Spain in 1898, releasing Cuba from Spain. When Spain ended their reign of Cuba on 1 January 1899, the United States established a military government in Cuba which was present until the Cuban republic was declared in 1902. The presence of the American military government in Cuba would have significantly increased the interactions between Cuba and the United States. In 1901 the United States presented the composers of the Cuban constitution with the Platt Amendment and warned that American troops would stay in Cuba if the Amendment was not included in the constitution. The Platt Amendment enabled the United States with powers to intervene with both domestic and international Cuban political affairs. The Amendment also gave the

United States the ability to buy or lease land for military bases and gave the United States a ‘perpetual lease’ on Guantanamo Bay for use as a Naval Base. Though it had the intention to help protect Cuba’s independence, many critics argue that the Platt Amendment effectively placed Cuba under American control. The inclusion of the Platt amendment in the Cuban constitution meant that the United States had a greater influence on Cuba. As the Amendment limited the Cuban government’s power many Cubans were angered and rebellions broke out in 1906, 1909 and 1912. The United States sent troops to occupy Cuba as the rebellions were taking place and between 1917 and 1923 American marines occupied Cuba to pacify strikes in the Cuban sugar industry. This long activity of American forces stressed the ties between the Cuban public and the United States. As the United increased their presence throughout Cuba representatives of the United States sugar interests enforced policies on the Cuban sugar industry which were in favour of US economy at the expense of Cuban growth. By 1925 the United States dominated the Cuban banks, mines, rail transport and tobacco, cattle and sugar industries. This dominance of America in the Cuban economy shaped a great influence on Cuba. The American influence on Cuba heightened in the 1950’s as the country flourished and Havana was called ‘the Latin Las Vegas’ due to its large gambling scene. This transformation of Cuba became very profitable for American businesses and was a centre of organised crime. American-owned businesses possessed 90 percent of Cuban mines, 40 percent of the Cuban sugar industry, 80 percent of Cuban public services, 50 percent of Cuban railways and all of the oil companies within Cuba. These American influences and dependencies created a tension with many Cuban people who believed the political price of the economic dependence was too high and that since the end of Spanish rule all the governments had favoured the United States sugar market. In a speech by American citizen Arthur Schlesinger Junior he describes Havana “I was enchanted by Havana – and appalled by the way that lovely city was being debased into a great casino and brothel for American Businessmen…”, and goes on to state, “One wondered how any Cuban … could regard the United States with anything but hatred.” These statements provide examples of American influence within Cuba and reasons for the Cuban people to revolt. As the Cuban government of the 1950’s became increasingly unpopular, support was sent from American citizens in an effort to sustain Cuban opposition groups. This swing of American support, against Batista’s government, gave a chance for a revolution to begin. Fulgencio Batista is a key figure in the Cuban revolution of 1959. Batista started his reign of power in 1933 after a military coup called ‘Sergeants Revolt’, where he ended the rule of Machado. After Batista over threw the government, he controlled the presidency of Cuba. As Batista directed the presidency his influence over the president was absolute. When Batista became president in 1940 to 1944 he drew up a democratic constitution. After Batista stepped down the next two governments were repressive and increasingly corrupt. The Cuban public were angered by the governments and another political party, the Orthodox Party led by Eduardo Chibas, was created. The Orthodox party was favoured to win the Cuban election of 1952. In March 1952, weeks before the election, Batista overthrew the government in a military coup and cancelled the election. The new government was repressive and as president Batista abolished the Cuban constitution, dissolved the Congress (parliament) and outlawed the Cuban Communist Party. Many Cuban people opposed the coup and the new government creating a hostile relationship between Batista and numerous Cubans. Under Batista’s new government gambling and American businesses flourished and a large gap of wealth in the country was produced. Prostitution was also flourishing under the Batista regime. Although Cuba had one of the best standards of living within the Latin region, Cuba’s national wealth was not equally distributed, with extremes of poverty and wealth. The large Cuban middle class were frustrated with their lack of political power and influence which created tension between many Cuban workers and the government. Throughout the 1950’s the Cuban economy appeared to flourish, though it largely depended on the United States buying sugar. This reliance on the sugar industry created a decreasing popularity for Batista; Che Guevara called Cuba “the Sugar factory of the United States”. Additionally the sugar industry could only offer Cubans with seasonal work for four months of the year which created an eight month unemployed part of the year. Another reason for the continuing unpopularity of Batista was that Cuba had become a ‘playground for the United States with gambling, prostitution and large-scale corruption flourishing and the American mafia an increasing presence’. The large and wide-spread poverty in the rural areas and small amount of welfare and social services were also contributing factors to the decreasing popularity of Batista. As

