(b)Castro’s Transformation to Cuba POLITICALLY: “Castro's political system is static, contradicting Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's assertion that ‘red is the color of constant revolution.’ Cuba, though, is changing, and the Revolution must evolve with it if it is to survive. “ – Real life in Castro’s Cuba, Catherine Moses a. Change from a liberal democracy to a communist/socialist state b. He modeled the government system after that of the USSR c. He instituted a new one party system d. He strengthened ties with the USSR e. Most senior officials to Baptista were removed
SOCIALLY “The Unites States retaliation against the agrarian act took the form of a cut in Cuba’s sugar quota in the united states market” – Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro a. Health and education was free for all Cubans b. By the 1959 Agrarian act major lands owned by Americans were seized without compensation h. Interveners were put in charge to oversee the operations of major American companies c. Cuban Literacy Campaign: it raised Cuba’s literacy rate from 65% in 1959 to 97% at the end of the campaign d. He increased the number of educational facilities in the island e. He made healthcare more accessible by also increasing the amount of medical facilities on island f. Students required to work for 30 days a year when they got to the age of 14
ECONOMICALLY “The bonds between the Cuba and the Soviet Union were tightened in 1962 when Russia agreed to take an increased supply of Cuban sugar” Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro a. Every citizen was guaranteed employment b. He nationalized virtually every sector in the island c. Soviet economists were bought to Cuba to re-planned and organized the Cuban economy d. He stopped Cuba’s reliance on the Sugar industry by developing other sectors of the economy e. Cuba began to depend heavily on the USSR economically until it was dismantled
Castro was fascinated with Communism/ Socialism because he had seen the ravages caused by Baptista and his so called Democratic government. He knew his country needed a change and a total government system change was the way to go for Castro.Even though Communism/ Socialism bought about no freedom of speech it did bring much needed changes such as improve road networks,better education,better healthcare etc He had become very anti-american because he realised that America's interest in Cuba laid simply in its strategic location and sugar industry. Communism was the exact opposite of the Democratic system in the USA, he may have wanted to shock the US by instituting this change which would take Cuba out of America's good graces. He was also fascinated by the Communist USSR, he wanted to model Cuba using the USSR as the master plan. The USSR at that point in time was the economic superpower that the US is now. He expressed openly multiple times that the principles of Capitalism which is deeply intertwined with Democracy was evil and promoted massive greed and widespread stratification. He thought that Cuba deserved better .
"I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition." - Fidel Castro
(c) The US had attempted multiple times unsuccessfully to purchase Cuba from Spain. They wanted cuba because of its strategic location about 90 miles from Miami.The fact that they were fearful of the possible things that could happen the US tried its best to bring down Castro; they even tried to poison him. At the time the USA and USSR where in deep conflict, they were fearful of the possibility that the USSR had constructed a nuclear base in Cuba and they were planning to boob the US. America was on edge. Things would only get worse; in October of 1960 a mere year after the Castro’s regime took office the US imposed the embargo against Cuba, remember that on top of this the US had already imposed sanctions on the island. In the early stages of the embargo the US banned travel to Cuba and Cuban cigars being sold in the US. Also, the conflict in political ideologies between the two countries was greater cause for conflict. “A sudden disruption of relations between two closely integrated economies of vastly different size will inevitably have major consequences for the smaller party in the short run.” Jorge, Antonio, The U.S. Embargo and the Failure of the Cuban
Cuba's political system, Socialism/Communism was seen as a treat by the United States. It went against the democratic system in the US which promotes capitalism and freedom of speech. The United States felt that such a system was not right as it could give rise to a dictatorship and surounding islands in America's 'backyard' could opt for this system (Cuba remains the only communist country and dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere but whether Cuba is a dictatorship or not can be disputed).Communism is a system which is deeply rooted in looking down on Capitalist societies such as that of America. They felt that a communist island was an island that was anti-american and this caused a big shift in the relationship these two countries once enjoyed. They (america) were determined to force Cuba to return in its good graces but to no avail
The political concepts do have there merits even though some may seem obvious and meagre. Probably the sector in Cuba that received the most change when Castro was put in power was the countries politics. Castro instituted these changes with an iron fist. Probably his most controversial change was the institution of communism a system in which the government is in total control of a country where mostly every sector is government owned. Since he had always looked up to the USSR he modelled Cuba's political system to that of the USSR even bringing economists from the USSR into Cuba. He also removed Baptista's senior officials who were regarded to as extremist and in order to maintain power he made Cuba a one party country this ensured his rule over the country was unhampered until he chose who he wanted to be his successor.
a) Beckles and Sheperd noted in Caribbean Freedom that Cuba was "a society split by wide income differences, in which rich and poor lived in separate worlds, where a pervasive spirit of mistrust set individuals and groups against each other, provided shaky foundations for its institutions." The making of the 1959 Revolution from Fidel Castro's rise to power was a landmark event better known as the David & Goliath story. basis of such dependence on capricous world forces which it could not hope control." Cuba was known for its rotten lifestyle and "backwardness" under the governance of dictator Batista. Eric Williams provided statistics to show how retro the Cuban lifestyle was. Most of peasants residing in Cuba didn't have a balance meal, or even consumed meat, the rural dwellings had no toilets of any kind or no refrigeration facilities. The average annual income per person among the peasantry was $91 , and 43% of peasants were completely illiterate. Sugar accounted for nearly 90% of Cuba's export and America sugar companies controlled about 75% of arable land. American participation exceeded 90% in telephone and electric services, 50% in railways, and about 40% in sugar production, 25% of the Cuban labour force was chronically unemployed. According to Beckles and Sheperd in Freedom Wons On 26 July 1953 a Fidel Castro launched the 26 of July movement by attacking the Moncada Army barracks in Santiago in Eastern Cuba. Unfortunately his attack was unsuccesful and he was imprisoned by Batista and wasn't released until 1956. In 1956 Castro left for Mexico accompanied with his brother Raul Castro, Che Guevara and nine other revolutionaries and fled to the Serra Mastra Mountains. From there they launched a guerilla war against Batista and his regime. Fidel Castro was victorious in his attack in 1959 and restored Cuba in the hands of Cubans, for he believed Cuba was slowly being controlled by United States with them Batista as their puppet leader. Eric Williams stated that "essential feature of Castro's Revolution was its Anti-Americanism.
b)In Castro's Manifesto of his 26 July Movement along with the Declaration of the Sierra Maestra on July 12, 1957, he pledged political guarantees, civil rights, "establishment of a civil service", free elections in all trade unions, distribution of barren lands with "prior indemnification to the former owners", an intensitive campaign against illetracy, acceleration of industralisation, and the creation new jobs.
Fidel Castro's rise to power all started in 1953 when Castro launched an unsuccessful and premature attack on Cuba's then Governor General Fulgencio Batista. After this failed attack Castro was arrested ans sentenced to fifteen long years in prison, in which he was released after two years. This was one of the worst thing they could have done because now more than ever Castro was determined to overthrow Batista. Fidel Castro left for Mexico where he began to plan another attempt to overthrow Fulgencio making sure he was equipped with guns and the ammunition. By the year 1957, Castro was back, according to Eric Williams on that "day in which Castro went to war his army was made up of 803 men, when added with the all the other groups the total was of 1,000 to 1,500." He had no intention of repeating what had happened the first time; on January 1st 1959 Batista resigned and fled to the country and Fidel Castro took over power.
QUESTION: Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States.
Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward on various occasions by the United States. Gradually, the United States gained a position of economic and political dominance over the island, with the vast majority of foreign investment holdings and the bulk of imports and exports in its hands, as well as a strong influence on Cuban political affairs, the political leaders were like puppets for the United States. The United States believed in a capitalist economy while Fidel Castro believed in equality for all; in America's eyes Castro was a threat due to the fact they could not control him and also because he did not believe in what they believed in. On May 17,1959 Castro passed a Agrarian Reform Law in which replaced latfundia and eliminated renting, tenancy and share cropping. According to Eric Williams the Agrarian Reform Law affected the relations between Cuba and the United States. Williams states the "The United States retaliation against the Agrarian Law took the form of a cut in Cuba's sugar quota in the United States market." Fidel Castro then decided to sell the sugar to the US's enemy the Soviet Union which would continue the infiltration of the Soviet Market. The Cuban- America tension intensified when the Soviet oil was exchanged for Cuban sugar. America realized they were not getting their way and decided to declare war on Cuba. It was like America forgot one of the main reasons why they wanted Cuba, it was not only because the country was prosperous but because Cuba could have been a good military force for the United States. Castro requested the Russians to install offensive missiles which according to Eric Williams was about 90 miles away from the America coast. Khrushchev yielded in the subsequent confrontation with Kennedy, and notwithstanding Castro's angry protests, withdrew the missiles.
Fidel's initial plan of insurrection in 1953 was a failure but this act of rebellion against Batista's regime sparked the flames of freedom Cuba's public. Fidel, in his attempt to oust the American puppet Batista, made sure that he planned again for his second attempt to free Cuba from political injustice. "In Fidel Castro the Cuban's discovered an extraordinarily gifted political prophet and leader who, with his bold challenge to Batista, not only captured he imagination and loyalty of the young but in the process managed to clothe himself with the mantle of Jose Marti, first of the great Cuban revolutionary figures," states Ramon Ruiz. Fidel Castro overhrew Batista's government in 1959 after an employment of military tactics and empowering the working class to join his revolutionary movement. So it was noted that his success was on account of his empathy with the working class and the use of guerilla tactics. Fidel's strict army, which he trained in Mexico after his release from prison, was effective in the struggle against America's tyranny. "The most remarkable feature of the Cuban Revolution, militarily and politically, is that it was and is so largely the work of one man," states Andres Suarez. Fidel Castro's rise to power was as a result of his great planning and patience, and his political agenda sought to empower the people and push for nationalist pride in Cuba. Fidel's association with the Soviet Union also made him a force to be reckoned with in the western hemisphere. His ideology and practices ensured his support of the people as he implemented numerous reforms which benefitted the less developed rural communities. 'Yes, we set out to fight for Cuba's freedom and we are not ashamed of having done so,' stated Castro who made it clear that history would absolve him.
Carolin E. Fick states, "while alliances might be made amomg groups against common enemy, such alliances were occasionally and of short duration, to serve only immediate interest." Many roles explain the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959 by Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro was determined for change in the socio-political life of Cuba. In the year of 1953 Castro led an army in an attempt to remove Baptista from government, but the revolt was unsuccessful. He was arrested and released from prison in 1955 in amnety and fled to Mexico.Eric Williams in From Columbus to Castro states, "A pro-Castro French journalist has given an explanation: 'Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people..." Castro returned to Cuba in 1957. On a second attempt to overthrow Baptista, Castro and his army succeeded leading Baptista into exile. Eric Williams states, "...Castro army consisted of 803 men..." This resulted in the formation of a new government and Castro as the prime minister, eventually turning president and started a communist dictatorship in the island of Cuba.
b) Examime how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially, and economically.
After the rise of Castro, Castroism was formed. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Castroism, "as the political, economic, and social principles and policies of Fidel Castro." Castro transformed Cuba in a politically. After 1959 Cuba became a dictatorship, having a socialist government, creating autocracy in the island. With this the constitution was changed, and the people of Cuba did not have freedom of speech. They started trade with Russia and other members of the Soviet Union. Moveover the social life of Cuba was rid of inequality. Eric Williams states, "...Cuba not only became the most developing country..." Jobs were created throughout Cuba. Also social inequality was decreased, persons of all classes were able to get education and free medical care. Moveover the vices which plagued Cuba by America was ended. Furthermore, the economic development ofwas started. Eric Williams states, "...the first country to have mobilised the entire population intoma task of reconstruction. " Cuba changed from a monoculture economy to a diversification economy, producing not only sugar but eggs and others products. Production in the sugar industry also increased, Eric Williams suggests, "production increased by 4 millionntons fromm1963 to 1979." Roads and other infrastructures were also established, such as production ofmsteel, cement and mother resources.
An essential feature of Castro's revolution was its anti-Americanism. After having been dominated by America's puppet leaders, Castro developed a disdain for the super power. Castro nationalized all American owned business and sought to eradicate their influence. Castro diverted from a democratic path and embraced socialism and abhorred American capitalism. He sought to empower the poor and the peasantry. America, however, did not like Castro's policies. America ,who had long been trying to get their hands on Cuba, tried to cripple the revolutionary government. They pulled out their investments after Castro's nationalist spree, and tried to cripple the sugar economy as they had controlled 75% of the sugar production notes Eric Williams. It was noted by Eric Wiliams that, "the United States made Castro a communist". The 1961 incident most notably remebered as the Bay of Pigs, where America tried overthrow castro. The Americans underestimated Castro's popularity and as a resukt they failed. Hostility grew further with the missile crisis of 1962 with the economic embargo on Cuba being installed shortly afterwards.
c) Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States.
Eric Williams explained, "In 1959 Cuba, was the first Caribbean country to challenge successfully the power of the USA..." There is no doubt that many factors played a role in Cuba's struggle with the United States. Firstly, the USA always had their eyes on Cuba, and tried everything to get their hands on Cuba. They wanted Cuba as a colony because of it's close proximity being located at the back of America and could be used to protect them and also, because Cuba was known for it's prosperous sugar economy. Castro saw that the leaders of Cuba were being controlled by America, and had a belief that Cubans should be incharged of Cuba. After overthrowing the government, and declaring his self as president he started a dictatorship, nationalising all American owned business, such as telephone companies. Eric Williams suggests, "The essential feature of Castro was it's anti-Americanism." This could be seen a more problematic, when America released a trade embargo on Cuba, this however struck the nation of Cuba hard, resulting in the importation of goods not to enter the island. Also, the Bag of Pigs invasion which occurred in April 1961, where the United States launched and attack and tried to invade Cuba, but was unsuccessful. Furthermore, America believed in Capitalism, but Castro believed in Communism, this lead Cuba to becoming a member of the Soviet Union and hatred from America to increase, and the Missile Crisis in 1962 where a complete embargo was set on Cuba.
How Castro Transformed Cuba Politically, Socially, and Economically
Fidel Castro implemented many changes in Cuba under his revolutionary government. Castro reshaped the political direction of Cuba. After declaring himself as a leftist in 1960, Castro transformed Cuba into the Caribbean's first socialist state. Castro alligned himself with the soviet union and implemented policies which opposed American views. Fidel, on his change to socialism, established a dictatorship in the territory, leaning away from democracy. He sought to protect the country from american intervention and avoid becoming apart of the 'American Mediterranean'. He enforced his military government and made it clear that anyone who went against the revolution was an enemy of the state. Dependence on the Soviet Union also came about in Cuban politics, as their political and military support was key to Cuba's success. According to Herbert Matthews, " Communism was not a cause of the Cuban revolution; it was the result"
Socially, Castro was implementing many reforms in cuba. The peasantry in cuba was isolated on the account of horrible roads, health care was poor, and 61 percent of rural children were not attending school. Castro was "dedicated to social justice" says Eric Williams. Castro started a literacy campaign to educate the poor people of the country. He held an "intensive campaign against illiteracy" and sought to create new jobs to put more money in the hands of the people. "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people," noted a pro-Castro French journalist. Castro improved health care and Cuba became a country with some of the most notable doctors. He improved infrastructure by improving roads in rural areas and built hospitals and schools. The level of illiteracy declined greatly after castro took control of Cuba.
On an economic level, Cuba was changing drastically. Castro went on a nationalizing spree. American sugar companies monopolized about 75% of Cuba's arable land and was essentially the backbone of the Cuban economy. Public utilites were also controlled by the US as their participation exceeded 90% according to Eric Williams. So, Castro began to assume control of all foreign owned enterprises. He made it so that businesses were all publicly owned and the government would have a say in the affairs of the business. Castro also experimented with Agrarian reform which provided for compensation on bonds. Tighter bonds with the USSR allowed Russia to supplement 80 per cent of the merchandise that America refused to subsidies as they tried to cripple Cuba. Castro also fought against mono-cropping and sought to focus on other industries besides sugar, seeking to reduce sugar production.
QUESTION: " Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically."
According to Eric Williams Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory but instead it was a moral victory for the people. Castro movement was democratic, nationalist and dedicated to social justice. Castro’s transformation to Cuba politically are: -The change from a capitalist to a socialist state first of all. -Majority of senior officials of Baptista were removed - A new one party system was instituted -Ties were strengthened Socially Castro aim was to, as he referred to it, was to "Yankee Imperialism" he believed Cuba was for the Cubans and the US government should not have so much say in the country. Castro mainly wanted equality for his people so he made health and education was free for all Cubans, on May 17, 1959 Agrarian Reform Act was put in place, a Cuban Literacy Campaign started in which it raised Cuba’s literacy rate from 65% in 1959 to 97% at the end of the campaign. He made health care more accessible by also increasing the amount of medical facilities on island, an increase in jobs, all lands owned by the Americans were seized. Economically, according to Eric Williams "the bonds between the Cuba and the Soviet Union were tightened in 1962 when Russia agreed to take an increased supply of Cuban sugar" this did not set good with the United States since they already saw Russia as an enemy and Cuba was now one. " Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people." He ensured every citizen was able to get employment, he made it longer that Cuba would have to depend on the Sugar industry by developing other sectors of the economy, he nationalized virtually every sector in the island and brought in the Soviet economists to Cuba to re-planned the Cuban economy. At one point Castro admitted he was economically dependant on the Soviet bloc for his sugar contract, factories, economic aid.
A. As a young boy Fidel Castro started his rise to power in Cuba by joining a student action group and was also a founding member of the Cuba group, he was also a founding member of the Cuba people's party and became the leader. Castro traveled to Venezuela, panama, and Columbia to help organize a Latin American anti-imperialist student congress, nevertheless, he participated into the popular uprising of April 1948. The Castro revolution in 1958 was a belated attempt to catch up with the nationalist movement in the rest of the Caribbean. Fidel saw himself as Cuba's savior when he landed back on Cuba soil with the intention of starting a revolution, he continue his guerilla attack and succeeded in gaining large numbers of volunteers. He had came to power with the support of most Cuban city. However, Castro revolution was to be a humanist revolution, as Cuban as the palm tree's which would restrict consumption in order to build factories and machinery. Castro map out his plans for what he believed would be an inevitable armed struggle against the self-proclaimed president, then he led an unsuccessful attack against the moncada army trying to proclaim what was right for his country. But he didn't left it there, Castro attempted to raise funds for launching an armed struggle in Cuba. B. "The Cuban revolution not only transformed the nation's political and economic structure, it changed the quality of lives, the attitudes of men and women toward each other and toward their country." when Fidel Castro became in power he turned Cuba away from a democracy to embrace communism. Overall the Cuban economy has suffered under Fidel but improvements in public health care, education, and agriculture was in his only major gains. However, he maintain a large military and continue to attempt to export his revolution to other third world countries. The Cuban economy, failed to achieve significant growth or to reduce its dependence on the country's chief export, sugar cane. Economic decision-making powerful was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy headed by Castro, who proved to be an inept economic manager. With inefficient industries and a stagnant agriculture, nevertheless Cuba became increasingly dependent on favorable soviet trade policies to maintain its modest standard of living in the face of the United States continuing trade embargo. He made education one of the revolution's highest priorities because children of the poor family lies averaged only four years of school while in rural areas had no schools. Cuba also made large gains in the fight against hunger, food supplies, however, continued to be scarce, agriculture production declined after the revolution
From a very young age Castro was involve in the movement to overthrow Batista. On 26th July 1953 Castro attempted to remove the dictator through a revolution. Castro was unsuccessful in his attempt. Castro’s supporters were captured and killed. Castro himself was imprisoned. Defending his self, Castro wrote a speech, ‘History will Absolve Me’, he was pardoned in 1955. Upon forming his 26th July Movement, in Mexico, Castro then regrouped and trained, forming bonds with Raul Castro and Che Guevara. By the end of 1956, with the allies formed, it was then organized to return to Cuba, unfortunately, they arrived later than arranged. Their timing was affected, they were easily obliterated. According to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, they left with about 80 rebels, and when they arrived they had only 10. Stated by Castro, “"A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past." And so all was not lost, Castro then consolidated his movement; he gained support in the Seira Mountains from the rural population and as things got worst in Cuba, from the opposition as well. Unexpectedly according to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, he gained support from the New York Times. The environment became somewhat volatile. Castro’s group was outnumbered but Batista’s troops were retreated. Castro was able to consolidate his control through Cuba as Batista went into exile. Castro rose, and on January 1st 1959, the Revolution was over. He then set out to transform Cuba like no other, socially politically and economically.