the opposition against Batista increased, groups started to form over Cuba in a protest against the government. These groups were mainly composed of young students. In response to the uprising Batista placed harsh punishment on any strikes or anti-government rallies and even sent government troops to kill the leaders of the rebel groups. The violent and ruthless retaliation of the government created even more tension between the Batista government and the people of Cuba. One major rebel group, led and founded by Fidel Castro, called the ‘July 26 Movement’ gained large support in cities and assembled demonstrations, arson attacks and bombings in protest against the Batista government. These ‘attacks’ against the government were met by brutal reprisals made by the Cuban police and army. Batista ordered the police to pacify the outbreaks made by the ‘July 26 Movement’, saying “No wounded! No prisoners!” The severity of Batista’s reaction to the revolts made many moderate Cubans to support Castro and only increased his opposition. From the middle of 1958 rebel forces started an offensive against Batista; they quickly captured many towns and by the end of the year controlled half of Cuba. With a lack of military and public support Batista fled Cuba on the first of January 1959. Fidel Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’ were greatly involved in the Cuban revolution of 1959. As the opposition against the Batista government grew, Fidel Castro, a member of the Cuban Orthodox party and Student leader, claimed that the only way to oppose Batista was through an arms uprising. When Batista led his second military coup in March 1952 and on 26 July 1953 Castro and approximately 160 rebels launched an attack against Moncada Army Barracks. Castro and the rebels were immediately defeated and Castro was arrested. This attack, led by Castro, against the Moncada barracks would have had an abrupt effect on the government and people of Cuba. When Castro was on trial he gave his famous defence speech, ‘History will absolve me.’ In his speech Castro articulated his political views and affirmed three social forces that would determine his revolutionary strategies and alliances. Castro was sentenced to 15 years in jail though was released only two years after his sentence on 15 May 1955. After Castro and the rebels were released from prison they fled to Mexico seeking support for their revolutionary effort against the Cuban government. In 1956 whilst still in Mexico, Castro met with revolutionary activist and Argentinean doctor Che Guevara. As the rebel group, called the ‘July 26 Movement’, gained large support in Mexico, Castro and Guevara started to organise an expedition by boat to Cuba to begin their rebellion against Batista. On the second December 1956 the ‘July 26 Movement’ landed in Cuba and were faced by hostile resistance from government troops. After the ‘July 26 Movement” had infiltrated Cuba they met in the Sierra Maestra mountains and formed a guerrilla movement fighting government troops in the Sierra Maestra region. On 27 July 1957 the ‘July 26 Movement’ published the ‘Sierra Manifesto’ which outlined the major policies of the movement. The movement was split into two sections, the Sierra and the Ilano. The ‘July 26 Movement’ also used propaganda as a method of gaining support, they set up a pirate radio station and Castro was granted an interview with the ‘New York Times’ in 1957. The support had grown so much in Cuba that by 1957 some sections of the Cuban army supported Castro and in 1958 had 300 guerrilla fighters and many urban areas started their own underground rebel groups in support of Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’. This increase of support was necessary in the effort to fight against the Batista government and begin the revolution. As Castro gained support, from both domestic and international people, creating an image through the media as the legitimate leader of anti-Batista forces and promising land reforms and the implementation of the democratic constitution of 1940, the Batista government lost support. The support had grown so much in Cuba that by 1957 some sections of the Cuban army supported Castro and the ‘July 26 Movement’. In 1958 the rebels called for a general strike, though it was not achieved as the people had a too strong fear of the government’s reprisals. In May 1958 a meeting was held in the Sierra Maestra where all factions of the rebels met, blame was put on Ilano for the failure of the general strike and Castro was made supreme commander-in-chief of the whole rebel forces. With Castro in command of the entire rebel group he would be the inevitable leader of the country when rebels defeat Batista. From the middle to end of 1958, Castro and men defeated Batista’s forces on numerous battles across Cuba. The Battle of El Jigue in July 1958 was a key victory for the ‘July 26 Movement’ and was the beginning of the rebels advance on Havana. In August Castro ordered two separate columns of troops to push back Batista’s forces. One to be led by Camilo Cienfuegos the other was led by Che Guevara. Both of the rebel groups quickly advanced forward as they defeated Batista’s forces. Midway through the advance in October, the ‘July 26 Movement’