How Castro transformed Cuba politically economically and socially.
Great social, economic and political transformation took place in Cuba under Castro’s rule.
Areas targeted for transformation were mainly because of glaring social inequalities in pre-revolutionary Cuba – before 1958. Although Cuba ranked third when it came to public social services, it can be best stated that quality services were provided mainly to the upper class. Thus, within his rule, Castro aimed and therefore transformed mainly the areas of education and health. He was firm in making such services available to all; this made the upper class not so happy.
“Education was transformed from a monopoly of the upper classes to a compulsory service, which all had access to,” stated by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World. Prior to the revolution, according to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “27 percent of the urban children and 61 percent of the rural children were not attending school… 43 percent were completely illiterate, 44 percent had never attended school.” Barracks now became schools, along with confiscated estates and luxury homes. Private schools were no longer and the amount of teachers and schools were increased. Teachers were trained to match the new curriculum put in place.
The education system was nationalized in 1961. Along with reading, writing, arithmetic and history, girls between the ages 14-21 learned sewing and dressmaking. At the end of their course, a sewing machine was given to each pupil with hopes that they would take what they learnt in the classroom into their homes and even their communities. There was also an implementation of special schools, particularly where domestic servants were trained to be taxi drivers.
Castro’s key achievement was the ‘literacy campaign’; the main goal was to reduce illiteracy. The campaign as noted by Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “unleashed 300,000 people, (among them 100,000 secondary school pupils and 35,000 teachers plus many key workers and employees) to reduce the illiteracy rate to 4 per cent of the total population.” Special attention was turned to the women. Training programs and colleges with focuses on women were introduced. With reference to, Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “Castro was able in 30 months to open more classrooms than his predecessors had opened in 30 years.”
The health sector was another social transformation. In the pre-revolution period, stated by Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “there was one doctor for more than 2,000 persons in the rural areas, leading to the saying in Cuba that only cattle were vaccinated.” Within the post-revolution period, free high quality health care system was provided for all Cuban citizens. At the time it was superior to any in the third world, becoming at the forefront of medical research and healthcare. Noted by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “by 1974, 16,000 doctors had been trained.”
Economic aspects were key to transformation under Castro’s rule. Prior to the revolution, Cuba’s economy was dominated with monoculture of the sugar industry which was subject to fluctuation. According to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “Sugar production fluctuated from 3.6 million tons in 1923 to 5.2 million in 1925, 3 million in 1932, 7 million in 1952, 4.7 million 1954.” Also Cuba was solely dependent for inputs, marketing of outputs and source of investments. Among the rural and urban poor, unemployment and underemployment was increasing. Thus, the earliest reforms of the revolution were set out to change the economic system.
With reference to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, there were four distinct phases of economic change post 1959. Within the first phase, 1959-60 the economy was characterized by nationalism and collectivism. The second, 1961-63, the society was then socialist and way was made for the introduction of socialist economic structures. The third phase, 1964-1970, was the period of adjustment. The testing for alternative socialist economic models was done. Within the last phase, Cuba then attempted to adjust Soviet polices to suit her situation.
Simply put the four phases included objectives like that of the sugar industry, the monoculture it encouraged, the foreign-owned latifaundia (large plantations) on which it was erected and the landless which was created. Agrarian reform was Castro’s answer. Agrarian Reform Law was enacted in May 15, 1959. Under this law, latifaunda were replaced by co-cooperatives private small and medium farms with a variety of crops. It accounted for the elimination of tenancy, renting and sharecropping by reinforcing the principle ‘that the land belongs to whoever works it.’ The Agrarian Reform prohibited any individual or company to own more than 995 acres; in very particular situations this was increased to 3,316 acres.
The Agrarian Law impacted heavily on Cuba’s relationship with the United States. Compensation was to be given on the basis of bonds issued in Cuban currency and matured in 20 years at 4 ½ per cent annually, in accordance with tax valuations that the owners had fled with the Batista regime. According to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), United States investors owned about 75, 000 acres of Cuban land and the loss of property enraged matters with the United States government. Their retaliation took the form of a cut in Cuba’s sugar quota on the United State’s market. Castro then arranged to sell 5 million tons of sugar over a 5 year period to the Soviet Union. Soviet agreed to pay 80 percent of the price in merchandise and 20 per cent in dollars. Cuba replaced American markets and investments with Soviet Goods, trade, money and personnel. Soviet Oil was being imported by 1960. US companies then refused to the oil, thus intensifying nationalization. Any remaining American businesses were nationalized; a counter embargo was placed on Cuban trade and so Cuba’s main partner was now the Soviet Union. Whether it be, oil refineries, banks, sugar mills, telephones/electricity companies, hotels or the transportation service all were acquired by the state.
Cuba also acquired property and assets, acquired through corruption or illegal means. Illegally acquired property, specifically Batista’s followers were confiscated. Legislation was enacted to increase wages, lower rents and prices.
Under Castro’s rule, Cuba’s political structure radically changed. From 1959, Cuba underwent transformation from nationalist policies to socialist policies to communist ones and then arrived at a distinctly Cuban Communism. In 1960 Castro declared himself Marxist/Leninst. This can be seen in the social and economic reforms made. Castro held the idea that everyone in a given society should receive equal shares of the benefits derived from labour. Communism was designed to allow the poor to rise up and attain financial and social status equal to that of the middle-class landowners. In order for everyone to achieve equality, wealth was redistributed such that the members of the upper class were brought down to the same financial and social level as the middle class. Communism required that all means of production be controlled by the state. In other words, no one can own his or her own business or produce his or her own goods because the state owns everything. Castro was totally opposition to capitalism, which was the view held by the United States.
Post- revolutionary developments included economic and social transformations, a broken relationship with the Western world and an alignment with the Eastern one and the introduction of communism coupled with the destruction of representative democracy.
Cuba and the United States have had one of the most interesting relations. Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward at various times by the United States. This was so because Cuba was in the America’s ‘backyard’ and the island was needed to ward off any European countries in the region. Noted by Beckles and Shepherd, Caribbean Slavery and Economy (1984), they offered up to some $ 130, 000, 000, at a meeting held in France but even that in the latter was turned down. Prior to the 1958 revolution, Cuba was run by the dictator Batista, who was nothing but a ‘puppet’ leader for the US; he served the interest of the US rather than the population. According to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “American capital and technology contributed to swift economic growth in Cuba.” The sugar cane industry, the railroad, the electricity service, and telephone service were all mainly dominated by American interests. As Cuba prospered, poverty increased. Castro then rose up and transformed Cuba, politically economically and socially. As he transformed the state, he went from nationalist policies to socialist policies and finally arriving at a Cuban communism. Castro declared himself, a Maxist Leninis, sticking to the belief that everything in Cuba should be solely Cuban and run by Cubans. Noted by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “this had implications not only for Cuba, but also for the two competing world powers at the time: the United States with its capitalist mode and the Soviet Union with its communist mode.” As the transformation occurred, Castro formed strong relations with the United Soviet Socialist Republic, which then cut most, if not all their ties with the US and the many investors they had in the island. In Havana on January 25 1964, Castro emphasized the difference between relations with the United States and that with the Soviet Union, Castro stated:
“The Soviet Union did not have any sugar plantations in Cuba. It did not have any sugar mills in Cuba. It did not have any property in Cuba. Soviet Union was not receiving foreign exchange from Cuba. The Soviet Union did not collect dividends. It did not collect interest. On the contrary, the Soviet Union was extending large loans to Cuba to allow us to cope with this situation.”
In 1962 there was a missile crisis. The Russians, at Castro’s prompting, installed missiles 90 miles from the American coast. Although these missiles were removed after a confrontation between Khrushchev, Soviet’s president and Kennedy America’s president Cuba would pay. In result the American sugar quota was cut and furthermore they placed a trade and economic embargo on Cuba which is still present up until today.
a) Fidel Castro, born August 13, 1926, near Birán, Cuba, political leader of Cuba (1959–2008) who transformed his country into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro became a symbol of communist revolution in Latin America. He held the title of premier until 1976 and then began a long tenure as president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. According to Fidel Castro “A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle between the future and the past.” Then began his rise to power. Castro was one of the150 fighters who in 1953 tried to overthrow Batista. After this attack, Castro was placed into a prison but because of his patriotism, he became famous in Cuba after he was released from prison. He then fled to the United States with his brother Raul Castro. While there the planned another attack on Batista and his corrupt government. On December 2nd, 1956 he brought with him 81 insurgents with him, most of who were killed during the attack. In 1958 they came with a full scale attack on Fulgencia Batista and his government. After this attack Batista fled the country of Cuba and Fidel Castro assumed assumed himself as Commander and Chief of the armed forces and also sworn in as the Prime Minister.
Discuss how Fidel Castro transformed Cuba socially, politically and economically. b) POLITICALLY: “Fidel Castro has proclaimed himself to be a Socialist, a Marxist, and a Leninist". After the takeover from Batista, Castro converted Cuba to a socialist state. Castro believes strongly in converting Cuba, and the wider world, from a capitalist system in which business and industry is owned by private individuals and organisations, into a socialist system in which all business and industry are owned by the state on behalf of the population. Because of his strong ties with the Soviet Union, Fidel based the shaping of the government system off the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic, which is a socialist state in the Eurasian continent.
SOCIALLY: Fidel Castro brought about many social reforms in the country, such as the literary movement, where education and health for all Cubans was free, he opened 100 new schools and healthcare facilities available to everyone. All of these reforms were good but also came with some cons, such as, normal liberties did not exist, labour unions, right to stike and independent newspapers were all banned. Most importantly he took a nation that had a literacy rate of 2% and within 20 years had raised it to 98%.
ECONOMICALLY: While Cuba’s small and middle class resided primarily in Havanna, who enjoyed reasonably high levels of education and healthcare the majority of the population was poor. Castro also fought against mono-cropping and sought to focus on other industries besides sugar, seeking to reduce sugar production. After the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after the Cuban revolution of 1959, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military aid becoming an ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
c) Cuba lies 90 miles off the coast of Florida. This proximity to the United States lent to the viewpoint among many American decision makers, referred to as the law of political gravitation, that annexation of Cuba would be a logical extension of the United States' borders and fulfillment of manifest destiny.2 Cuba's proximity to the United States also meant that its harbors were of strategic importance, Cuba’s harbors could be used by enemies to threaten war on the United States conversely the United States could use those harbors as a first line of defense against enemies. Thomas Jefferson considered the Western hemisphere, especially Cuba and Florida, to be a jumping off point for a new “empire for liberty.” Cuba gained its independence after the Spanish American War and the relationship between the United States and Cuba continued to grow and strengthen. The United States became fully vested in both Cuban politics and Cuban economics. This investment in Cuba meant the United States assisted Cuba financially, militarily, and to some extent, politically. Cuba sided with the United States in both World Wars and the United States provided weapons and training to Cuba to build their military to aid in the fight against Communism. With the triumph of the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the seizure of Cuba by Communist powers came the end of the friendly relationship between Cuban and United States. Shortly thereafter, Cuba sided with the Soviet Union in the Cold War and before long, the United States embargoed Cuba. According to many historians, “The relationship between the United States and Cuba began based on basic supply and demand”. Even though economics, politics, and the military were the foundations for the good relationship between the United States and Cuba, as each of these foundations began to become strained over time, they eventually became the cause for the failure of that relationship.
1.a) Fidel Castro's Rise to power Fidel Castro, born on August 13th 1926 as an "illegitimate child", aimed to create political, economic and social change in Cuba. Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro stated that Castro launched an unsuccessful premature attack in 1953 against the puppet government of Batista. though it failed,Castro never stopped, though he was imprisoned, during the 1954 campaign, his followers often chanted to Batista "Viva Fidel Castro!" In 1955, after being freed, he became a non-violent agitator against Batista's governement, but upon realizing that this was not effective, sought violent measures to over throw the puppet government being controlled by the United States of America. Shannon Maxwell Eldridge in "Castro, Fidel: The Rise to Power" pointed out that Castro launched the 26th July movement less than 2 weeks of arriving in Mexico. He, and his allies, plotted in Mexico to overthrow Batista, and on July 26, 1953, they launched an attack on Moncada arm, using guerilla tactics. Then, in1959, all Fidel's time and efforts paid off, as he and his allies became the new government of Cuba. This new government was one that was based on nationalist and socialist ideologies. b) Eric Williams further pointed out that "Castro had promised to do no less than purge Cuba".
Political
Fidel Castro famously notes that "Capitalism is using its money; we socialists throw it away" as capitalism causes "... War, hypocrisy and competition." As such, Fidel found capitalism ".. repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating.." and therefore wanted no part in it.
Rita J Market in Fidel Castor's Cuba highlighted that Castro "...used the 1976 Constitution to restructure the governement, he convened a National Congress of the Communist Party. Under his instruction, the party... Elected Castro first secretary of the Communiat Party, President of the Cohncil of Ministers and of Council of State, and commander in chief of the armed forces... In theory, Cuba is governed by public mandate - the will of the people." As such, there was a change from the liberal democratic nature of Cuba, to a Communist and socialist and there was no elections. the political framework in which Cuba was absed, reflected that of the USSR, its close ally.
Economic
Prior to Fidel's government, the economy of Cuba was dominated by sugar monoculture which, according to Williams, occasionally brought prosperity, but fluctuated under the control of the US. Sugar, during this pre-revolutionary phase, accounted for 80% of exports. The backwards nature of the economy was massively due to "the fact that it was at the mercy of the external forces of the world market" (Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro). Fidel however, transformed the economic sector. This was done through the reduction of sugar production, opposition to foreign ownership of the sugar industry coupled with nationalism - State ownership of industries, particularly the agriculture industyand Us owned businesses, such as oil refineries, factories, casinoes, etc ..., reductions in electricity rates, which led to savings of $15 million a year for Cuban consumers, and also an acceleratedthe industrial development of the country.
Social
Social tranformation was evident in Cuba with Fidel's reign. Castro abolished legal descrimination, brought electricity to the country side, provided for full employment for Cubans, establishing numerous schools and the Cuban literacy campaign and medical facilities. Fidel Castro even, according to Market in Fidel Castro's Cuba, closed down opposition newspapers that presented his government in a negative light, limited the amount of land a person could, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to own land, abolished private businesses and presided over housing and consumer shortages.
a) According to Eric Williams (1970) in From Columbus to Castro, a French journalist noted, "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people...Castro did not destroy the enemy. The latter collapsed because he was rotten to the core." The face of Cuba was changed forever by the Cuban Revolution of 1959. With a vision that history barely grants to many, Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista regime and rose to power. Fidel Castro in his 1970 speech noted, “My straightforward character made me enter rapidly into conflict with the milieu, the venal authorities, the corruption and the gang-ridden system which dominated the university." Cuba, although an independent nation, was an island with immense discontent under the sickening regime of Batista. Gregory Tozian (1998) in Fidel's Cuba: A Revolution in Pictures noted, "Batista turned the majority of Cubans into cynics sickened by an atmosphere of graft and cronyism." The corruption that was prevalent during Batista's reign became one of the main issues that awaken Castro and Cuba's consciousness. Castro's initial attempt in 1953 at the Moncada Barracks failed, but Castro's determination to remove the legacy of colonial domination from the United States pulled him back to revolt in 1957. Despite the fiasco, Castro’s limited number of supports attracted the attention of the Cuban populace. According to Earle Rice Jr. in The Cuban Revolution, "Deep inside of him and all of Cubans was a revolutionary tradition inherited from the decades of struggle against Spain, nourished in this century by continental United States military interventions." Castro successfully unseated the democratic dictator and installed himself as premier of Cuba.
b) According to Williams (1970), Castro's movement was a democratic, nationalist and dedicated to social justice. Castro did not only transform Cuba, he re-symbolized the entire regime. His rise to power created a complete metaphorsis in the social, political and economical structure. Castro sought to amend Cuba's economy. Prior to Castro's rise to power, the economy of Cuba was dominated by the United States. Nelson R. Amaro (1989) in 'Mass and Class in the Origins of the Cuban Revolution' explained that this was due to massive investments by the United States business and a large degree by which they determined Cuba's economic structure. Batista had allowed the United States to control Cuban banking and for United States companies to hold a large percentage of the sugar miles, tobacco companies, railroads and utilities. (Tozian, 1998). Additionally, the economy was dominated by the exploiting social groups in the nation, where large landowners controlled the countryside and industrial capitalists ruled the cities. This was occurring at a time when Cubans were undergoing an economic recession in the economy. With Castro's rise came the change in the sugar industry, “the monoculture it encouraged, the foreign owned latifundia and the landless peasantry it created.” (Williams, 1970). Castro responded with the Agrarian Reform Law of 1959. Castro implemented a policy that the land belongs to the people who worked it. This became the basis of the replacement of the latifundia by small farms with creation of a diversified cropping system along with eliminating renting. Castro further confiscated United States businesses and nationalized private enterprises that were illegally procure under the Batista’s demoralized regime. Economic dependence on the United States was further reduced when Castro replaced American markets with Soviet services.
continuation of b) Williams (1970), said, "Pride of place goes to his achievements in education." Castro sought to advance the educational level in Cuba. Marti (1987) in Marshall, noted "to be educated is to be free." This became a popular slogan of the Cuban revolutionary movement. Castro's fundamental priority was his literacy campaign where a "300 000 people... reduced the literacy rate to 4 percent of the total population." (Williams, 1970). Castro was able to open classrooms and girls and boys got equal educational treatment. Fidel also increased the number of teachers, the number of schools and updated the curriculum. In the 1975 Constitution of Cuba, healthcare became "the right and responsibility of the state." "The government," according to Cateau and Campbell in History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, "provided free, high quality health care for the entire population." Castro transformed the health sector in Cuba by training, by 1974, 16,000 doctors as well as advancing in critical health areas such as heart diseases and cancer. The state was also culturally developed. “Before 1959, refinement and culture in Cuba was the domain of the elite.” Castro sought to prioritize and preserve Cuba’s culture. A national theatre was opened, a museum refurbished and wide sources of literature was published. Castro also improved the infrastructure with the construction of medical centers and popular housing programmes, which benefitted thousands of citizens. According to Williams (1970), “Every Caribbean nationalist would similarly have envied the road construction programme of Castro under which 600 miles of road were constructed…”
The political attempt to re engineer Cuban society along Marxist ideologies had far reaching social and economic consequence. According to Haralombos and Holborn, Marxism embraces the idea class struggles “The re engineered socialist economy became mired in centralized control and leaden bureaucracy.” (Cuba Exceptionalism, 2001). According to Irving Peter Pflaum (1961) in Tragic Island: How Communism Came to Cuba, he noted, “Revolutions are in motion always, removing the old order and creating a new one.” While Castro had promised a return to democratic constitutional rule when he first took power, he instead moved to consolidate his rule, repress dissent and imprison thousands of his opponents. Once in power, Fidel turned Cuba away from a democracy to embrace a socialist system called ‘Castroism’. Castro believed in totally transforming Cuba from a capitalist state where businesses and industries is owned by private corporations into a socialist state in which they are all owned by the state to benefit the populace. Castro further removed officials of the state who were supports of Batista’s regime. He enforced this policy by implementing a one party state.
c) “The prevalent initial international reaction to the Castro victory was that despotism had been turfed out by an idealistic cause.” (Cuba Exceptionalism, The Handbook.) Without a doubt, it is evident that Cuba was of significance to the United States. Initially, the Spanish government attempted to purchase Cuba, but failed miserably. As Spanish colonial domination faded, the United States gained a foothold in the economic, political and social structure in the island. Majority of foreign investments, imports and exports were controlled by the United States. In addition, Cuba proved a strategic location in proximity to the United States. According to Castro, “What bothers the us the most is that we have made a socialist revolution right under their noses. Workers and peasants, comrades, this is a socialist and democratic revolution of the poor, by the poor, for the poor.” Williams (1970) noted that, “the essential feature of Castro’s revolution was anti-Americanism.” The United States was in direct opposition to the transformation out of the revolution.
c) Cuba’s struggle with the United States of America • It was clear that Castro's revolution was anti-Americanism, particularly after it had been under the rule of the ‘puppet leadership’ of Batista, and his methods of transforming Cuba would also prove to be anti-America. As Fidel states "North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity”. • The United States was desirous of owning Cuba, because of its strategic location, just 90 miles away from Florida. • The US also had an interest in Cuba because the majority of Cuban economy was owned by US investors, as such, with businesses and industries owned by US individuals later being nationalized under Fidel’s government, the US was livid. • Hence, there was a trade embargo placed on Cuba by the US, restricting all trade between Cuba and the US, that still exists up to today.
continuation of c) John F. Kennedy said, "Our objection isn't to the Cuban revolution, it is to the fact that Castro has turned it over to Communists."
The struggle in conclusion, was one majorly based on the difference of ideologies - Democracy and Capitalism by the US and Communism and Socialism in Cuba
C. Castro made changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivising agriculture, and seizing American owened business farms, he transformed Cuba into a communist country. On the other hand, the United states wanted Castro out of power, with an attempt to overthrow him, the U.S. Sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba (the bay of pigs invasion) besides many attempts were made to assassinate Fidel, all with no success. The struggle that ensued between the U.S. And the soviet union, the Cuban missiles crisis, brought the world the closest to a nuclear war. The Americans saw Cuban's as communist, thus making Fidel traveled to the United states to explain his revolution saying " I know what the world thinks of us, we are not communist; very clearly"
a) Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz rise to power came from overtaking Fulgencia Batista. Under the rule of Batista, corruption was taking place in Cuba. Castro used more violent methods to make statements and in the middle of 1953 he had organized a group of around 1,200 followers. Out of these 1,200 followers, Castro began meetings with the young group of men to plan a military revolution. They planned an underground organization where they would seize military barracks in the capital and call on the people of Cuba to rise against the new dictator later called the 26th July movement. However, their plans failed due to an encounter from a military patrol, Castro and 29 of his comrades were imprisoned on the Isle of Pines and taken to court.For 15 years, Fidel was still optimistic and his defense speech was his proposition of completing the reformation of Cuba into a progressive nation. Castro stated; "I was rebellious, I had a lot of time to read. To read for so long..." In Eric Williams from Columbus to Castro, a pro-Castro French journalist explained: 'Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people...Castro did not destroy the enemy. The latter collapsed because he was rotten to the core.' Indeed with the help of the people of Cuba, Castro was successful this time. Fidel Castro took power in 1959 with objectives to transform Cuba into a developed and independent nation by mobilizing island's internal resources.
Fidel Castro rise to power: The great Fidel Castro, a man who was loved and hated by many persons, transformed the small prosperous colony of Cuba into the first communist country in the Western Hemisphere. An article ‘From the Mountains to the Podium: The Rhetoric of Fidel Castor’ stated that “Since 1959, Fidel Castro has maintained a prominent position of power within Cuba, whether labeled as Prime Minister or President. Some consider the man a dictator, others, like Nelson Mandela, call him a source of inspiration.” After studying at the Universtity of Havana, and obtaining his degree in 1950, Fidel Castro became a lawyer by profession. He was so engrossed in politics that he decided to hold candidate positions in the Cuban Parliament during the June 1952 elections. However the elections were cancelled by Generla Fulgencio Batista who had overthrown the previous Cuban government. Castro who greatly despised Batista for his affiliations with mobs and American officials, sought to oust Batista. He exercised legal means to unseat Batista but when this failed, he resorted to organizing groups of rebel forces to accomplish this task. On July 26, 1953, Castro attempted to eradicate the dictator of Cuba through insurrection with the support of 160 men. He stated that “The revolution is a dictatorship of the exploited against the exploiters.” Despondently, the attack landed him in prison and most of his supporters were captured and killed. Although this attempt was unsuccessful, Castro became a famous figure in Cuba. Upon his release from prison in 1955, Castro went to Mexico and persistently continued his campaign against Batista with the help of his brother Raúl and other revolutionary volunteers throughout the island. A full scale attack was executed on Batista and his government in 1958. The next year Batista fled the country and Castro became the new Prime Minister of Cuba. According to Andres Suarez, “The most remarkable feature of the Cuban Revolution, militarily and politically, is that it was and is so largely the work of one man.” Indeed one man, with his poorly armed forces, defeated the Cuban government’s 30,000 army of professional men.
A)Explain what led to the Rise of Fidel Castro. Surrounding the birth of Fidel Castro in August 1826 was a Cuba in the hands of foreign individuals. The existing leadership had grown to be the symbol of Cuba's inequities. They were under American control; President Roosevelt himself called him "a son-of-a-bitch, but he was our son of a bitch." American power was thus obviously wielded in Cuba, and their citizens exploited and enjoyed Cuba's wealth. Various issues persisted in society, including high illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and little property ownership.
In his early years, Castro attended Catholic boarding schools and excelled as a debater. Castro was born into a generation desiring freedom from the grip of external power and control that evidently manipulated its operations, and had always desired to be an influential political figure. His ambition was evident as he went on to become a lawyer and joined the Orthodox Party, making his first attempt to remove Baptista as leader on July 26th 1953 in the Oriente province. This unsuccessful revolution landed Castro and the 160 students he lead either in jail or tortured.
After being pardoned in 1955 Castro went to the U.S, and then Mexico, where he not only garnered significant knowledge, but gained arms and Monetary support. Building ties with vital individuals, and severing those with the Orthodox Party, he would prepare to lead another failed coup in 1956.
“Although eight prisoners managed to escape, only 15 rebels succeeded in reaching the Sierra Maestra mountains with Castro. This handful of survivors became the nucleus of the rebel army, and would become among the most powerful members of the government established by Fidel Castro.” “The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961”Alejandro Quesada – 2011 In the Sierra mountains he would build support from rural individuals and even be portrayed by the American press as a hero. Batista would attempt to stamp out this support, but the brutality only decreased support for him; even the United States had stopped exporting arms to him for ‘humanitarian reasons’. “Without the United States, Castro would not be in power today...By no longer supporting the existing government of Cuba, the United States helped Castro rise to power.” Victorious Insurgencies: Four Rebellions that Shaped Our World Anthony James Joes Sep 29, 2010 Removing Batista was a desire shared by multiple political groups such as the Communist and Orthodox parties, and Batista no longer had the support of America. Thus, support for Castro grew so drastically that by the end of 1958, Batista’s own troops deserted him and he feared for his life. He was thus forced into exile, and Castro was then able to seize control of Cuba on July 1st 1959.
Conclusively, "Castro's rise to power was fuelled by the corruption and ineptitude of the U.S backed regime of Fulengio Batista."
b) Discuss how Fidel Castro transformed Cuba socially, politically and economically. Economic “The difficulties confronted by Cuba in the 1980s have not brought a halt to economic progress nor have they brought about the ‘failure’ of the Cuban economy.” Richard Gillespie Oct 31, 2013 • Local industrial and infrastructural development and investment “Cuba accelerated investment in the development of metallurgical industries to ultimately supply spare parts and other inputs needed for industry, agriculture, and transportation.” U.S. International Trade Commission Multiple Embargos and United States’ pressure on other nations made industrial development absolutely necessary. Cuba constructed, ‘modernised’, and invested in technological adaptation of multiple factories and industrial facilities. Multiple industries were developed and expanded, such as electronics, construction material industries and the agro-livestock sector. The water and road system was also developed.
B) Continued • State acquisition and redistribution of land and capital “Agrarian reform, designed to achieve a more equitable distribution of land, improve living conditions for the rural masses, and promote economic development, thus came to be an issue that could not be ignored after 1958.” Thomas C. Wright - 2001. Cuba nationalised remaining investments in Cuba owned by U.S and other foreign nationals in October 1960, along with key Cuban owned land. This included 105 sugar mills, to give one the idea of the scale of acquisition; privatization was thus virtually eliminated. The state’s share in the agricultural sector had thus almost doubled. • Shift in models of production “Cuba continued to single out agriculture as the key to its development strategy.” ‘The Economics of Cuban Sugar’ Jorge Perez-Lopez There was a movement from centralized physical development and strategies, to organisational models such as market socialism and very radical centralisation. This had occurred between the 1960’s and 70’s. An organisational model based on centralism but with some market levers was the final model selected. Agriculture would continue to be the crucial point of Cuba’s developmental strategy. A Soviet style Economic and Planning System was utilized in the late 1970’s . It was aimed at increasing the efficiency of the use of capital and human resources. But by the late 80’s lead to a Rectification Process that returned the system to a centralised, moralistic one.
Political development • Opponents of Castro’s dictatorship were repressed. • In 1960 May he announced that there would be no elections or traditional democratic political parties. His government, manned by his closest revolutionary participants would constitute a new dictatorship. • Following the ‘Bay of Pigs’ and possibly as a result of it, Castro formally declared the Revolution as socialist. " Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organisation, the essential feature of which is governmental control of economic activities to end competition... Socialism means equality of income and nothing else.” Radhey Shyam Chaurasia This reflected Castro’s personal ideals and objection to U.S policies and operation, most effectively objected by socialism or communism.” Castro favoured social justice, end to corruption, and economic independence.” Stanley Sandler – 2002 • Centralised power and mobilization of the masses, allowed by socialism was encouraged. A group of 100 formed a Central Committee, with an internal section called the Politburo which dealt with party policy. The Secretariat formed the ‘Executive’ branch. • The USSR not only increased its aid to Cuba, but approved the formalization of Cuba’s communist system and strengthened ties with them. • Cuba won democratic recognition from 8 Latin American Countries. • The Black Market was politically campaigned against. • International affairs broadened and aid was provided to other countries. This increased Cuba’s prestige in Eastern Europe as an Anti-imperialist nation. Social development • Mobilization of 300,000 for literacy programs. This initiative was highly beneficial and long overdue as illiteracy rates were high. Primary and secondary education also saw heavy investment, growth and thus development. • “Cuba succeeded in building a unique health care system that serves all of its people.” Steve Brouwer – 2011 This was the result in heavy investment in the development of education. All sectors would benefit from these initiatives. • “ The commitment to guaranteed employment meant that the average Cuban enjoyed a secure income and potentially greater access to goods and services.” Wilber A. Chaffee, Gary Prevost - 1992 • “In Cuba the national food rationing system guarantees all citizens access to minimum basic nutritional needs.” Psyche Williams Forson, Carole Counihan – 2013
• “In the 1840s and 1850s, Presidents James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan attempted unsuccessfully to purchase Cuba from Spain.” Rex A. Hudson – 2002 America’s interest in the island was evident in these attempts to purchase Cuba from Spain.
• The Pierce Proclamation stated: “If Spain, actuated by stubborn pride and false sense of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba to the United States, then by every law, human and divine, we shall be justified in taking it from Spain by force of arms. All offers were rejected, and the true desire to attain Cuba was clear in this bold statement.
• Unification of workers as a formidable, prominent political force concerned America as to its continued control of internal affairs.
• This control was evident as, “For the next several years, Batista ruled Cuba through puppet presidents, before finally securing his own election to the Presidency in 1940.” Rita J. Markel – 2012 And thus, America would continue to be the real leadership of Cuba.
• Batista would lose the support of America during his time of most critical need. When Batista’s rule was threatened by Castro they wanted him to put in place a caretaker government, but he refused to relinquish his power. Thus America placed an embargo for ‘humanitarian’ reasons, preventing much needed arms from reaching Batista’s army.
• After Batista’s exile, America began to heavily oppose Castro’s rule. His communist ideals were considered threatening. They opposed Cuban Soviet diplomatic relations, and would attempt to sabotage and invade Cuba. Embargos were placed on oil refining and other economic areas. Cuba simply nationalized them.
• “Bay of Pigs invasion ended in complete failure, leaving the new president facing a major political crisis.” Kenneth Michael Absher, Michael Charles Desch, Roman Popadiuk – 2012 The missile crisis deteriorated American-Cuban relations. The Bay of Pigs, a failed insurgence effort of 1,500 American trained exiles has been described as “the greatest embarrassment of Kennedy’s presidency.”
• Embargos would continue in the years to come into today. The Cuban economy would not be stifled, as was the intent. America continued to restrict spending in Cuba, to restrict trade relations and to restrict American citizens from travelling there; all efforts would continue to be taken to seeming take revenge on Cuba for not bowing to American power and growing into a prosperous society despite America’s consistent efforts.
Fidel Castro Ruz was born the illegitimate child to father Angel Castro y Argiz and Lina Ruz on August 13, 1926. He demanded of his parents that he attended school and was sent to live with his godparents to attend Colegio Dolores, a Jesuit school in Santiago. Upon his graduation he went to Colegio Belen, in Havana at age of 16. He later studied law at the university of Havana.
Castro started to plan a military revolution against Batista, influenced by Eduardo Chinas. On July 26, 1953 Castro had launched an unsuccessful and premature attack," (Eric Williams) on Baptist. Out of 200 supporters that battled for 2 hours, 3 persons died and 68 were executed and Castro faced trial. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
After his release after only serving two years, Castro became a nonviolent agitator against Batista. He begun to hold meetings and was banned from talking on the radio and public meetings. This caused him to abandon his peaceful goal and decided to renew his violence. He went into exile in Mexico while he bcome acquainted with Che Guevara, where he trained in guerrilla warfare. The Castro revolution was entitled the July 26th movement. Castro had gained the support of the masses, especially the peasants "Castro and Guevara were not peasants, they never intended to wage war from a rural base, and most of there July 26 movement come from the cities," stated Jan Rogozinski.
Armed with "803 men," according to Eric Williams, "which together with all other groups made up a force of 1, 000 to 1, 500. He had won the victory against Batista according to French pro-Castro journalist "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was a primarily a moral victory of the people." Batista was forced to flee the country and Castro gained power and became prime minister.
Political change Castro became the leader of the communist Partido Socialist Popular, and eliminated all other political parties. Castro transformed Cuba into the first communist state in the western hemisphere, he excised unquestionable and total control of the government. Castro, a socialist, worked to convert Cuba from a capitalist system into a socialist system, " we do not believe in the materialistic concept of capitalism or of other types of communism which money is the incentive," Castro. Cuba became closely aligned with the USSR and they developed ties.
Social change One of Castro's goal was to reduce illiteracy rates and allow for universal education. According to Eric Williams "Castro's key achievement was his illiteracy campaign, which unleashed 300, 000 people to reduce the illiteracy rate of 4 percent of the population." He employed the help of primary school teachers, secondary school students and adults " supplied with a uniform, hammock, blanket, instruction books, a teaching manual, a Cuban flag send a paraffin lamp," Williams. A lot of money was pumped into the education system with social emphasis on primary, technical and vocational training." He also made health care free and attainable by all.
Cuba relayed heavily on the soviet union economically since all ties with the US were diminished. According to Rogozinski, "soviet foreign minister, Anastas Mikoyan, headed a trade delegation that promised used financial aid." He made employment almost a guarantee. He implemented the Agrarian Reform Law 'the two major goal of this law was to replace the latifundia by cooperations or private small and medium farms with diversified production, and the eliminating of renting, tenancy and sharecropping ," Williams. Castro reduced the production o sugar and opposed monoculture and he seemed to add diversity to the economyeconomy. He also nationalised the private sectors, "nationalisation made the government their landlord and employer," Rogozinski. After the collapse of the soviet union the economy was in disarray, the country had lost all international ties and were without allies.
Cuba's struggle with the United States The United States had always wanted to buy Cuba from Spain for strategical purposes and as while as economic. When they refused to sell the US tried to change this decision. With Cuba's impending independence they ceases the oportunity again but still failed. Finally their were able to infiltrate to dictator government however with the overthrow of Batista and rise of Castro, the relationship became a bitter one. This was amplified when Cuba sided with the soviet union during the cold war and Castro's anti-American policy. The Us imposed a partial embargo on the island in October 1960 became a complete embargo in Februar. 1962.; this banned the importation of all goods. There have also gathered support to exclude Cuba out of the OAS. The US has also made restrictions on its citizens traveling to the country.
B)Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically. Political Fidel Castro has changed Cuba politically and drastically within a year's period of gaining power.Accoring to Campbell and kateau Castro had promised to purge Cuba. This implied the removal of fundamental social, political and ecinomic ills. Castro nationalized industry, collectivized agriculture and seizing American owned companies and farms. Cuba became a communist country. Jennifer Rosenburg stated that in an article that Castro alienated the united states. Social After Castro ended Batista's reign he sought to fix the social ills of the island.According to Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro, "slightly over 50 percent of the peasantscould read and write, 43 percent never attended school. Ge also stated that 85 percent had no inside running water and 91 percent had no elevtrcity. Castro sought to fix this making education mandatory and also atempted to set up ecnomic development using a socialist model. He began to trade with the soviet bloc.The third phase also began in 1964 where he began to work on the social economic factors. Economic Castro traded with the soviet bloc. He had commecial agreements that not only sugar and oil but manufactured goods, enterprise and machinery.The diversification proved to be good for the economy other than having sugar as the main source of income.Although Castro sought to fix the economic problems the economy started to decline in 1962.
b) How did Castro transform Cuba politically, socially and economically Political According to John J. Vital in Fidel Castro, "Castro and his generation inherited a stormy political past." However, he was able to transform Cuba politically after he rose to power.Castro wanted change in Cuba and no doubt learned back then if it couldn’t come about politically it would have to happen by force. Fidel Castro intended to build a socialist state based on the principles largely state-owned, government directed planned economy.Fidel Castro quickly purged political opponents from the administration.Clifford L. Staten in The History of Cuba stated: " Mass organizations such as labour unions that opposed the revolutionary government were made illegal." In delivering essential social services to the Cuban people, the Castro government has had its most notable and admirable successes. Its through them that the Castro revolution became firmly institutionalized in the hearts and minds of the great majority of the people who never before had a government providing for their essential needs they’ll now never relinquish without a fight. Why should they. Article 50 of the Cuban Constitution adopted in 1976 and approved by 97% of the country’s eligible voters at the time mandates that all Cubans are entitled to receive free medical, hospital and dental care including prophylactic services. The Constitution emphasizes public health, preventive care, health education, programs for periodic medical examinations, immunizations and other preventive measures. It guarantees that all Cubans will have their health protected, and in Article 43 it stipulates that all citizens have the same rights without regard to “color of skin, gender, religious belief, national origin and any distinction harmful to the dignity of man.” The Constitution also provides for worker health and safety, help for the elderly and pregnant working women having the right to paid leave before and after birth to ensure maternal and infant health.In Article 51 of the Cuban Constitution, it says: “Everybody has a right to education. This right is guaranteed by the extensive and free system of schools, part-time boarding schools, boarding schools and scholarships in all types and at all levels of education, by the free provision of school materials to every child and young person regardless of the economic situation of the family, and by the provision of courses suited to the student’s aptitude, the requirements of society and the needs of economic and social development.”
Socially After taking power, Castro divided for full employment and advanced the causes of education and health care, in part by building new schools and medical facilities. Kellner (1989) states "As a result, the Cuban government of Fidel Castro at Che Guevara's behest dubbed 1961 the "year of education", and sent "literacy brigades" out into the countryside to construct schools, train new educators, and teach the predominately illiterate Guajiros (peasants) to read and write."In Cuba's Constitution of 1975, healthcare became "the right and responsibility of the state." On the word of Cateau and Campbell in History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, " The government provided free, high quality health care for the entire population."
b continued: Economically "Communism: an economic system that states all property is controlled and owned by the government. It is the opposite of capitalism." Edward Boorstein (1968) states in The Economic Transformation of Cuba, "It [volunteer labour] is the beginning of a revolution." Cuba has been changing somewhat since the dissolution of the Soviet Union that provided it with large and vitally needed subsidies, supplied it with oil at low prices and provided a ready market for Cuban exports like a large portion of its annual sugar crop it no longer could sell to the US because of the economic embargo. Out of necessity to revive its economy that was severely affected in the early 1990s, the Castro government began to allow a limited amount of free enterprise.
c) Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States The Spanish-American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, the result of American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. On 1 January 1959, Fidel Castro and his comrades marched triumphantly into Havana.On the one hand, in the eyes of the Cubans, Cuba had attained independence. In the eyes of the USA, on the other hand, revolution was proof of 'chronic wrongdoing in Cuba.' They sent three destroyers and two submarines to Havana. This was a direct military intervention. The Embargo of 1807 was a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress 1806–1808, during the second term of President Thomas Jefferson. National Archives and Records Administration. "Proclamation 3447--Embargo on all trade with Cuba", the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba on February 7, 1962. It was referred to by Cuba as stated by Elizabeth Flock in Cuba trade embargo turns 50: Still no rum or cigars, though some freedom in travel, as "el bloqueo" (the blockade), the US embargo on Cuba remains one of the longest-standing embargoes.Daniel Hanson, Dayne Batten, Harrison Ealey (January 16, 2013) in It's Time For The U.S. To End Its Senseless Embargo Of Cuba comments that "The embargo was embraced by few of the United States' allies and apparently has done little to affect Cuban policies over the years."