proclaimed the Third Law for the Sierra Manifesto. This new law granted ownership to tenant farmers, squatters and sharecroppers working on areas of land less than 67 acres, and would have appealed to many rural Cubans and therefore boosted support for the rebels. In the final months of 1958 both rebel forces had captured a number of towns and effectively controlled half of Cuba and military support for Batista fell away. On the first of January 1959 Batista fled Cuba and the rebel forces entered Havana on the second of January. A new Cuban government was established on the fifth of January; Castro assumed the post of commanderin-chief of the military. In February of 1959 Castro became Prime Minister and had 550 of Batista’s associates executed and many more put on trial. While Castro was Prime Minister he introduced many popular policies. He then suspended all elections and proclaimed himself as ‘President for Life’. Once Castro was in complete power he started to revolutionize much of Cuba. Though in the early stages of the reform, it could be seen that it was a Marxist revolution, though Castro had never declared himself a Communist he favoured many of their policies, including nationalising the media and many other industries. When Castro visited the United States, he met with Vice-President Richard Nixon and after Castro left Nixon believed that Castro was a communist. As Castro imposed more communist influenced policies, the relationship between Cuba and the United States began to deteriorate and Castro began a relationship with the SOVIET UNION. In 1961 at a funeral Castro declared that the revolution was socialist and in December of that year stated that he was communist. The Cold War between the United States and the SOVIET UNION became a central issue in revolutionary Cuba. As the relationship between the United States and Castro’s government deteriorated, Castro started diplomatic ties with the SOVIET UNION in an effort to keep his government alive. In February 1960 the SOVIET UNION send much needed farm and industrial equipment into Cuba and in retaliation American owned oil refineries in Cuba refused to refine oil shipped over to Cuba by the SOVIET UNION. As the relationship between Cuba and the SOVIET UNION strengthened the United States threatened Cuba by stating they would buy less sugar from Cuba. In 1961 the United States placed a total trade embargo on Cuba and in response the SOVIET UNION increased their support for Cuba. On 17 April 1961, around 1400 anti Castro Cubans landed in the Bay of Pigs, in an attempt the Central Intelligence Agency had to start an uprising against Castro. The invasion was quickly defeated by the Cuban military forces and the tie between Cuba and the SOVIET UNION strengthened. In 1962 Cuba agrees to place Soviet missile installations within Cuba in return for aid and support. Soviet President Nikita Kruschev said it would be the best defence against further US attacks on Cuba, he promised to give ‘all necessary assistance.’ In July 1962 Soviet ships arrived in Cuba carry the equipment and around 40 000 troops. When a United States U-2 Spy plane detected Soviet built air defences, Kruschev stated they are only for the defence of Cuba. In October, a United States U-2 plane took photos of Soviet ballistic missile sites and Soviet planes capable of carrying nuclear missiles. American President John Kennedy orders the United States Navy to form a blockade around Cuba in an effort to stop the construction of the Soviet missile bases in Cuba. On 25 October the United States Navy intercepted a Soviet oil tanker and turned back 12 other ships. Kruschev wrote two letters to Kennedy on 26 October, Kennedy only replied to the first and gave the SOVIET UNION an ultimatum: a promise to lift the blockade and not to invade Cuba if all of the missile sites were removed, war would break out if the Soviets said no. On 28 October Kruschev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba. Castro was humiliated and angered as both of the superpowers had left him out of their negotiations. Furthermore, the United States was able to persuade the Organization of American States to end diplomatic relations with Cuba, in response to Castro's "shameful" actions. The Cuban Missile Crisis made it clear that Cuba could not survive on its own without the protection and aid sent from the SOVIET UNION and when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989 Cuba was threatened with collapse though Castro introduced a number of restrictive and harsh economic measures named the ‘Special Period.’ In conclusion there were several key events in Cuba’s history which affected the Cuban revolution. The main catalysts for the revolution are Cuba’s separation from Spanish rule in 1898, the American interest and influence on Cuba (1783 to the 1950’s), the rise of the Batista regime into government (1940 to 1959), Castro’s fight and overall succession in 1959 and the involvement of the Cold War on Cuba (1960 to 1991).