1. Discuss Fidel Castro's rise to power. Quote. Fidel Castro was a middle class citizen of Cuba. He was a well educated man and one who loved Cuba and the people. At an early age there was a stong sense of national pride within him. He proved his love by overthrowing the American puppet leader and his government led by Batista in 1957. His first attempt to rise to power in 1953 failed because as it was premature. However Castro did not let this dampen his spirit but rather it encouraged him to try again and come back even stronger. Castro realized that the United States wanted Cuba for their own selfish purposes. They realized that it was a strategic location and they had alot of investments in the country. Sugar was still king and Cuban soil still had prosperous yields. It is from this perspective that the Castro Revolution is described as a "humanist revolution." A French journalist said "FidelCastro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory for the people.....Castro did not destroy the enem. The latter collasped because he was rotten to the core." Castro's leadership transformed Cuba into a society that upheld the statutes of Nationalism, Socialism and Communism. The conceot of socialism moreless meant that a system would be put in place where there would be no private properties. In my opinion, Castro was fascinated by this idea because he saw the need for change in Cuba. For too long, Cubans suffered by the hands of pupoet leaders where the rich were seen as the only people in society.
2. Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically. A) Politically: A large part of Castro's political reform was centered around an anti-American regime that involeved greatly ties with the Soviet Union He went on to nationalizing foreign business and those locally owned. His first drastic change was based on agriculture . The Agarian Reform Law was passed on May 17 1959. According to Williams the law prohibited the ownership of more than 995 acres by either individual or a company. He further stated that there were some legal exceptions but the limit could have been increased to 3,316 acres. It must be noted that the political and economic transformation were closely linked as they affected one another. Castro did everything he could politically to keep American from getting any access to Cuba and to keep what belonged to Cuba in Cuba. It is here that Cuba's human resource value begin B) Socially: Fidel Castro gave life to the words 'no person left behind.' He campigned against illiteration and sought to create jobs for the Cuban people. It would be fair to say that at first many peooke were skeptical about the success of the Castro government especially those who were against his movement. However he managed to prive them wrong. Many noted historians reported that the Cuban people were extremely grateful for the chance to be educated even in their old age. According to Williams, Castro was able to open more classrooms in 30 months than his predecessors did in 30 years. C) Economically: In a sense, Cuba was better off economically. This Castro regime made provisions for Cuba to stand on its own 2 geet economically. Cuban revenues would truly become Cuba's. Every citizen was promised emplymemt. This aspect worked especially froma agricultural point of view because Castro took lands from the rich and divided it among the poor. Castro nationalized almost every sector in the Cuban society. After the US pull out of Cuba, Castro formed ties with the Soviet Union who together re-worked the Cuban economy. Castro makes no apologies forhis decisions speciafically in regards to the Soviet Union. He made it clear that he woukd anything in his power to see the Cuban society strive. He said "...On the contrary, the Society Union was extending large loans to Cuba to allow us to cope with this situation."
3. Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States According to an articke written by Stephen Lendman posted on Global Reasearch, the United States wanted nothing more than to crush Fidel Castro and destabilize his government. In response to the Castro Revolution, the United States by engaging in Anti-communist campaigns, economic embargo and created political and economis spheres of influence. Basically, the United States sought to gain international support to stifle the Cuban economy. They did this by utilizing the Big Stick policy where they offered economic aid etcetera so that they would be able to prevent the region from becoming socialists countries. Had they allowed the spread of socialism, there would be no free market for them to benefit off of.
Fidel Castro is perhaps the greatest figure of nationalism and imperialist opposition in the Caribbean’s modern history. His rise to power set against the backdrop of impotent dictatorship and chronic poverty in Cuba, American imperialism in its economy, and the ongoing post 1945 Cold War between the United States of American and the USSR. Castro, born August 13th 1926 in Biran – Eastern Cuba, took first interest in law and politics during his tenure at the University of Havana where he took up these courses. He furthered his involvement in politics by joining at the University, the anti-corruption orthodox party which was heavily involved in revolutionary initiatives in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Upon graduation (in 1950) he practiced law for two years and culminated the non-revolutionary stage of is nationalist career with an attempt to be elected to the House of Representatives. This was however; thwarted, as said elections were aborted by a seizure of power by former president Fulgencio Batista in 1952. This event sparked the revolutionary stage in the Castro’s career. Upon Batista’s ascension, he promptly began organizing armed opposition culminating in a failed, 1953 attack on military installations in Santiago. He was captured and jailed, then released in 1955. He travelled to Mexico and returned to Cuba to begin operations once again, but in the Sierra Maestra Mountains. By 1957 armed, guerilla operations were in effect against government targets. The movement attracted mass popular support, and ranks of the guerillas swelled. A failed counter-offensive by Batista in 1958 ‘steeled’ the revolution enough to finally size power in 1959. Castro assumed the post of Prime Minister initially till 1976, later ascending to the position of president until 2008. His rise and support in the population was the consequence of disgust for the Batista’s regime and the endemic corruption, poverty, and state prostitution which it directly and indirectly advocated. The masses were thus willing to mount their opposition and dissent on the national reformation formally and forcefully advocated in the ideology of Castro’s revolution.
2. Political, Social, and Economical reformation under Castro
The political governance, social norms, and economic practices of the Cuban state under Castro were all closely interlinked. This is the simple result of the reality that reforms in governance and trade policy would affect social life. Politically, the dictatorship and centralization of powers exercised under the past government were eradicated. To be fair however, in the eyes of law and politics, Castro, though he wielded vast majority public support for all of his tenure, was in practice a dictator. The new government prior to its status as such, promised to old elections when it came into office, but this hardly materialized. The Castro government was however, in stark contrast to the former, one of the people. Its interests were removed from self-enrichment and aimed toward the sharing and exploiting of communal wealth. This model was advocated by strict and substantial government involvement in production and in social life. This ‘Socialism’ became the ideology the reformed society. Economically, land reforms and agrarian advancements were chief. Allotments were made for large tracts of land to be owned by cooperatives and for individual farmers to have a minimum of 66 acres. Land was taken from American plantation businesses and returned to Cubans. Also, according to Eric Williams, “Castro’s Anti-Americanism was … reflected in his attack on the American owned public utilities, principally telephones and electricity.”(p.484, From Columbus to Castro: 1970) The most remembered economic reform was the nationalization of critical public services and foreign owned sectors. These included banking, telecommunication, plumbing, electricity, oil refining, and several other sectors. The country initially gravitated toward moderate private ownership in agriculture with lessening emphasis on the sugar industry. Realizing that sugar was at the time still the most profitable agricultural export producible, they later advocated great emphasis on the sugar industry with mass public ownership and investment. The USSR was the main buyer of this sugar as the US increasingly refused to satisfy the market demand Cuba needed. Political and economic reforms took shape around the ideals of public ownership, and closer links with the Soviet bloc. Socially, there were a range of programs and new practices coming into effect to change the landscape of Cuban Society.
Literacy and schooling was improved tremendously. Healthcare was made free and refined to be among the world’s best. Public residential infrastructure was greatly improved from the mass squalor the vast majority of the population lived in. Eric Williams has further stated, “The popularity of the Castro regime was increased by its construction of rural medical centers, mobile dispensaries, and people’s stores, its attention to social welfare in the form of children’s nurseries, homes for the aged, institutes for the handicapped, its tremendous housing program under which houses were going up at the rate of 27 a day and 833 a month, and its conversion of exclusive American facilities under the Batista regime such as the Havana Baltimore Yacht and Country Club and the Varadero International Hotel into establishments open to people of Cuba at minimum rates.” – (p.487, Columbus to Castro:1970) Other, non official reforms that ensued were cultural ones such as the revival of heritage institutions and identity empowerment for Afro Cubans. Politically,. From an external point of view, the nation’s close links with the Soviet bloc was a principle of its success. Ties to the USSR effectively, gave Cuba an economy, financial aid, military sponsorship, and a bulwark against capitalist encroachment from the USA. This resulted in the entrenchment of Cuba behind communist party lines of the historic global clash of Capitalism and communism. (This is often romanticized in writings as an ‘eternal’ struggle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’). To be specific however, Cuba self described as a socialist, and not a communist state. Castro made clear distinction between Cuban practice and any other nation saying that the country did as it need for its own specific needs and followed no set trends. Extracted from the historical narratives, a list on principle changes in each category must be observed.
Politically: 1. The Cuban brand of Socialism replaced and the Batista brand of American Exported Imperialism. The regime of the former dictator was removed from perpetual power which neglected the people and replaced with Castro who advocated heavy state involvement in individual welfare and affairs. 2. Ties with the US government were severed and embittered and relations with the USSR were bolstered and profited from. 3. Civil freedoms were gained and the rights of persons were protected by new enactment of the revolution.
Economically: 4. Cuba initially was disgusted with sugar avoided it as an escape to be free to industrialize the state rapidly. It later reverted back to sugar as an economic base on which industrialization could branch out and take root. 5. Trade links were forged with the USSR which for a time kept Cuba afloat. 6. Foreign business sectors were nationalized and controlled by the state 7. Government took heavy hands in the molding of industry.
Socially: 8. The people, though still not enfranchised, were better served by their government and were brought in closer relation the state as it tried to act in their best interest as far is its officers could allow. 9. Improvements in housing, utilities, transportation, medical care, education and literacy, were achieved. 10. The ideology of a new Cuban state ensued following the ejection of Batista from the seat of power and a firm grasp of nationalism has held the country together since its revolution.
Cuba’s relations with the Americans soured upon Castro’s assumption of power. His advocacy of surrendering Cuban assets to the people put the investments and profits of wealthy Americans at risk. He was in accordance, labeled a communist, Marxist, revolutionary, war mongering, madman. As Cuba progressively wrestled American control of the economy out of their grip, the foreign policy towards it became increasingly aggressive to the point of open support for military invasion and covert subversion. Closure of the more grand components of the leisure industry and nationalization of important sectors, drove out Americans and brought their contempt. The very idea of an anti American state in ‘their own backyard’ was a suggestion of an immaterial nature to their hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. Closer relations with the USSR and a socialist formed state, gave the US what it needed to label the nation with terms such as, rouge, unstable, failed, and ‘communist’, the last of which was akin to ‘the anti Christ’ in the fear mongering, mass propaganda media of the day. Cuba would have benefited tremendously from a market as large as the US willing to do trade with it, but the dominators of that government wish no example to be set for the rest of South America. The struggle began with decreased and eventual severance of trade. It escalated with American sponsored Cuban expulsion from the OAS and other regional organizations. It further escalated with overt and covert offensive operations against personnel within Castro’s government, including him, and against the Cuban state. It climaxed in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, and in the Cuban missile crisis, upon Castro’s request for Soviet offensive ballistic missile installations to be erected in Cuba as a bastion against American incursions. The struggle slowly stifled after the withdrawal of said batteries and decades of American Embargo of Cuban Goods. The actions o the US caused stunt in the Cuban economy and forced the people to peruse an anti American social policy as part of a national identity and ideology. This inherit bitterness inbred into the identity of the new state would serve to poison the potential of the masses and drive rifts between people and government. The government would have been the core of this anti American, anti capitalist policy and would have labeled any who dissented their rule as proponents of such quarters. This endemically aggressive nature of the government toward anything deemed ‘anti’ or ‘counter revolutionary’ would prevent it from building a more transparent state and enhancing trade relations with the US. The original American in all of this was to cripple the nation of Cuba into capitulating under the hollow promise of the troves of ‘American Capitalism’. It later became simply a way of punishing the nation for being born in American resistance and making a global mockery of its power. “I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition.” – Fidel Castro
How Fidel Castro transformed Cuba Socially, Politically and Economically There was a growing desire for fundamental changes in the economical, political and social systems. Cuba was in a state of dictatorship by the American capitalists. The means of production along with trade and industry were all controlled by America; the economic growth of Cuba was largely supplied by the American capital and its technologies.
POLITICALLY Adam Smith emphasized, ‘There are laws of political as well as physical gravitation and if an apple severed by the tempest from its native tree, cannot choose but fall to the ground, Cuba, forcibly disjoined from its unnatural connection with Spain and incapable of self-support, can gravitates only toward the North American Union which by the same law of nature, cannot cast her off from its bosom.’ • Fidel Castro’s small group of determined resistance guerilla fighters had defeated the dictator of Cuba. This was the Revolution that was to transform Cuba from its capitalist state to a state of Socialism. Castro stated, “Capitalism is using its money; we socialists throw it away.” The means of production would now satisfy the needs persons in Cuba rather than for the sale and profit for the U.S. as it was under capitalism. • Cuba was one of the most prosperous colonies of Spain known for its great production in sugar. The country was envied by the United States. The U.S. was so interested in Cuba that they wanted to buy Cuba. They thought so highly of themselves that they believed it was pertinent for them to gain control over Cuba’s markets. Roosevelt stated, “No picture of our future is complete which does not contemplate and comprehend the United States as the dominant power in the Caribbean Sea.” In April, 1961, the U.S. staged an attack on Cuba by secretly assembling thousands of Cuban exiles to defeat Castro’s government. However, this ‘Bay of Pigs’ attack, as the name was dobbed, was toppled by Castro’s army of men • Cuba was officially declared a socialist state on April 16, 1961. • Fidel Castro, who was now recognized as the new leader of Cuba, established policies which alienated the United State from these set policies. American businesses and agricultural estates were therefore seized.
ECONOMICALLY Sam Dolgoff posited, “In Cuba, the old professional army was replaced by workers' and peasants' militias [this is no longer the case]. The Revolution attacked the economic poverty of the masses, cultural backwardness and expropriated big private enterprises.” • Land reforms were implemented. • Cuba’s private commerce, industries, factories and plantations were nationalized which ended the U.S. economic power on the island of Cuba. • Castro had a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in February, 1960. This led to the diplomatic disconnection of the U.S. The Soviet Union which would soon become the supporter of trade for Cuba, began furnishing Cuba with weapons.
SOCIALLY Sam Dolgoff in his editorial, The Cuban Revolution – A Critical Perspective positied, “The Cuban Revolution achieved great social progress for the people, with a rapidity unmatched in any other Latin-American country. But all this is not the work of the people themselves.”Castro had a high level of patriotism for Cuba. He wanted equality among the citizens of Cuba. He therefore developed and increased the country’s social services which extended to all the social class of the island. • He established both educational and health services free to the citizens of Cuba. • EVERY citizen was guaranteed employment. These included person in the lower class, the middle class and the higher class. • Along with the drastic reductions in rents, telephone and electricity rates afforded to Cuban citizens, persons in the country-side were granted with electricity as well. • New ministers had their salaries reduced to 50%.
b)The United States beliefs of capitalism was challeneged by Casto's belief of socialism. Capitalism means an economic system in which all or most of the means of production are privately owned and operated, and the investment of capital and the production, distribution and prices of commodities (goods and services) are mainly in a freemarket, rather than by state. In capitalism, the means of production are generally operated for profit. Socialism refers to state ownership of the means of production. A purely socialist state would be one in which the state owns and operates the means of production. Beckles and Sheperd states that Castro believed in the equality of people living in Cuba, and therefore he turned Cuba from dictatorship into a socialist state. Castro believed inthe equality of people living in Cuba, and therefore he turned Cuba from a dictatorship into socialist state. Castro focused on ending U.S. dominance so he nationalized U.S. companies, oil refineries, telephone and private companies. By October of 1959 all, U.S. owned businesses were nationalized. The United States under Eisenhower begun economic embargo as a retaliation. Later on John F Kennedy cut diplomatic ties with Cuba. At first Castro attempted to increase Cuba's industrial production. In 1970 Castro called for Cuba to produce "10 million tons of sugar".
Economic Aims Took resources away from other sectors of the economy Pushed Cuba to have embrace USSR in order to survive After sugar failure, Castro turned to USSR USSR agreed to help but wanted greater control in return Soviet-style economic management State made the polocies and decisions Allowed some small private enterprises State run businesses could pay bonuses and fire employees Until about 1976 the economy grew, but price for sugar fell. Social Aims Free universal education Universal Health care Child care Government subsidized housing Social security programmes Cuba had the most equal distribution wealth in the Americas Borrowed money heavily from Canada, Europe, Japan and was unable to pay back in the 1980's Political Aims Castro wanted to export the revolution around the world Help other revolutions against imperialists/ colonial powers Cuba senf troops and support for other revolutions Helped to bring out a Marxist government in Angola 1980's Helped to bring a Socialist government to Nicaragua in 1979
c)The United States was deeply intrested in Cuba due to alot of beneficial aspects. Washington felt that Cuba was important to the United States based not only on its proximily and historic ties, but also on its commercial relationship, based both on imports and exports. Cuba geographical location intrested the U.S. also, after all it was in the outskirts of its boundaries. After the nationalisation of U.S. businesses, The U.S. government began training anti-Castro Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. In 1961the USA invaded in what is known as the Bay Of Pigs fiasco. In May 1961 Castro declared Cuba a socialist state, adopting the Communist model of government. It was the Cold War era. The U.S. wanted to prevent the spread of communism in the region and therefore was enraged by links between Cuba and the Soviet Union.
(a)Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13th 1926 as the illegitimate child of a wealthy farmer. From a very young age he showed a great interest in Education demanding his parents to send him to school, he would later in fall of 1945 enroll to the University of Havana where he studied law, he was a member of student member political bodies of which he was vice president until the president resigned making him the default president. He was concerned at the state of the Cuban economy. He would later leave university in 1947 to join expeditionary force training on the coast of the Oriente. This force was responsible for the invasion of many South American and Caribbean territories one such was the Dominican Republic.The USSR was to Castro a symbol of strength and optimism. During Batista’s presidency Castro plotted of ways to overthrow him. In 1953 Castro attempted to overthrow Batista along with 150 fighters, this landed Castro in jail but made him a popular figure for the instigation of change in Cuba he would be released 2 years later. “History will absolve me.” Said castro.During his Speech in Havana Castro said “Weapons for what? (¿Armas, para qué?) To fight against whom? Against the revolutionary government, that has the support of the whole people? … Weapons for what? Hiding weapons for what? To blackmail the President of the Republic? To threaten to break the peace here? To create organizations of gangsters? Is it that we are going to return to gangsterism? Is it that we will return to daily shootouts in the capital? Weapons for what?”Upon release from prison Castro fled to Mexico where he meet Che Guevera, a Marist revolutionary who had the same principles as him. He also plotted with his brothers a way to overthrow Batista, once more. He returned in 1956. In 1958 Castro and his men mounted an elaborate attack on Batista and his government which lead to Batista fleeing the country in 1959 making Castro the President.
ReplyDelete(b)Castro’s Transformation to Cuba
POLITICALLY: “Castro's political system is static, contradicting Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's assertion that ‘red is the color of constant revolution.’ Cuba, though, is changing, and the Revolution must evolve with it if it is to survive. “ – Real life in Castro’s Cuba, Catherine Moses
a. Change from a liberal democracy to a communist/socialist state
b. He modeled the government system after that of the USSR
c. He instituted a new one party system
d. He strengthened ties with the USSR
e. Most senior officials to Baptista were removed
SOCIALLY “The Unites States retaliation against the agrarian act took the form of a cut in Cuba’s sugar quota in the united states market” – Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro
a. Health and education was free for all Cubans
b. By the 1959 Agrarian act major lands owned by Americans were seized without compensation h. Interveners were put in charge to oversee the operations of major American companies
c. Cuban Literacy Campaign: it raised Cuba’s literacy rate from 65% in 1959 to 97% at the end of the campaign
d. He increased the number of educational facilities in the island
e. He made healthcare more accessible by also increasing the amount of medical facilities on island
f. Students required to work for 30 days a year when they got to the age of 14
ECONOMICALLY “The bonds between the Cuba and the Soviet Union were tightened in 1962 when Russia agreed to take an increased supply of Cuban sugar” Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro
a. Every citizen was guaranteed employment
b. He nationalized virtually every sector in the island
c. Soviet economists were bought to Cuba to re-planned and organized the Cuban economy
d. He stopped Cuba’s reliance on the Sugar industry by developing other sectors of the economy
e. Cuba began to depend heavily on the USSR economically until it was dismantled
Give me some more on the political aspect. Why was Fidel so fascinated with socialism unlike democracy?
DeleteCastro was fascinated with Communism/ Socialism because he had seen the ravages caused by Baptista and his so called Democratic government. He knew his country needed a change and a total government system change was the way to go for Castro.Even though Communism/ Socialism bought about no freedom of speech it did bring much needed changes such as improve road networks,better education,better healthcare etc He had become very anti-american because he realised that America's interest in Cuba laid simply in its strategic location and sugar industry. Communism was the exact opposite of the Democratic system in the USA, he may have wanted to shock the US by instituting this change which would take Cuba out of America's good graces. He was also fascinated by the Communist USSR, he wanted to model Cuba using the USSR as the master plan. The USSR at that point in time was the economic superpower that the US is now. He expressed openly multiple times that the principles of Capitalism which is deeply intertwined with Democracy was evil and promoted massive greed and widespread stratification. He thought that Cuba deserved better .
Delete"I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition." - Fidel Castro
Excellent quote and response!
Delete(c) The US had attempted multiple times unsuccessfully to purchase Cuba from Spain. They wanted cuba because of its strategic location about 90 miles from Miami.The fact that they were fearful of the possible things that could happen the US tried its best to bring down Castro; they even tried to poison him. At the time the USA and USSR where in deep conflict, they were fearful of the possibility that the USSR had constructed a nuclear base in Cuba and they were planning to boob the US. America was on edge. Things would only get worse; in October of 1960 a mere year after the Castro’s regime took office the US imposed the embargo against Cuba, remember that on top of this the US had already imposed sanctions on the island. In the early stages of the embargo the US banned travel to Cuba and Cuban cigars being sold in the US. Also, the conflict in political ideologies between the two countries was greater cause for conflict. “A sudden disruption of relations between two closely integrated economies of vastly different size will inevitably have major consequences for the smaller party in the short run.” Jorge, Antonio, The U.S. Embargo and the Failure of the Cuban
ReplyDeleteCuba's political system, Socialism/Communism was seen as a treat by the United States. It went against the democratic system in the US which promotes capitalism and freedom of speech. The United States felt that such a system was not right as it could give rise to a dictatorship and surounding islands in America's 'backyard' could opt for this system (Cuba remains the only communist country and dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere but whether Cuba is a dictatorship or not can be disputed).Communism is a system which is deeply rooted in looking down on Capitalist societies such as that of America. They felt that a communist island was an island that was anti-american and this caused a big shift in the relationship these two countries once enjoyed. They (america) were determined to force Cuba to return in its good graces but to no avail
DeleteOk. Does each political concept have its merit?
DeleteThe political concepts do have there merits even though some may seem obvious and meagre. Probably the sector in Cuba that received the most change when Castro was put in power was the countries politics. Castro instituted these changes with an iron fist. Probably his most controversial change was the institution of communism a system in which the government is in total control of a country where mostly every sector is government owned. Since he had always looked up to the USSR he modelled Cuba's political system to that of the USSR even bringing economists from the USSR into Cuba. He also removed Baptista's senior officials who were regarded to as extremist and in order to maintain power he made Cuba a one party country this ensured his rule over the country was unhampered until he chose who he wanted to be his successor.
DeleteSo are there any benefits of a democratic and socialist government?
Deletea) Beckles and Sheperd noted in Caribbean Freedom that Cuba was "a society split by wide income differences, in which rich and poor lived in separate worlds, where a pervasive spirit of mistrust set individuals and groups against each other, provided shaky foundations for its institutions." The making of the 1959 Revolution from Fidel Castro's rise to power was a landmark event better known as the David & Goliath story. basis of such dependence on capricous world forces which it could not hope control." Cuba was known for its rotten lifestyle and "backwardness" under the governance of dictator Batista. Eric Williams provided statistics to show how retro the Cuban lifestyle was. Most of peasants residing in Cuba didn't have a balance meal, or even consumed meat, the rural dwellings had no toilets of any kind or no refrigeration facilities. The average annual income per person among the peasantry was $91 , and 43% of peasants were completely illiterate. Sugar accounted for nearly 90% of Cuba's export and America sugar companies controlled about 75% of arable land. American participation exceeded 90% in telephone and electric services, 50% in railways, and about 40% in sugar production, 25% of the Cuban labour force was chronically unemployed. According to Beckles and Sheperd in Freedom Wons On 26 July 1953 a Fidel Castro launched the 26 of July movement by attacking the Moncada Army barracks in Santiago in Eastern Cuba. Unfortunately his attack was unsuccesful and he was imprisoned by Batista and wasn't released until 1956. In 1956 Castro left for Mexico accompanied with his brother Raul Castro, Che Guevara and nine other revolutionaries and fled to the Serra Mastra Mountains. From there they launched a guerilla war against Batista and his regime. Fidel Castro was victorious in his attack in 1959 and restored Cuba in the hands of Cubans, for he believed Cuba was slowly being controlled by United States with them Batista as their puppet leader. Eric Williams stated that "essential feature of Castro's Revolution was its Anti-Americanism.
ReplyDeleteb)In Castro's Manifesto of his 26 July Movement along with the Declaration of the Sierra Maestra on July 12, 1957, he pledged political guarantees, civil rights, "establishment of a civil service", free elections in all trade unions, distribution of barren lands with "prior indemnification to the former owners", an intensitive campaign against illetracy, acceleration of industralisation, and the creation new jobs.
QUUESTION: Discuss Fidel Castro's rise to power.
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro's rise to power all started in 1953 when Castro launched an unsuccessful and premature attack on Cuba's then Governor General Fulgencio Batista. After this failed attack Castro was arrested ans sentenced to fifteen long years in prison, in which he was released after two years. This was one of the worst thing they could have done because now more than ever Castro was determined to overthrow Batista. Fidel Castro left for Mexico where he began to plan another attempt to overthrow Fulgencio making sure he was equipped with guns and the ammunition. By the year 1957, Castro was back, according to Eric Williams on that "day in which Castro went to war his army was made up of 803 men, when added with the all the other groups the total was of 1,000 to 1,500." He had no intention of repeating what had happened the first time; on January 1st 1959 Batista resigned and fled to the country and Fidel Castro took over power.
QUESTION: Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States.
Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward on various occasions by the United States. Gradually, the United States gained a position of economic and political dominance over the island, with the vast majority of foreign investment holdings and the bulk of imports and exports in its hands, as well as a strong influence on Cuban political affairs, the political leaders were like puppets for the United States. The United States believed in a capitalist economy while Fidel Castro believed in equality for all; in America's eyes Castro was a threat due to the fact they could not control him and also because he did not believe in what they believed in. On May 17,1959 Castro passed a Agrarian Reform Law in which replaced latfundia and eliminated renting, tenancy and share cropping. According to Eric Williams the Agrarian Reform Law affected the relations between Cuba and the United States. Williams states the "The United States retaliation against the Agrarian Law took the form of a cut in Cuba's sugar quota in the United States market." Fidel Castro then decided to sell the sugar to the US's enemy the Soviet Union which would continue the infiltration of the Soviet Market. The Cuban- America tension intensified when the Soviet oil was exchanged for Cuban sugar. America realized they were not getting their way and decided to declare war on Cuba. It was like America forgot one of the main reasons why they wanted Cuba, it was not only because the country was prosperous but because Cuba could have been a good military force for the United States. Castro requested the Russians to install offensive missiles which according to Eric Williams was about 90 miles away from the America coast. Khrushchev yielded in the subsequent confrontation with Kennedy, and notwithstanding Castro's angry protests, withdrew the missiles.
Good so far Jahmela...also remember to look for the embargo sanctions imposed on Cuba.
DeleteFidel Castro's rise to power:
ReplyDeleteFidel's initial plan of insurrection in 1953 was a failure but this act of rebellion against Batista's regime sparked the flames of freedom Cuba's public. Fidel, in his attempt to oust the American puppet Batista, made sure that he planned again for his second attempt to free Cuba from political injustice. "In Fidel Castro the Cuban's discovered an extraordinarily gifted political prophet and leader who, with his bold challenge to Batista, not only captured he imagination and loyalty of the young but in the process managed to clothe himself with the mantle of Jose Marti, first of the great Cuban revolutionary figures," states Ramon Ruiz. Fidel Castro overhrew Batista's government in 1959 after an employment of military tactics and empowering the working class to join his revolutionary movement. So it was noted that his success was on account of his empathy with the working class and the use of guerilla tactics. Fidel's strict army, which he trained in Mexico after his release from prison, was effective in the struggle against America's tyranny. "The most remarkable feature of the Cuban Revolution, militarily and politically, is that it was and is so largely the work of one man," states Andres Suarez. Fidel Castro's rise to power was as a result of his great planning and patience, and his political agenda sought to empower the people and push for nationalist pride in Cuba. Fidel's association with the Soviet Union also made him a force to be reckoned with in the western hemisphere. His ideology and practices ensured his support of the people as he implemented numerous reforms which benefitted the less developed rural communities. 'Yes, we set out to fight for Cuba's freedom and we are not ashamed of having done so,' stated Castro who made it clear that history would absolve him.
Good response!
Deletea) Discuss Fidel Castro's rise to power.
ReplyDeleteCarolin E. Fick states, "while alliances might be made amomg groups against common enemy, such alliances were occasionally and of short duration, to serve only immediate interest." Many roles explain the success of the Cuban revolution in 1959 by Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro was determined for change in the socio-political life of Cuba. In the year of 1953 Castro led an army in an attempt to remove Baptista from government, but the revolt was unsuccessful. He was arrested and released from prison in 1955 in amnety and fled to Mexico.Eric Williams in From Columbus to Castro states, "A pro-Castro French journalist has given an explanation: 'Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people..." Castro returned to Cuba in 1957. On a second attempt to overthrow Baptista, Castro and his army succeeded leading Baptista into exile. Eric Williams states, "...Castro army consisted of 803 men..." This resulted in the formation of a new government and Castro as the prime minister, eventually turning president and started a communist dictatorship in the island of Cuba.
b) Examime how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially, and economically.
After the rise of Castro, Castroism was formed. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Castroism, "as the political, economic, and social principles and policies of Fidel Castro."
Castro transformed Cuba in a politically. After 1959 Cuba became a dictatorship, having a socialist government, creating autocracy in the island. With this the constitution was changed, and the people of Cuba did not have freedom of speech. They started trade with Russia and other members of the Soviet Union.
Moveover the social life of Cuba was rid of inequality. Eric Williams states, "...Cuba not only became the most developing country..." Jobs were created throughout Cuba. Also social inequality was decreased, persons of all classes were able to get education and free medical care. Moveover the vices which plagued Cuba by America was ended.
Furthermore, the economic development ofwas started. Eric Williams states, "...the first country to have mobilised the entire population intoma task of reconstruction. " Cuba changed from a monoculture economy to a diversification economy, producing not only sugar but eggs and others products. Production in the sugar industry also increased, Eric Williams suggests, "production increased by 4 millionntons fromm1963 to 1979." Roads and other infrastructures were also established, such as production ofmsteel, cement and mother resources.
Good job Rhea! I love the Carolyn E. Fick's quote. Explain its significance.
DeleteCuba's struggle with the United States:
ReplyDeleteAn essential feature of Castro's revolution was its anti-Americanism. After having been dominated by America's puppet leaders, Castro developed a disdain for the super power. Castro nationalized all American owned business and sought to eradicate their influence. Castro diverted from a democratic path and embraced socialism and abhorred American capitalism. He sought to empower the poor and the peasantry. America, however, did not like Castro's policies. America ,who had long been trying to get their hands on Cuba, tried to cripple the revolutionary government. They pulled out their investments after Castro's nationalist spree, and tried to cripple the sugar economy as they had controlled 75% of the sugar production notes Eric Williams. It was noted by Eric Wiliams that, "the United States made Castro a communist". The 1961 incident most notably remebered as the Bay of Pigs, where America tried overthrow castro. The Americans underestimated Castro's popularity and as a resukt they failed. Hostility grew further with the missile crisis of 1962 with the economic embargo on Cuba being installed shortly afterwards.
c) Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States.
ReplyDeleteEric Williams explained, "In 1959 Cuba, was the first Caribbean country to challenge successfully the power of the USA..." There is no doubt that many factors played a role in Cuba's struggle with the United States. Firstly, the USA always had their eyes on Cuba, and tried everything to get their hands on Cuba. They wanted Cuba as a colony because of it's close proximity being located at the back of America and could be used to protect them and also, because Cuba was known for it's prosperous sugar economy. Castro saw that the leaders of Cuba were being controlled by America, and had a belief that Cubans should be incharged of Cuba. After overthrowing the government, and declaring his self as president he started a dictatorship, nationalising all American owned business, such as telephone companies. Eric Williams suggests, "The essential feature of Castro was it's anti-Americanism." This could be seen a more problematic, when America released a trade embargo on Cuba, this however struck the nation of Cuba hard, resulting in the importation of goods not to enter the island. Also, the Bag of Pigs invasion which occurred in April 1961, where the United States launched and attack and tried to invade Cuba, but was unsuccessful. Furthermore, America believed in Capitalism, but Castro believed in Communism, this lead Cuba to becoming a member of the Soviet Union and hatred from America to increase, and the Missile Crisis in 1962 where a complete embargo was set on Cuba.
A fairly good assessment. Scan the other responses and see what you missed.
DeleteHow Castro Transformed Cuba Politically, Socially, and Economically
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro implemented many changes in Cuba under his revolutionary government. Castro reshaped the political direction of Cuba. After declaring himself as a leftist in 1960, Castro transformed Cuba into the Caribbean's first socialist state. Castro alligned himself with the soviet union and implemented policies which opposed American views. Fidel, on his change to socialism, established a dictatorship in the territory, leaning away from democracy. He sought to protect the country from american intervention and avoid becoming apart of the 'American Mediterranean'. He enforced his military government and made it clear that anyone who went against the revolution was an enemy of the state. Dependence on the Soviet Union also came about in Cuban politics, as their political and military support was key to Cuba's success. According to Herbert Matthews, " Communism was not a cause of the Cuban revolution; it was the result"
Socially, Castro was implementing many reforms in cuba. The peasantry in cuba was isolated on the account of horrible roads, health care was poor, and 61 percent of rural children were not attending school. Castro was "dedicated to social justice" says Eric Williams. Castro started a literacy campaign to educate the poor people of the country. He held an "intensive campaign against illiteracy" and sought to create new jobs to put more money in the hands of the people. "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people," noted a pro-Castro French journalist. Castro improved health care and Cuba became a country with some of the most notable doctors. He improved infrastructure by improving roads in rural areas and built hospitals and schools. The level of illiteracy declined greatly after castro took control of Cuba.
On an economic level, Cuba was changing drastically. Castro went on a nationalizing spree. American sugar companies monopolized about 75% of Cuba's arable land and was essentially the backbone of the Cuban economy. Public utilites were also controlled by the US as their participation exceeded 90% according to Eric Williams. So, Castro began to assume control of all foreign owned enterprises. He made it so that businesses were all publicly owned and the government would have a say in the affairs of the business. Castro also experimented with Agrarian reform which provided for compensation on bonds. Tighter bonds with the USSR allowed Russia to supplement 80 per cent of the merchandise that America refused to subsidies as they tried to cripple Cuba. Castro also fought against mono-cropping and sought to focus on other industries besides sugar, seeking to reduce sugar production.
Some good info. All, plese take note.
DeleteQUESTION: " Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically."
ReplyDeleteAccording to Eric Williams Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory but instead it was a moral victory for the people. Castro movement was democratic, nationalist and dedicated to social justice.
Castro’s transformation to Cuba politically are:
-The change from a capitalist to a socialist state first of all.
-Majority of senior officials of Baptista were removed
- A new one party system was instituted
-Ties were strengthened
Socially Castro aim was to, as he referred to it, was to "Yankee Imperialism" he believed Cuba was for the Cubans and the US government should not have so much say in the country. Castro mainly wanted equality for his people so he made health and education was free for all Cubans, on May 17, 1959 Agrarian Reform Act was put in place, a Cuban Literacy Campaign started in which it raised Cuba’s literacy rate from 65% in 1959 to 97% at the end of the campaign. He made health care more accessible by also increasing the amount of medical facilities on island, an increase in jobs, all lands owned by the Americans were seized.
Economically, according to Eric Williams "the bonds between the Cuba and the Soviet Union were tightened in 1962 when Russia agreed to take an increased supply of Cuban sugar" this did not set good with the United States since they already saw Russia as an enemy and Cuba was now one. " Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people." He ensured every citizen was able to get employment, he made it longer that Cuba would have to depend on the Sugar industry by developing other sectors of the economy, he nationalized virtually every sector in the island and brought in the Soviet economists to Cuba to re-planned the Cuban economy. At one point Castro admitted he was economically dependant on the Soviet bloc for his sugar contract, factories, economic aid.
A. As a young boy Fidel Castro started his rise to power in Cuba by joining a student action group and was also a founding member of the Cuba group, he was also a founding member of the Cuba people's party and became the leader. Castro traveled to Venezuela, panama, and Columbia to help organize a Latin American anti-imperialist student congress, nevertheless, he participated into the popular uprising of April 1948. The Castro revolution in 1958 was a belated attempt to catch up with the nationalist movement in the rest of the Caribbean. Fidel saw himself as Cuba's savior when he landed back on Cuba soil with the intention of starting a revolution, he continue his guerilla attack and succeeded in gaining large numbers of volunteers. He had came to power with the support of most Cuban city. However, Castro revolution was to be a humanist revolution, as Cuban as the palm tree's which would restrict consumption in order to build factories and machinery. Castro map out his plans for what he believed would be an inevitable armed struggle against the self-proclaimed president, then he led an unsuccessful attack against the moncada army trying to proclaim what was right for his country. But he didn't left it there, Castro attempted to raise funds for launching an armed struggle in Cuba. B. "The Cuban revolution not only transformed the nation's political and economic structure, it changed the quality of lives, the attitudes of men and women toward each other and toward their country." when Fidel Castro became in power he turned Cuba away from a democracy to embrace communism. Overall the Cuban economy has suffered under Fidel but improvements in public health care, education, and agriculture was in his only major gains. However, he maintain a large military and continue to attempt to export his revolution to other third world countries. The Cuban economy, failed to achieve significant growth or to reduce its dependence on the country's chief export, sugar cane. Economic decision-making powerful was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy headed by Castro, who proved to be an inept economic manager. With inefficient industries and a stagnant agriculture, nevertheless Cuba became increasingly dependent on favorable soviet trade policies to maintain its modest standard of living in the face of the United States continuing trade embargo. He made education one of the revolution's highest priorities because children of the poor family lies averaged only four years of school while in rural areas had no schools. Cuba also made large gains in the fight against hunger, food supplies, however, continued to be scarce, agriculture production declined after the revolution
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro’s rise to power
ReplyDeleteFrom a very young age Castro was involve in the movement to overthrow Batista. On 26th July 1953 Castro attempted to remove the dictator through a revolution. Castro was unsuccessful in his attempt. Castro’s supporters were captured and killed. Castro himself was imprisoned. Defending his self, Castro wrote a speech, ‘History will Absolve Me’, he was pardoned in 1955. Upon forming his 26th July Movement, in Mexico, Castro then regrouped and trained, forming bonds with Raul Castro and Che Guevara. By the end of 1956, with the allies formed, it was then organized to return to Cuba, unfortunately, they arrived later than arranged. Their timing was affected, they were easily obliterated. According to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, they left with about 80 rebels, and when they arrived they had only 10. Stated by Castro, “"A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past." And so all was not lost, Castro then consolidated his movement; he gained support in the Seira Mountains from the rural population and as things got worst in Cuba, from the opposition as well. Unexpectedly according to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, he gained support from the New York Times. The environment became somewhat volatile. Castro’s group was outnumbered but Batista’s troops were retreated. Castro was able to consolidate his control through Cuba as Batista went into exile. Castro rose, and on January 1st 1959, the Revolution was over. He then set out to transform Cuba like no other, socially politically and economically.
ReplyDeleteHow Castro transformed Cuba politically economically and socially.
Great social, economic and political transformation took place in Cuba under Castro’s rule.
Areas targeted for transformation were mainly because of glaring social inequalities in pre-revolutionary Cuba – before 1958. Although Cuba ranked third when it came to public social services, it can be best stated that quality services were provided mainly to the upper class. Thus, within his rule, Castro aimed and therefore transformed mainly the areas of education and health. He was firm in making such services available to all; this made the upper class not so happy.
“Education was transformed from a monopoly of the upper classes to a compulsory service, which all had access to,” stated by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World. Prior to the revolution, according to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “27 percent of the urban children and 61 percent of the rural children were not attending school… 43 percent were completely illiterate, 44 percent had never attended school.” Barracks now became schools, along with confiscated estates and luxury homes. Private schools were no longer and the amount of teachers and schools were increased. Teachers were trained to match the new curriculum put in place.
The education system was nationalized in 1961. Along with reading, writing, arithmetic and history, girls between the ages 14-21 learned sewing and dressmaking. At the end of their course, a sewing machine was given to each pupil with hopes that they would take what they learnt in the classroom into their homes and even their communities. There was also an implementation of special schools, particularly where domestic servants were trained to be taxi drivers.
Castro’s key achievement was the ‘literacy campaign’; the main goal was to reduce illiteracy. The campaign as noted by Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “unleashed 300,000 people, (among them 100,000 secondary school pupils and 35,000 teachers plus many key workers and employees) to reduce the illiteracy rate to 4 per cent of the total population.” Special attention was turned to the women. Training programs and colleges with focuses on women were introduced. With reference to, Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “Castro was able in 30 months to open more classrooms than his predecessors had opened in 30 years.”
The health sector was another social transformation. In the pre-revolution period, stated by Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “there was one doctor for more than 2,000 persons in the rural areas, leading to the saying in Cuba that only cattle were vaccinated.” Within the post-revolution period, free high quality health care system was provided for all Cuban citizens. At the time it was superior to any in the third world, becoming at the forefront of medical research and healthcare. Noted by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “by 1974, 16,000 doctors had been trained.”
Economic aspects were key to transformation under Castro’s rule. Prior to the revolution, Cuba’s economy was dominated with monoculture of the sugar industry which was subject to fluctuation. According to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), “Sugar production fluctuated from 3.6 million tons in 1923 to 5.2 million in 1925, 3 million in 1932, 7 million in 1952, 4.7 million 1954.” Also Cuba was solely dependent for inputs, marketing of outputs and source of investments. Among the rural and urban poor, unemployment and underemployment was increasing. Thus, the earliest reforms of the revolution were set out to change the economic system.
ReplyDeleteWith reference to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, there were four distinct phases of economic change post 1959. Within the first phase, 1959-60 the economy was characterized by nationalism and collectivism. The second, 1961-63, the society was then socialist and way was made for the introduction of socialist economic structures. The third phase, 1964-1970, was the period of adjustment. The testing for alternative socialist economic models was done. Within the last phase, Cuba then attempted to adjust Soviet polices to suit her situation.
Simply put the four phases included objectives like that of the sugar industry, the monoculture it encouraged, the foreign-owned latifaundia (large plantations) on which it was erected and the landless which was created. Agrarian reform was Castro’s answer. Agrarian Reform Law was enacted in May 15, 1959. Under this law, latifaunda were replaced by co-cooperatives private small and medium farms with a variety of crops. It accounted for the elimination of tenancy, renting and sharecropping by reinforcing the principle ‘that the land belongs to whoever works it.’ The Agrarian Reform prohibited any individual or company to own more than 995 acres; in very particular situations this was increased to 3,316 acres.
The Agrarian Law impacted heavily on Cuba’s relationship with the United States. Compensation was to be given on the basis of bonds issued in Cuban currency and matured in 20 years at 4 ½ per cent annually, in accordance with tax valuations that the owners had fled with the Batista regime. According to Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro (1984), United States investors owned about 75, 000 acres of Cuban land and the loss of property enraged matters with the United States government. Their retaliation took the form of a cut in Cuba’s sugar quota on the United State’s market. Castro then arranged to sell 5 million tons of sugar over a 5 year period to the Soviet Union. Soviet agreed to pay 80 percent of the price in merchandise and 20 per cent in dollars. Cuba replaced American markets and investments with Soviet Goods, trade, money and personnel. Soviet Oil was being imported by 1960. US companies then refused to the oil, thus intensifying nationalization. Any remaining American businesses were nationalized; a counter embargo was placed on Cuban trade and so Cuba’s main partner was now the Soviet Union. Whether it be, oil refineries, banks, sugar mills, telephones/electricity companies, hotels or the transportation service all were acquired by the state.
Cuba also acquired property and assets, acquired through corruption or illegal means. Illegally acquired property, specifically Batista’s followers were confiscated. Legislation was enacted to increase wages, lower rents and prices.
Under Castro’s rule, Cuba’s political structure radically changed. From 1959, Cuba underwent transformation from nationalist policies to socialist policies to communist ones and then arrived at a distinctly Cuban Communism. In 1960 Castro declared himself Marxist/Leninst. This can be seen in the social and economic reforms made. Castro held the idea that everyone in a given society should receive equal shares of the benefits derived from labour. Communism was designed to allow the poor to rise up and attain financial and social status equal to that of the middle-class landowners. In order for everyone to achieve equality, wealth was redistributed such that the members of the upper class were brought down to the same financial and social level as the middle class. Communism required that all means of production be controlled by the state. In other words, no one can own his or her own business or produce his or her own goods because the state owns everything. Castro was totally opposition to capitalism, which was the view held by the United States.
ReplyDeletePost- revolutionary developments included economic and social transformations, a broken relationship with the Western world and an alignment with the Eastern one and the introduction of communism coupled with the destruction of representative democracy.
Cuba’s struggle with the United States
ReplyDeleteCuba and the United States have had one of the most interesting relations. Plans for purchase of Cuba from the Spanish Empire were put forward at various times by the United States. This was so because Cuba was in the America’s ‘backyard’ and the island was needed to ward off any European countries in the region. Noted by Beckles and Shepherd, Caribbean Slavery and Economy (1984), they offered up to some $ 130, 000, 000, at a meeting held in France but even that in the latter was turned down. Prior to the 1958 revolution, Cuba was run by the dictator Batista, who was nothing but a ‘puppet’ leader for the US; he served the interest of the US rather than the population. According to Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “American capital and technology contributed to swift economic growth in Cuba.” The sugar cane industry, the railroad, the electricity service, and telephone service were all mainly dominated by American interests. As Cuba prospered, poverty increased.
Castro then rose up and transformed Cuba, politically economically and socially. As he transformed the state, he went from nationalist policies to socialist policies and finally arriving at a Cuban communism.
Castro declared himself, a Maxist Leninis, sticking to the belief that everything in Cuba should be solely Cuban and run by Cubans. Noted by Campbell and Cateau, History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, “this had implications not only for Cuba, but also for the two competing world powers at the time: the United States with its capitalist mode and the Soviet Union with its communist mode.” As the transformation occurred, Castro formed strong relations with the United Soviet Socialist Republic, which then cut most, if not all their ties with the US and the many investors they had in the island. In Havana on January 25 1964, Castro emphasized the difference between relations with the United States and that with the Soviet Union, Castro stated:
“The Soviet Union did not have any sugar plantations in Cuba. It did not have any sugar mills in Cuba. It did not have any property in Cuba. Soviet Union was not receiving foreign exchange from Cuba. The Soviet Union did not collect dividends. It did not collect interest. On the contrary, the Soviet Union was extending large loans to Cuba to allow us to cope with this situation.”
In 1962 there was a missile crisis. The Russians, at Castro’s prompting, installed missiles 90 miles from the American coast. Although these missiles were removed after a confrontation between Khrushchev, Soviet’s president and Kennedy America’s president Cuba would pay. In result the American sugar quota was cut and furthermore they placed a trade and economic embargo on Cuba which is still present up until today.
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ReplyDeletea) Fidel Castro, born August 13, 1926, near Birán, Cuba, political leader of Cuba (1959–2008) who transformed his country into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro became a symbol of communist revolution in Latin America. He held the title of premier until 1976 and then began a long tenure as president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. According to Fidel Castro “A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle between the future and the past.” Then began his rise to power. Castro was one of the150 fighters who in 1953 tried to overthrow Batista. After this attack, Castro was placed into a prison but because of his patriotism, he became famous in Cuba after he was released from prison. He then fled to the United States with his brother Raul Castro. While there the planned another attack on Batista and his corrupt government. On December 2nd, 1956 he brought with him 81 insurgents with him, most of who were killed during the attack. In 1958 they came with a full scale attack on Fulgencia Batista and his government. After this attack Batista fled the country of Cuba and Fidel Castro assumed assumed himself as Commander and Chief of the armed forces and also sworn in as the Prime Minister.
ReplyDeleteDiscuss how Fidel Castro transformed Cuba socially, politically and economically.
b) POLITICALLY: “Fidel Castro has proclaimed himself to be a Socialist, a Marxist, and a Leninist". After the takeover from Batista, Castro converted Cuba to a socialist state. Castro believes strongly in converting Cuba, and the wider world, from a capitalist system in which business and industry is owned by private individuals and organisations, into a socialist system in which all business and industry are owned by the state on behalf of the population. Because of his strong ties with the Soviet Union, Fidel based the shaping of the government system off the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic, which is a socialist state in the Eurasian continent.
SOCIALLY: Fidel Castro brought about many social reforms in the country, such as the literary movement, where education and health for all Cubans was free, he opened 100 new schools and healthcare facilities available to everyone. All of these reforms were good but also came with some cons, such as, normal liberties did not exist, labour unions, right to stike and independent newspapers were all banned. Most importantly he took a nation that had a literacy rate of 2% and within 20 years had raised it to 98%.
ECONOMICALLY: While Cuba’s small and middle class resided primarily in Havanna, who enjoyed reasonably high levels of education and healthcare the majority of the population was poor. Castro also fought against mono-cropping and sought to focus on other industries besides sugar, seeking to reduce sugar production. After the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after the Cuban revolution of 1959, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military aid becoming an ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
c) Cuba lies 90 miles off the coast of Florida. This proximity to the United States lent to the viewpoint among many American decision makers, referred to as the law of political gravitation, that annexation of Cuba would be a logical extension of the United States' borders and fulfillment of manifest destiny.2 Cuba's proximity to the United States also meant that its harbors were of strategic importance, Cuba’s harbors could be used by enemies to threaten war on the United States conversely the United States could use those harbors as a first line of defense against enemies. Thomas Jefferson considered the Western hemisphere, especially Cuba and Florida, to be a jumping off point for a new “empire for liberty.” Cuba gained its independence after the Spanish American War and the relationship between the United States and Cuba continued to grow and strengthen. The United States became fully vested in both Cuban politics and Cuban economics. This investment in Cuba meant the United States assisted Cuba financially, militarily, and to some extent, politically. Cuba sided with the United States in both World Wars and the United States provided weapons and training to Cuba to build their military to aid in the fight against Communism. With the triumph of the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the seizure of Cuba by Communist powers came the end of the friendly relationship between Cuban and United States. Shortly thereafter, Cuba sided with the Soviet Union in the Cold War and before long, the United States embargoed Cuba. According to many historians, “The relationship between the United States and Cuba began based on basic supply and demand”. Even though economics, politics, and the military were the foundations for the good relationship between the United States and Cuba, as each of these foundations began to become strained over time, they eventually became the cause for the failure of that relationship.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1.a) Fidel Castro's Rise to power
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro, born on August 13th 1926 as an "illegitimate child", aimed to create political, economic and social change in Cuba. Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro stated that Castro launched an unsuccessful premature attack in 1953 against the puppet government of Batista. though it failed,Castro never stopped, though he was imprisoned, during the 1954 campaign, his followers often chanted to Batista "Viva Fidel Castro!" In 1955, after being freed, he became a non-violent agitator against Batista's governement, but upon realizing that this was not effective, sought violent measures to over throw the puppet government being controlled by the United States of America. Shannon Maxwell Eldridge in "Castro, Fidel: The Rise to Power" pointed out that Castro launched the 26th July movement less than 2 weeks of arriving in Mexico. He, and his allies, plotted in Mexico to overthrow Batista, and on July 26, 1953, they launched an attack on Moncada arm, using guerilla tactics. Then, in1959, all Fidel's time and efforts paid off, as he and his allies became the new government of Cuba. This new government was one that was based on nationalist and socialist ideologies.
b) Eric Williams further pointed out that "Castro had promised to do no less than purge Cuba".
Political
Fidel Castro famously notes that "Capitalism is using its money; we socialists throw it away" as capitalism causes "... War, hypocrisy and competition." As such, Fidel found capitalism ".. repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating.." and therefore wanted no part in it.
Rita J Market in Fidel Castor's Cuba highlighted that Castro "...used the 1976 Constitution to restructure the governement, he convened a National Congress of the Communist Party. Under his instruction, the party... Elected Castro first secretary of the Communiat Party, President of the Cohncil of Ministers and of Council of State, and commander in chief of the armed forces... In theory, Cuba is governed by public mandate - the will of the people."
As such, there was a change from the liberal democratic nature of Cuba, to a Communist and socialist and there was no elections. the political framework in which Cuba was absed, reflected that of the USSR, its close ally.
Economic
Prior to Fidel's government, the economy of Cuba was dominated by sugar monoculture which, according to Williams, occasionally brought prosperity, but fluctuated under the control of the US. Sugar, during this pre-revolutionary phase, accounted for 80% of exports. The backwards nature of the economy was massively due to "the fact that it was at the mercy of the external forces of the world market" (Eric Williams, From Columbus to Castro). Fidel however, transformed the economic sector. This was done through the reduction of sugar production, opposition to foreign ownership of the sugar industry coupled with nationalism - State ownership of industries, particularly the agriculture industyand Us owned businesses, such as oil refineries, factories, casinoes, etc ..., reductions in electricity rates, which led to savings of $15 million a year for Cuban consumers, and also an acceleratedthe industrial development of the country.
Social
Social tranformation was evident in Cuba with Fidel's reign. Castro abolished legal descrimination, brought electricity to the country side, provided for full employment for Cubans, establishing numerous schools and the Cuban literacy campaign and medical facilities. Fidel Castro even, according to Market in Fidel Castro's Cuba, closed down opposition newspapers that presented his government in a negative light, limited the amount of land a person could, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to own land, abolished private businesses and presided over housing and consumer shortages.
a) According to Eric Williams (1970) in From Columbus to Castro, a French journalist noted, "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people...Castro did not destroy the enemy. The latter collapsed because he was rotten to the core." The face of Cuba was changed forever by the Cuban Revolution of 1959. With a vision that history barely grants to many, Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista regime and rose to power. Fidel Castro in his 1970 speech noted, “My straightforward character made me enter rapidly into conflict with the milieu, the venal authorities, the corruption and the gang-ridden system which dominated the university." Cuba, although an independent nation, was an island with immense discontent under the sickening regime of Batista. Gregory Tozian (1998) in Fidel's Cuba: A Revolution in Pictures noted, "Batista turned the majority of Cubans into cynics sickened by an atmosphere of graft and cronyism." The corruption that was prevalent during Batista's reign became one of the main issues that awaken Castro and Cuba's consciousness. Castro's initial attempt in 1953 at the Moncada Barracks failed, but Castro's determination to remove the legacy of colonial domination from the United States pulled him back to revolt in 1957. Despite the fiasco, Castro’s limited number of supports attracted the attention of the Cuban populace. According to Earle Rice Jr. in The Cuban Revolution, "Deep inside of him and all of Cubans was a revolutionary tradition inherited from the decades of struggle against Spain, nourished in this century by continental United States military interventions." Castro successfully unseated the democratic dictator and installed himself as premier of Cuba.
ReplyDeleteb) According to Williams (1970), Castro's movement was a democratic, nationalist and dedicated to social justice. Castro did not only transform Cuba, he re-symbolized the entire regime. His rise to power created a complete metaphorsis in the social, political and economical structure.
ReplyDeleteCastro sought to amend Cuba's economy. Prior to Castro's rise to power, the economy of Cuba was dominated by the United States. Nelson R. Amaro (1989) in 'Mass and Class in the Origins of the Cuban Revolution' explained that this was due to massive investments by the United States business and a large degree by which they determined Cuba's economic structure. Batista had allowed the United States to control Cuban banking and for United States companies to hold a large percentage of the sugar miles, tobacco companies, railroads and utilities. (Tozian, 1998). Additionally, the economy was dominated by the exploiting social groups in the nation, where large landowners controlled the countryside and industrial capitalists ruled the cities. This was occurring at a time when Cubans were undergoing an economic recession in the economy. With Castro's rise came the change in the sugar industry, “the monoculture it encouraged, the foreign owned latifundia and the landless peasantry it created.” (Williams, 1970). Castro responded with the Agrarian Reform Law of 1959. Castro implemented a policy that the land belongs to the people who worked it. This became the basis of the replacement of the latifundia by small farms with creation of a diversified cropping system along with eliminating renting. Castro further confiscated United States businesses and nationalized private enterprises that were illegally procure under the Batista’s demoralized regime. Economic dependence on the United States was further reduced when Castro replaced American markets with Soviet services.
continuation of b) Williams (1970), said, "Pride of place goes to his achievements in education." Castro sought to advance the educational level in Cuba. Marti (1987) in Marshall, noted "to be educated is to be free." This became a popular slogan of the Cuban revolutionary movement. Castro's fundamental priority was his literacy campaign where a "300 000 people... reduced the literacy rate to 4 percent of the total population." (Williams, 1970). Castro was able to open classrooms and girls and boys got equal educational treatment. Fidel also increased the number of teachers, the number of schools and updated the curriculum. In the 1975 Constitution of Cuba, healthcare became "the right and responsibility of the state." "The government," according to Cateau and Campbell in History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, "provided free, high quality health care for the entire population." Castro transformed the health sector in Cuba by training, by 1974, 16,000 doctors as well as advancing in critical health areas such as heart diseases and cancer. The state was also culturally developed. “Before 1959, refinement and culture in Cuba was the domain of the elite.” Castro sought to prioritize and preserve Cuba’s culture. A national theatre was opened, a museum refurbished and wide sources of literature was published. Castro also improved the infrastructure with the construction of medical centers and popular housing programmes, which benefitted thousands of citizens. According to Williams (1970), “Every Caribbean nationalist would similarly have envied the road construction programme of Castro under which 600 miles of road were constructed…”
ReplyDeleteThe political attempt to re engineer Cuban society along Marxist ideologies had far reaching social and economic consequence. According to Haralombos and Holborn, Marxism embraces the idea class struggles “The re engineered socialist economy became mired in centralized control and leaden bureaucracy.” (Cuba Exceptionalism, 2001). According to Irving Peter Pflaum (1961) in Tragic Island: How Communism Came to Cuba, he noted, “Revolutions are in motion always, removing the old order and creating a new one.” While Castro had promised a return to democratic constitutional rule when he first took power, he instead moved to consolidate his rule, repress dissent and imprison thousands of his opponents. Once in power, Fidel turned Cuba away from a democracy to embrace a socialist system called ‘Castroism’. Castro believed in totally transforming Cuba from a capitalist state where businesses and industries is owned by private corporations into a socialist state in which they are all owned by the state to benefit the populace. Castro further removed officials of the state who were supports of Batista’s regime. He enforced this policy by implementing a one party state.
c)
ReplyDelete“The prevalent initial international reaction to the Castro victory was that despotism had been turfed out by an idealistic cause.” (Cuba Exceptionalism, The Handbook.) Without a doubt, it is evident that Cuba was of significance to the United States. Initially, the Spanish government attempted to purchase Cuba, but failed miserably. As Spanish colonial domination faded, the United States gained a foothold in the economic, political and social structure in the island. Majority of foreign investments, imports and exports were controlled by the United States. In addition, Cuba proved a strategic location in proximity to the United States. According to Castro, “What bothers the us the most is that we have made a socialist revolution right under their noses. Workers and peasants, comrades, this is a socialist and democratic revolution of the poor, by the poor, for the poor.” Williams (1970) noted that, “the essential feature of Castro’s revolution was anti-Americanism.” The United States was in direct opposition to the transformation out of the revolution.
c) Cuba’s struggle with the United States of America
ReplyDelete• It was clear that Castro's revolution was anti-Americanism, particularly after it had been under the rule of the ‘puppet leadership’ of Batista, and his methods of transforming Cuba would also prove to be anti-America. As Fidel states "North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity”.
• The United States was desirous of owning Cuba, because of its strategic location, just 90 miles away from Florida.
• The US also had an interest in Cuba because the majority of Cuban economy was owned by US investors, as such, with businesses and industries owned by US individuals later being nationalized under Fidel’s government, the US was livid.
• Hence, there was a trade embargo placed on Cuba by the US, restricting all trade between Cuba and the US, that still exists up to today.
continuation of c) John F. Kennedy said, "Our objection isn't to the Cuban revolution, it is to the fact that Castro has turned it over to Communists."
ReplyDeleteThe struggle in conclusion, was one majorly based on the difference of ideologies - Democracy and Capitalism by the US and Communism and Socialism in Cuba
ReplyDeleteC. Castro made changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivising agriculture, and seizing American owened business farms, he transformed Cuba into a communist country. On the other hand, the United states wanted Castro out of power, with an attempt to overthrow him, the U.S. Sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba (the bay of pigs invasion) besides many attempts were made to assassinate Fidel, all with no success. The struggle that ensued between the U.S. And the soviet union, the Cuban missiles crisis, brought the world the closest to a nuclear war. The Americans saw Cuban's as communist, thus making Fidel traveled to the United states to explain his revolution saying " I know what the world thinks of us, we are not communist; very clearly"
ReplyDeletea) Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz rise to power came from overtaking Fulgencia Batista. Under the rule of Batista, corruption was taking place in Cuba. Castro used more violent methods to make statements and in the middle of 1953 he had organized a group of around 1,200 followers. Out of these 1,200 followers, Castro began meetings with the young group of men to plan a military revolution. They planned an underground organization where they would seize military barracks in the capital and call on the people of Cuba to rise against the new dictator later called the 26th July movement. However, their plans failed due to an encounter from a military patrol, Castro and 29 of his comrades were imprisoned on the Isle of Pines and taken to court.For 15 years, Fidel was still optimistic and his defense speech was his proposition of completing the reformation of Cuba into a progressive nation. Castro stated; "I was rebellious, I had a lot of time to read. To read for so long..." In Eric Williams from Columbus to Castro, a pro-Castro French journalist explained: 'Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory of the people...Castro did not destroy the enemy. The latter collapsed because he was rotten to the core.' Indeed with the help of the people of Cuba, Castro was successful this time. Fidel Castro took power in 1959 with objectives to transform Cuba into a developed and independent nation by mobilizing island's internal resources.
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro rise to power:
ReplyDeleteThe great Fidel Castro, a man who was loved and hated by many persons, transformed the small prosperous colony of Cuba into the first communist country in the Western Hemisphere. An article ‘From the Mountains to the Podium: The Rhetoric of Fidel Castor’ stated that “Since 1959, Fidel Castro has maintained a prominent position of power within Cuba, whether labeled as Prime Minister or President. Some consider the man a dictator, others, like Nelson Mandela, call him a source of inspiration.” After studying at the Universtity of Havana, and obtaining his degree in 1950, Fidel Castro became a lawyer by profession. He was so engrossed in politics that he decided to hold candidate positions in the Cuban Parliament during the June 1952 elections. However the elections were cancelled by Generla Fulgencio Batista who had overthrown the previous Cuban government. Castro who greatly despised Batista for his affiliations with mobs and American officials, sought to oust Batista. He exercised legal means to unseat Batista but when this failed, he resorted to organizing groups of rebel forces to accomplish this task. On July 26, 1953, Castro attempted to eradicate the dictator of Cuba through insurrection with the support of 160 men. He stated that “The revolution is a dictatorship of the exploited against the exploiters.” Despondently, the attack landed him in prison and most of his supporters were captured and killed. Although this attempt was unsuccessful, Castro became a famous figure in Cuba. Upon his release from prison in 1955, Castro went to Mexico and persistently continued his campaign against Batista with the help of his brother Raúl and other revolutionary volunteers throughout the island. A full scale attack was executed on Batista and his government in 1958. The next year Batista fled the country and Castro became the new Prime Minister of Cuba. According to Andres Suarez, “The most remarkable feature of the Cuban Revolution, militarily and politically, is that it was and is so largely the work of one man.” Indeed one man, with his poorly armed forces, defeated the Cuban government’s 30,000 army of professional men.
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ReplyDeleteA)Explain what led to the Rise of Fidel Castro.
ReplyDeleteSurrounding the birth of Fidel Castro in August 1826 was a Cuba in the hands of foreign individuals. The existing leadership had grown to be the symbol of Cuba's inequities. They were under American control; President Roosevelt himself called him "a son-of-a-bitch, but he was our son of a bitch." American power was thus obviously wielded in Cuba, and their citizens exploited and enjoyed Cuba's wealth. Various issues persisted in society, including high illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and little property ownership.
In his early years, Castro attended Catholic boarding schools and excelled as a debater. Castro was born into a generation desiring freedom from the grip of external power and control that evidently manipulated its operations, and had always desired to be an influential political figure. His ambition was evident as he went on to become a lawyer and joined the Orthodox Party, making his first attempt to remove Baptista as leader on July 26th 1953 in the Oriente province. This unsuccessful revolution landed Castro and the 160 students he lead either in jail or tortured.
After being pardoned in 1955 Castro went to the U.S, and then Mexico, where he not only garnered significant knowledge, but gained arms and Monetary support. Building ties with vital individuals, and severing those with the Orthodox Party, he would prepare to lead another failed coup in 1956.
“Although eight prisoners managed to escape, only 15 rebels succeeded in reaching the Sierra Maestra mountains with Castro. This handful of survivors became the nucleus of the rebel army, and would become among the most powerful members of the government established by Fidel Castro.” “The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961”Alejandro Quesada – 2011
In the Sierra mountains he would build support from rural individuals and even be portrayed by the American press as a hero. Batista would attempt to stamp out this support, but the brutality only decreased support for him; even the United States had stopped exporting arms to him for ‘humanitarian reasons’.
“Without the United States, Castro would not be in power today...By no longer supporting the existing government of Cuba, the United States helped Castro rise to power.” Victorious Insurgencies: Four Rebellions that Shaped Our World Anthony James Joes Sep 29, 2010
Removing Batista was a desire shared by multiple political groups such as the Communist and Orthodox parties, and Batista no longer had the support of America. Thus, support for Castro grew so drastically that by the end of 1958, Batista’s own troops deserted him and he feared for his life. He was thus forced into exile, and Castro was then able to seize control of Cuba on July 1st 1959.
Conclusively, "Castro's rise to power was fuelled by the corruption and ineptitude of the U.S backed regime of Fulengio Batista."
b) Discuss how Fidel Castro transformed Cuba socially, politically and economically.
Economic
“The difficulties confronted by Cuba in the 1980s have not brought a halt to economic progress nor have they brought about the ‘failure’ of the Cuban economy.” Richard Gillespie Oct 31, 2013
• Local industrial and infrastructural development and investment
“Cuba accelerated investment in the development of metallurgical industries to ultimately supply spare parts and other inputs needed for industry, agriculture, and transportation.” U.S. International Trade Commission
Multiple Embargos and United States’ pressure on other nations made industrial development absolutely necessary. Cuba constructed, ‘modernised’, and invested in technological adaptation of multiple factories and industrial facilities. Multiple industries were developed and expanded, such as electronics, construction material industries and the agro-livestock sector. The water and road system was also developed.
B) Continued
ReplyDelete• State acquisition and redistribution of land and capital
“Agrarian reform, designed to achieve a more equitable distribution of land, improve living conditions for the rural masses, and promote economic development, thus came to be an issue that could not be ignored after 1958.” Thomas C. Wright - 2001.
Cuba nationalised remaining investments in Cuba owned by U.S and other foreign nationals in October 1960, along with key Cuban owned land. This included 105 sugar mills, to give one the idea of the scale of acquisition; privatization was thus virtually eliminated. The state’s share in the agricultural sector had thus almost doubled.
• Shift in models of production
“Cuba continued to single out agriculture as the key to its development strategy.” ‘The Economics of Cuban Sugar’ Jorge Perez-Lopez
There was a movement from centralized physical development and strategies, to organisational models such as market socialism and very radical centralisation. This had occurred between the 1960’s and 70’s. An organisational model based on centralism but with some market levers was the final model selected. Agriculture would continue to be the crucial point of Cuba’s developmental strategy.
A Soviet style Economic and Planning System was utilized in the late 1970’s . It was aimed at increasing the efficiency of the use of capital and human resources. But by the late 80’s lead to a Rectification Process that returned the system to a centralised, moralistic one.
Political development
• Opponents of Castro’s dictatorship were repressed.
• In 1960 May he announced that there would be no elections or traditional democratic political parties. His government, manned by his closest revolutionary participants would constitute a new dictatorship.
• Following the ‘Bay of Pigs’ and possibly as a result of it, Castro formally declared the Revolution as socialist. " Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organisation, the essential feature of which is governmental control of economic activities to end competition... Socialism means equality of income and nothing else.” Radhey Shyam Chaurasia This reflected Castro’s personal ideals and objection to U.S policies and operation, most effectively objected by socialism or communism.” Castro favoured social justice, end to corruption, and economic independence.” Stanley Sandler – 2002
• Centralised power and mobilization of the masses, allowed by socialism was encouraged. A group of 100 formed a Central Committee, with an internal section called the Politburo which dealt with party policy. The Secretariat formed the ‘Executive’ branch.
• The USSR not only increased its aid to Cuba, but approved the formalization of Cuba’s communist system and strengthened ties with them.
• Cuba won democratic recognition from 8 Latin American Countries.
• The Black Market was politically campaigned against.
• International affairs broadened and aid was provided to other countries. This increased Cuba’s prestige in Eastern Europe as an Anti-imperialist nation.
Social development
• Mobilization of 300,000 for literacy programs. This initiative was highly beneficial and long overdue as illiteracy rates were high. Primary and secondary education also saw heavy investment, growth and thus development.
• “Cuba succeeded in building a unique health care system that serves all of its people.” Steve Brouwer – 2011 This was the result in heavy investment in the development of education. All sectors would benefit from these initiatives.
• “ The commitment to guaranteed employment meant that the average Cuban enjoyed a secure income and potentially greater access to goods and services.” Wilber A. Chaffee, Gary Prevost - 1992
• “In Cuba the national food rationing system guarantees all citizens access to minimum basic nutritional needs.” Psyche Williams Forson, Carole Counihan – 2013
C) Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States.
Delete• “By the 1920’s the contradictions of U.S. hegemony in Cuba had overtaken the republic.” Louis A. Pérez Mar 15, 2011.
U.S interests were being reproduced in Cuba, politically, economically and socially, at the detriment of the Cuban’s interests. They had a marginal role in their own affairs. North American Intervention continued to increase.
• “In the 1840s and 1850s, Presidents James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan attempted unsuccessfully to purchase Cuba from Spain.” Rex A. Hudson – 2002
America’s interest in the island was evident in these attempts to purchase Cuba from Spain.
• The Pierce Proclamation stated: “If Spain, actuated by stubborn pride and false sense of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba to the United States, then by every law, human and divine, we shall be justified in taking it from Spain by force of arms.
All offers were rejected, and the true desire to attain Cuba was clear in this bold statement.
• Unification of workers as a formidable, prominent political force concerned America as to its continued control of internal affairs.
• This control was evident as, “For the next several years, Batista ruled Cuba through puppet presidents, before finally securing his own election to the Presidency in 1940.” Rita J. Markel – 2012 And thus, America would continue to be the real leadership of Cuba.
• Batista would lose the support of America during his time of most critical need. When Batista’s rule was threatened by Castro they wanted him to put in place a caretaker government, but he refused to relinquish his power. Thus America placed an embargo for ‘humanitarian’ reasons, preventing much needed arms from reaching Batista’s army.
• After Batista’s exile, America began to heavily oppose Castro’s rule. His communist ideals were considered threatening. They opposed Cuban Soviet diplomatic relations, and would attempt to sabotage and invade Cuba. Embargos were placed on oil refining and other economic areas. Cuba simply nationalized them.
• “Bay of Pigs invasion ended in complete failure, leaving the new president facing a major political crisis.” Kenneth Michael Absher, Michael Charles Desch, Roman Popadiuk – 2012 The missile crisis deteriorated American-Cuban relations. The Bay of Pigs, a failed insurgence effort of 1,500 American trained exiles has been described as “the greatest embarrassment of Kennedy’s presidency.”
• Embargos would continue in the years to come into today. The Cuban economy would not be stifled, as was the intent. America continued to restrict spending in Cuba, to restrict trade relations and to restrict American citizens from travelling there; all efforts would continue to be taken to seeming take revenge on Cuba for not bowing to American power and growing into a prosperous society despite America’s consistent efforts.
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ReplyDeleteCastro's Rise to Power
DeleteFidel Castro Ruz was born the illegitimate child to father Angel Castro y Argiz and Lina Ruz on August 13, 1926. He demanded of his parents that he attended school and was sent to live with his godparents to attend Colegio Dolores, a Jesuit school in Santiago. Upon his graduation he went to Colegio Belen, in Havana at age of 16. He later studied law at the university of Havana.
Castro started to plan a military revolution against Batista, influenced by Eduardo Chinas. On July 26, 1953 Castro had launched an unsuccessful and premature attack," (Eric Williams) on Baptist. Out of 200 supporters that battled for 2 hours, 3 persons died and 68 were executed and Castro faced trial. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
After his release after only serving two years, Castro became a nonviolent agitator against Batista. He begun to hold meetings and was banned from talking on the radio and public meetings. This caused him to abandon his peaceful goal and decided to renew his violence. He went into exile in Mexico while he bcome acquainted with Che Guevara, where he trained in guerrilla warfare. The Castro revolution was entitled the July 26th movement. Castro had gained the support of the masses, especially the peasants "Castro and Guevara were not peasants, they never intended to wage war from a rural base, and most of there July 26 movement come from the cities," stated Jan Rogozinski.
Armed with "803 men," according to Eric Williams, "which together with all other groups made up a force of 1, 000 to 1, 500. He had won the victory against Batista according to French pro-Castro journalist "Fidel Castro's victory was no real military victory. It was a primarily a moral victory of the people." Batista was forced to flee the country and Castro gained power and became prime minister.
Political change
Castro became the leader of the communist Partido Socialist Popular, and eliminated all other political parties. Castro transformed Cuba into the first communist state in the western hemisphere, he excised unquestionable and total control of the government. Castro, a socialist, worked to convert Cuba from a capitalist system into a socialist system, " we do not believe in the materialistic concept of capitalism or of other types of communism which money is the incentive," Castro. Cuba became closely aligned with the USSR and they developed ties.
Social change
One of Castro's goal was to reduce illiteracy rates and allow for universal education. According to Eric Williams "Castro's key achievement was his illiteracy campaign, which unleashed 300, 000 people to reduce the illiteracy rate of 4 percent of the population." He employed the help of primary school teachers, secondary school students and adults " supplied with a uniform, hammock, blanket, instruction books, a teaching manual, a Cuban flag send a paraffin lamp," Williams. A lot of money was pumped into the education system with social emphasis on primary, technical and vocational training." He also made health care free and attainable by all.
Economic Change
ReplyDeleteCuba relayed heavily on the soviet union economically since all ties with the US were diminished. According to Rogozinski, "soviet foreign minister, Anastas Mikoyan, headed a trade delegation that promised used financial aid." He made employment almost a guarantee. He implemented the Agrarian Reform Law 'the two major goal of this law was to replace the latifundia by cooperations or private small and medium farms with diversified production, and the eliminating of renting, tenancy and sharecropping ," Williams. Castro reduced the production o sugar and opposed monoculture and he seemed to add diversity to the economyeconomy. He also nationalised the private sectors, "nationalisation made the government their landlord and employer," Rogozinski. After the collapse of the soviet union the economy was in disarray, the country had lost all international ties and were without allies.
Cuba's struggle with the United States
The United States had always wanted to buy Cuba from Spain for strategical purposes and as while as economic. When they refused to sell the US tried to change this decision. With Cuba's impending independence they ceases the oportunity again but still failed. Finally their were able to infiltrate to dictator government however with the overthrow of Batista and rise of Castro, the relationship became a bitter one. This was amplified when Cuba sided with the soviet union during the cold war and Castro's anti-American policy.
The Us imposed a partial embargo on the island in October 1960 became a complete embargo in Februar. 1962.; this banned the importation of all goods. There have also gathered support to exclude Cuba out of the OAS. The US has also made restrictions on its citizens traveling to the country.
B)Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically. Political Fidel Castro has changed Cuba politically and drastically within a year's period of gaining power.Accoring to Campbell and kateau Castro had promised to purge Cuba. This implied the removal of fundamental social, political and ecinomic ills. Castro nationalized industry, collectivized agriculture and seizing American owned companies and farms. Cuba became a communist country. Jennifer Rosenburg stated that in an article that Castro alienated the united states. Social After Castro ended Batista's reign he sought to fix the social ills of the island.According to Eric Williams in Columbus to Castro, "slightly over 50 percent of the peasantscould read and write, 43 percent never attended school. Ge also stated that 85 percent had no inside running water and 91 percent had no elevtrcity. Castro sought to fix this making education mandatory and also atempted to set up ecnomic development using a socialist model. He began to trade with the soviet bloc.The third phase also began in 1964 where he began to work on the social economic factors. Economic Castro traded with the soviet bloc. He had commecial agreements that not only sugar and oil but manufactured goods, enterprise and machinery.The diversification proved to be good for the economy other than having sugar as the main source of income.Although Castro sought to fix the economic problems the economy started to decline in 1962.
ReplyDeleteb) How did Castro transform Cuba politically, socially and economically
ReplyDeletePolitical
According to John J. Vital in Fidel Castro, "Castro and his generation inherited a stormy political past." However, he was able to transform Cuba politically after he rose to power.Castro wanted change in Cuba and no doubt learned back then if it couldn’t come about politically it would have to happen by force. Fidel Castro intended to build a socialist state based on the principles largely state-owned, government directed planned economy.Fidel Castro quickly purged political opponents from the administration.Clifford L. Staten in The History of Cuba stated: " Mass organizations such as labour unions that opposed the revolutionary government were made illegal." In delivering essential social services to the Cuban people, the Castro government has had its most notable and admirable successes. Its through them that the Castro revolution became firmly institutionalized in the hearts and minds of the great majority of the people who never before had a government providing for their essential needs they’ll now never relinquish without a fight. Why should they. Article 50 of the Cuban Constitution adopted in 1976 and approved by 97% of the country’s eligible voters at the time mandates that all Cubans are entitled to receive free medical, hospital and dental care including prophylactic services. The Constitution emphasizes public health, preventive care, health education, programs for periodic medical examinations, immunizations and other preventive measures. It guarantees that all Cubans will have their health protected, and in Article 43 it stipulates that all citizens have the same rights without regard to “color of skin, gender, religious belief, national origin and any distinction harmful to the dignity of man.” The Constitution also provides for worker health and safety, help for the elderly and pregnant working women having the right to paid leave before and after birth to ensure maternal and infant health.In Article 51 of the Cuban Constitution, it says: “Everybody has a right to education. This right is guaranteed by the extensive and free system of schools, part-time boarding schools, boarding schools and scholarships in all types and at all levels of education, by the free provision of school materials to every child and young person regardless of the economic situation of the family, and by the provision of courses suited to the student’s aptitude, the requirements of society and the needs of economic and social development.”
Socially
After taking power, Castro divided for full employment and advanced the causes of education and health care, in part by building new schools and medical facilities. Kellner (1989) states "As a result, the Cuban government of Fidel Castro at Che Guevara's behest dubbed 1961 the "year of education", and sent "literacy brigades" out into the countryside to construct schools, train new educators, and teach the predominately illiterate Guajiros (peasants) to read and write."In Cuba's Constitution of 1975, healthcare became "the right and responsibility of the state." On the word of Cateau and Campbell in History for the Caribbean in the Atlantic World, " The government provided free, high quality health care for the entire population."
b continued:
ReplyDeleteEconomically
"Communism: an economic system that states all property is controlled and owned by the government. It is the opposite of capitalism." Edward Boorstein (1968) states in The Economic Transformation of Cuba, "It [volunteer labour] is the beginning of a revolution." Cuba has been changing somewhat since the dissolution of the Soviet Union that provided it with large and vitally needed subsidies, supplied it with oil at low prices and provided a ready market for Cuban exports like a large portion of its annual sugar crop it no longer could sell to the US because of the economic embargo. Out of necessity to revive its economy that was severely affected in the early 1990s, the Castro government began to allow a limited amount of free enterprise.
c) Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish-American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, the result of American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. On 1 January 1959, Fidel Castro and his comrades marched triumphantly into Havana.On the one hand, in the eyes of the Cubans, Cuba had attained independence. In the eyes of the USA, on the other hand, revolution was proof of 'chronic wrongdoing in Cuba.' They sent three destroyers and two submarines to Havana. This was a direct military intervention. The Embargo of 1807 was a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress 1806–1808, during the second term of President Thomas Jefferson. National Archives and Records Administration. "Proclamation 3447--Embargo on all trade with Cuba", the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba on February 7, 1962. It was referred to by Cuba as stated by Elizabeth Flock in Cuba trade embargo turns 50: Still no rum or cigars, though some freedom in travel, as "el bloqueo" (the blockade), the US embargo on Cuba remains one of the longest-standing embargoes.Daniel Hanson, Dayne Batten, Harrison Ealey (January 16, 2013) in It's Time For The U.S. To End Its Senseless Embargo Of Cuba comments that "The embargo was embraced by few of the United States' allies and apparently has done little to affect Cuban policies over the years."
1. Discuss Fidel Castro's rise to power. Quote. Fidel Castro was a middle class citizen of Cuba. He was a well educated man and one who loved Cuba and the people. At an early age there was a stong sense of national pride within him. He proved his love by overthrowing the American puppet leader and his government led by Batista in 1957. His first attempt to rise to power in 1953 failed because as it was premature. However Castro did not let this dampen his spirit but rather it encouraged him to try again and come back even stronger. Castro realized that the United States wanted Cuba for their own selfish purposes. They realized that it was a strategic location and they had alot of investments in the country. Sugar was still king and Cuban soil still had prosperous yields. It is from this perspective that the Castro Revolution is described as a "humanist revolution." A French journalist said "FidelCastro's victory was no real military victory. It was primarily a moral victory for the people.....Castro did not destroy the enem. The latter collasped because he was rotten to the core." Castro's leadership transformed Cuba into a society that upheld the statutes of Nationalism, Socialism and Communism. The conceot of socialism moreless meant that a system would be put in place where there would be no private properties. In my opinion, Castro was fascinated by this idea because he saw the need for change in Cuba. For too long, Cubans suffered by the hands of pupoet leaders where the rich were seen as the only people in society.
ReplyDelete2. Examine how Castro transformed Cuba politically, socially and economically. A) Politically: A large part of Castro's political reform was centered around an anti-American regime that involeved greatly ties with the Soviet Union He went on to nationalizing foreign business and those locally owned. His first drastic change was based on agriculture . The Agarian Reform Law was passed on May 17 1959. According to Williams the law prohibited the ownership of more than 995 acres by either individual or a company. He further stated that there were some legal exceptions but the limit could have been increased to 3,316 acres. It must be noted that the political and economic transformation were closely linked as they affected one another. Castro did everything he could politically to keep American from getting any access to Cuba and to keep what belonged to Cuba in Cuba. It is here that Cuba's human resource value begin B) Socially: Fidel Castro gave life to the words 'no person left behind.' He campigned against illiteration and sought to create jobs for the Cuban people. It would be fair to say that at first many peooke were skeptical about the success of the Castro government especially those who were against his movement. However he managed to prive them wrong. Many noted historians reported that the Cuban people were extremely grateful for the chance to be educated even in their old age. According to Williams, Castro was able to open more classrooms in 30 months than his predecessors did in 30 years. C) Economically: In a sense, Cuba was better off economically. This Castro regime made provisions for Cuba to stand on its own 2 geet economically. Cuban revenues would truly become Cuba's. Every citizen was promised emplymemt. This aspect worked especially froma agricultural point of view because Castro took lands from the rich and divided it among the poor. Castro nationalized almost every sector in the Cuban society. After the US pull out of Cuba, Castro formed ties with the Soviet Union who together re-worked the Cuban economy. Castro makes no apologies forhis decisions speciafically in regards to the Soviet Union. He made it clear that he woukd anything in his power to see the Cuban society strive. He said "...On the contrary, the Society Union was extending large loans to Cuba to allow us to cope with this situation."
ReplyDelete3. Discuss Cuba's struggle with the United States According to an articke written by Stephen Lendman posted on Global Reasearch, the United States wanted nothing more than to crush Fidel Castro and destabilize his government. In response to the Castro Revolution, the United States by engaging in Anti-communist campaigns, economic embargo and created political and economis spheres of influence. Basically, the United States sought to gain international support to stifle the Cuban economy. They did this by utilizing the Big Stick policy where they offered economic aid etcetera so that they would be able to prevent the region from becoming socialists countries. Had they allowed the spread of socialism, there would be no free market for them to benefit off of.
ReplyDelete1. Castro’s Rise to Power
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro is perhaps the greatest figure of nationalism and imperialist opposition in the Caribbean’s modern history. His rise to power set against the backdrop of impotent dictatorship and chronic poverty in Cuba, American imperialism in its economy, and the ongoing post 1945 Cold War between the United States of American and the USSR. Castro, born August 13th 1926 in Biran – Eastern Cuba, took first interest in law and politics during his tenure at the University of Havana where he took up these courses. He furthered his involvement in politics by joining at the University, the anti-corruption orthodox party which was heavily involved in revolutionary initiatives in both Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Upon graduation (in 1950) he practiced law for two years and culminated the non-revolutionary stage of is nationalist career with an attempt to be elected to the House of Representatives. This was however; thwarted, as said elections were aborted by a seizure of power by former president Fulgencio Batista in 1952. This event sparked the revolutionary stage in the Castro’s career. Upon Batista’s ascension, he promptly began organizing armed opposition culminating in a failed, 1953 attack on military installations in Santiago. He was captured and jailed, then released in 1955. He travelled to Mexico and returned to Cuba to begin operations once again, but in the Sierra Maestra Mountains. By 1957 armed, guerilla operations were in effect against government targets. The movement attracted mass popular support, and ranks of the guerillas swelled. A failed counter-offensive by Batista in 1958 ‘steeled’ the revolution enough to finally size power in 1959. Castro assumed the post of Prime Minister initially till 1976, later ascending to the position of president until 2008. His rise and support in the population was the consequence of disgust for the Batista’s regime and the endemic corruption, poverty, and state prostitution which it directly and indirectly advocated. The masses were thus willing to mount their opposition and dissent on the national reformation formally and forcefully advocated in the ideology of Castro’s revolution.
2. Political, Social, and Economical reformation under Castro
ReplyDeleteThe political governance, social norms, and economic practices of the Cuban state under Castro were all closely interlinked. This is the simple result of the reality that reforms in governance and trade policy would affect social life. Politically, the dictatorship and centralization of powers exercised under the past government were eradicated. To be fair however, in the eyes of law and politics, Castro, though he wielded vast majority public support for all of his tenure, was in practice a dictator. The new government prior to its status as such, promised to old elections when it came into office, but this hardly materialized. The Castro government was however, in stark contrast to the former, one of the people. Its interests were removed from self-enrichment and aimed toward the sharing and exploiting of communal wealth. This model was advocated by strict and substantial government involvement in production and in social life. This ‘Socialism’ became the ideology the reformed society. Economically, land reforms and agrarian advancements were chief. Allotments were made for large tracts of land to be owned by cooperatives and for individual farmers to have a minimum of 66 acres. Land was taken from American plantation businesses and returned to Cubans. Also, according to Eric Williams, “Castro’s Anti-Americanism was … reflected in his attack on the American owned public utilities, principally telephones and electricity.”(p.484, From Columbus to Castro: 1970) The most remembered economic reform was the nationalization of critical public services and foreign owned sectors. These included banking, telecommunication, plumbing, electricity, oil refining, and several other sectors. The country initially gravitated toward moderate private ownership in agriculture with lessening emphasis on the sugar industry. Realizing that sugar was at the time still the most profitable agricultural export producible, they later advocated great emphasis on the sugar industry with mass public ownership and investment. The USSR was the main buyer of this sugar as the US increasingly refused to satisfy the market demand Cuba needed. Political and economic reforms took shape around the ideals of public ownership, and closer links with the Soviet bloc. Socially, there were a range of programs and new practices coming into effect to change the landscape of Cuban Society.
Literacy and schooling was improved tremendously. Healthcare was made free and refined to be among the world’s best. Public residential infrastructure was greatly improved from the mass squalor the vast majority of the population lived in. Eric Williams has further stated, “The popularity of the Castro regime was increased by its construction of rural medical centers, mobile dispensaries, and people’s stores, its attention to social welfare in the form of children’s nurseries, homes for the aged, institutes for the handicapped, its tremendous housing program under which houses were going up at the rate of 27 a day and 833 a month, and its conversion of exclusive American facilities under the Batista regime such as the Havana Baltimore Yacht and Country Club and the Varadero International Hotel into establishments open to people of Cuba at minimum rates.” – (p.487, Columbus to Castro:1970) Other, non official reforms that ensued were cultural ones such as the revival of heritage institutions and identity empowerment for Afro Cubans. Politically,. From an external point of view, the nation’s close links with the Soviet bloc was a principle of its success. Ties to the USSR effectively, gave Cuba an economy, financial aid, military sponsorship, and a bulwark against capitalist encroachment from the USA. This resulted in the entrenchment of Cuba behind communist party lines of the historic global clash of Capitalism and communism. (This is often romanticized in writings as an ‘eternal’ struggle between ‘good’ and ‘evil’). To be specific however, Cuba self described as a socialist, and not a communist state. Castro made clear distinction between Cuban practice and any other nation saying that the country did as it need for its own specific needs and followed no set trends. Extracted from the historical narratives, a list on principle changes in each category must be observed.
ReplyDeletePolitically:
ReplyDelete1. The Cuban brand of Socialism replaced and the Batista brand of American Exported Imperialism. The regime of the former dictator was removed from perpetual power which neglected the people and replaced with Castro who advocated heavy state involvement in individual welfare and affairs.
2. Ties with the US government were severed and embittered and relations with the USSR were bolstered and profited from.
3. Civil freedoms were gained and the rights of persons were protected by new enactment of the revolution.
Economically:
4. Cuba initially was disgusted with sugar avoided it as an escape to be free to industrialize the state rapidly. It later reverted back to sugar as an economic base on which industrialization could branch out and take root.
5. Trade links were forged with the USSR which for a time kept Cuba afloat.
6. Foreign business sectors were nationalized and controlled by the state
7. Government took heavy hands in the molding of industry.
Socially:
8. The people, though still not enfranchised, were better served by their government and were brought in closer relation the state as it tried to act in their best interest as far is its officers could allow.
9. Improvements in housing, utilities, transportation, medical care, education and literacy, were achieved.
10. The ideology of a new Cuban state ensued following the ejection of Batista from the seat of power and a firm grasp of nationalism has held the country together since its revolution.
3. Cuban American Relational Struggles.
ReplyDeleteCuba’s relations with the Americans soured upon Castro’s assumption of power. His advocacy of surrendering Cuban assets to the people put the investments and profits of wealthy Americans at risk. He was in accordance, labeled a communist, Marxist, revolutionary, war mongering, madman. As Cuba progressively wrestled American control of the economy out of their grip, the foreign policy towards it became increasingly aggressive to the point of open support for military invasion and covert subversion. Closure of the more grand components of the leisure industry and nationalization of important sectors, drove out Americans and brought their contempt. The very idea of an anti American state in ‘their own backyard’ was a suggestion of an immaterial nature to their hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. Closer relations with the USSR and a socialist formed state, gave the US what it needed to label the nation with terms such as, rouge, unstable, failed, and ‘communist’, the last of which was akin to ‘the anti Christ’ in the fear mongering, mass propaganda media of the day. Cuba would have benefited tremendously from a market as large as the US willing to do trade with it, but the dominators of that government wish no example to be set for the rest of South America. The struggle began with decreased and eventual severance of trade. It escalated with American sponsored Cuban expulsion from the OAS and other regional organizations. It further escalated with overt and covert offensive operations against personnel within Castro’s government, including him, and against the Cuban state. It climaxed in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, and in the Cuban missile crisis, upon Castro’s request for Soviet offensive ballistic missile installations to be erected in Cuba as a bastion against American incursions. The struggle slowly stifled after the withdrawal of said batteries and decades of American Embargo of Cuban Goods. The actions o the US caused stunt in the Cuban economy and forced the people to peruse an anti American social policy as part of a national identity and ideology. This inherit bitterness inbred into the identity of the new state would serve to poison the potential of the masses and drive rifts between people and government. The government would have been the core of this anti American, anti capitalist policy and would have labeled any who dissented their rule as proponents of such quarters. This endemically aggressive nature of the government toward anything deemed ‘anti’ or ‘counter revolutionary’ would prevent it from building a more transparent state and enhancing trade relations with the US. The original American in all of this was to cripple the nation of Cuba into capitulating under the hollow promise of the troves of ‘American Capitalism’. It later became simply a way of punishing the nation for being born in American resistance and making a global mockery of its power. “I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition.” – Fidel Castro
How Fidel Castro transformed Cuba Socially, Politically and Economically
ReplyDeleteThere was a growing desire for fundamental changes in the economical, political and social systems. Cuba was in a state of dictatorship by the American capitalists. The means of production along with trade and industry were all controlled by America; the economic growth of Cuba was largely supplied by the American capital and its technologies.
POLITICALLY
Adam Smith emphasized, ‘There are laws of political as well as physical gravitation and if an apple severed by the tempest from its native tree, cannot choose but fall to the ground, Cuba, forcibly disjoined from its unnatural connection with Spain and incapable of self-support, can gravitates only toward the North American Union which by the same law of nature, cannot cast her off from its bosom.’
• Fidel Castro’s small group of determined resistance guerilla fighters had defeated the dictator of Cuba. This was the Revolution that was to transform Cuba from its capitalist state to a state of Socialism. Castro stated, “Capitalism is using its money; we socialists throw it away.” The means of production would now satisfy the needs persons in Cuba rather than for the sale and profit for the U.S. as it was under capitalism.
• Cuba was one of the most prosperous colonies of Spain known for its great production in sugar. The country was envied by the United States. The U.S. was so interested in Cuba that they wanted to buy Cuba. They thought so highly of themselves that they believed it was pertinent for them to gain control over Cuba’s markets. Roosevelt stated, “No picture of our future is complete which does not contemplate and comprehend the United States as the dominant power in the Caribbean Sea.” In April, 1961, the U.S. staged an attack on Cuba by secretly assembling thousands of Cuban exiles to defeat Castro’s government. However, this ‘Bay of Pigs’ attack, as the name was dobbed, was toppled by Castro’s army of men
• Cuba was officially declared a socialist state on April 16, 1961.
• Fidel Castro, who was now recognized as the new leader of Cuba, established policies which alienated the United State from these set policies. American businesses and agricultural estates were therefore seized.
ECONOMICALLY
Sam Dolgoff posited, “In Cuba, the old professional army was replaced by workers' and peasants' militias [this is no longer the case]. The Revolution attacked the economic poverty of the masses, cultural backwardness and expropriated big private enterprises.”
• Land reforms were implemented.
• Cuba’s private commerce, industries, factories and plantations were nationalized which ended the U.S. economic power on the island of Cuba.
• Castro had a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in February, 1960. This led to the diplomatic disconnection of the U.S. The Soviet Union which would soon become the supporter of trade for Cuba, began furnishing Cuba with weapons.
SOCIALLY
Sam Dolgoff in his editorial, The Cuban Revolution – A Critical Perspective positied, “The Cuban Revolution achieved great social progress for the people, with a rapidity unmatched in any other Latin-American country. But all this is not the work of the people themselves.”Castro had a high level of patriotism for Cuba. He wanted equality among the citizens of Cuba. He therefore developed and increased the country’s social services which extended to all the social class of the island.
• He established both educational and health services free to the citizens of Cuba.
• EVERY citizen was guaranteed employment. These included person in the lower class, the middle class and the higher class.
• Along with the drastic reductions in rents, telephone and electricity rates afforded to Cuban citizens, persons in the country-side were granted with electricity as well.
• New ministers had their salaries reduced to 50%.
b)The United States beliefs of capitalism was challeneged by Casto's belief of socialism. Capitalism means an economic system in which all or most of the means of production are privately owned and operated, and the investment of capital and the production, distribution and prices of commodities (goods and services) are mainly in a freemarket, rather than by state. In capitalism, the means of production are generally operated for profit. Socialism refers to state ownership of the means of production. A purely socialist state would be one in which the state owns and operates the means of production. Beckles and Sheperd states that Castro believed in the equality of people living in Cuba, and therefore he turned Cuba from dictatorship into a socialist state. Castro believed inthe equality of people living in Cuba, and therefore he turned Cuba from a dictatorship into socialist state. Castro focused on ending U.S. dominance so he nationalized U.S. companies, oil refineries, telephone and private companies. By October of 1959 all, U.S. owned businesses were nationalized. The United States under Eisenhower begun economic embargo as a retaliation. Later on John F Kennedy cut diplomatic ties with Cuba. At first Castro attempted to increase Cuba's industrial production. In 1970 Castro called for Cuba to produce "10 million tons of sugar".
ReplyDeleteEconomic Aims
ReplyDeleteTook resources away from other sectors of the economy
Pushed Cuba to have embrace USSR in order to survive
After sugar failure, Castro turned to USSR
USSR agreed to help but wanted greater control in return
Soviet-style economic management
State made the polocies and decisions
Allowed some small private enterprises
State run businesses could pay bonuses and fire employees
Until about 1976 the economy grew, but price for sugar fell.
Social Aims
Free universal education
Universal Health care
Child care
Government subsidized housing
Social security programmes
Cuba had the most equal distribution wealth in the Americas
Borrowed money heavily from Canada, Europe, Japan and was unable to pay back in the 1980's
Political Aims
Castro wanted to export the revolution around the world
Help other revolutions against imperialists/ colonial powers
Cuba senf troops and support for other revolutions
Helped to bring out a Marxist government in Angola 1980's
Helped to bring a Socialist government to Nicaragua in 1979
c)The United States was deeply intrested in Cuba due to alot of beneficial aspects.
ReplyDeleteWashington felt that Cuba was important to the United States based not only on its proximily and historic ties, but also on its commercial relationship, based both on imports and exports. Cuba geographical location intrested the U.S. also, after all it was in the outskirts of its boundaries. After the nationalisation of U.S. businesses, The U.S. government began training anti-Castro Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. In 1961the USA invaded in what is known as the Bay Of Pigs fiasco. In May 1961 Castro declared Cuba a socialist state, adopting the Communist model of government. It was the Cold War era. The U.S. wanted to prevent the spread of communism in the region and therefore was enraged by links between Cuba and the Soviet Union.
Still reading and analysing responses....Coming down the line to all of you.
ReplyDelete