Fidel Castro

1
Fidel Castro

• By Idalia Gonzalez, Nicole Long, Alejandra
  Oretga, Cristina Lee

2
A Very Brief Summary of Cuba

• Cuba was originally ruled by Spain until a treaty
  in 1902 due to a war and United States
  intervention in the Spanish-American War. The
  same year, Cuba became an independent state on
  paper. However, US occupation continued and
  applied the highly unpopular Platt Amendment.
• However, Cuba has a history of rebellions, coups,
  corrupt elections, and overthrows. Between
  1902-1959 (57 years), Cuba experienced 4 changes
  in leader through the methods mentioned.
• Cuba is largely an agricultural economy. Its top
  two exports are sugar and nickel. It has a
  population of about 11,000,000 people.

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The Leader Who Was He?

• Fidel Castro Ruz was born August 13, 1926 as an
  illegitimate son of a sugar cane planter.
• He went to the University of Havana to be a
  lawyer and was very politically active as he
  joined many groups that wanted to achieve
  political power.
• By the time he achieved his degree, he was
  already participating in political uprisings.

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Mini-Biographies Raul Che

• Raul Castro was the younger brother of Fidel
  Castro born June 3, 1931. He is a loyal supporter
  of Castro and his reforms. He was exiled to
  Mexico along with Fidel in 1955. Raul played a
  vital role in overthrowing along with Che in
  military tactics. In 2006 he became President of
  Cuba when Fidel was ill needed surgery. He
  strove for economic reforms to increase
  productivities in the government.

• Ernesto Che Guevara was born June 14, 1928 in
  Argentina. He joined a leftist movement in
  Guatemala with Jacobo Arbenz. However, when
  Arbenz was overthrown, he fled to Mexico where he
  met the Castro brothers. Later, in 1956 he went
  with them to Cuba to help overthrow Baptista. He
  was vital in that he was a skilled guerilla
  tactician. When the overthrow was successful, we
  implimented vital economic policies in which ties
  to the United States were severed and nurtured
  ties to Communist countries.

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The Others Raul Castro Che
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Historical Background1940s

• Between 1934 and 1940, Batista gained power and
  controlled Cuba by the "Revolt of the Sergeants".
• In 1940, a Constitutional Convention was held
  that created a new constitution for Cuba. Batista
  was elected the constitutional president. 
•  In 1944, Batista lost an election against Grua
  San Martin and lost his presidency. Four years
  later, Grau's successor Carlos Socarras becomes
  president. 
•  During Socarrras' regime, Political groups were
  created to stop communism in the unions. They
  would able to kill people and get away with it
  because they used the University of Havana as
  their refuge, where no military police were
  allowed according to the constitution.
• Batista saw this as an opportunity for a coup
  (March 10, 1952).  

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Historical BackgroundThe Cuban Revolution

• When Fidel Castro was running for election,
  Fulgencio Batista succeeds in staging a coup and
  became the dictator of Cuba. March 10 1952
• In response to the coup, Castro joined a group to
  overthrow Batista.
• Cuban Rebels attacked the Moncada Barracks in
  Santiago, Cuba and also the barracks in Bayamo,
  Cuba in July 26 of 1953.
• 60 rebels died 5 died fighting, Batista killed
  56.
• Fidel and his brother, Raul, were jailed in the
  Isla de Pinos prison. Fidel for 15 years and Raul
  for 13 years.
• In 1955, Batista freed all political prisoners in
  Cuba because of political pressure.

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The Cuban Revolution

• Fidel Castro went to Mexico to prepare a
  revolution against Batista.
• There he met and joined forces with Che Guevara
• Trained by Alberto Bayo- a leader in the Spanish
  Civil War.
•  The Granma (yatch) arrived in Cuba and the
  rebels made their way to Sierra Maestra, where
  they were attacked by Batistas army.
•  In the mountains, Raul and Che helped Fidel gain
  control by killing Bastista supporters and Castro
  rivals.
• In January 1 1959, Batista left the country and
  Castro took leadership control.

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Cuban Revolution Leaders
Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara in
Havana 1959
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Castro's Ideology I

• Castro's plan was known as "Stealth Socialism."
•  He didn't want people to know what he was
  planning.
•  He wouldn't share his political plan with
  anyone.
•  Castro and "Che" created "The New Man's Theory."
•  Work to benefit everyone in the society.
•  He wanted to restore Cuba's wealth, get back
  the land Cuba lost, and strengthen the nation's
  identity.

•  

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Castros Ideology II

• Castro believed in unitary democracy over
  adversary democracy.
• Unitary democracy is when each individual has a
  vote and decisions are made through a majority
  opinion. Adversary democracy is voting for
  representatives.
• Another key difference is that he believes in
  democratic centralism versus liberal
  democracy.

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Castro's Platform

• Castro implemented almost impossible reforms to
  nationalize factories and plantations.
•  Wanted to makes his armies stronger for Cuba's
  defense created an alliance with the USSR during
  1960.
• Castro intended to build a socialist state with a
  state-owned, government planning economy.
•  Stopped private profit business so that all of
  Cuba had equal job opportunities and boost the
  economy.
•  According to constitution, all Cubans were
  entitled to receive free medical, hospital, and
  dental care.
•  All citizens had the same rights regardless of
  who they were.
•  Provided payment for elders and pregnant women
  workers.
•  The right to free education to the highest
  university level.

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Why was Castro Successful?

• As a lawyer, had much charisma. He used it to his
  advantage to convince people to his side. One of
  his well known speeches was made as a
  self-defense in court after the Moncada attack
  where he said, But I do not fear prison, as I do
  not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who
  took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me.
  It does not matter. History will absolve me.
• Even if people didnt agree with his ideology,
  the peasant, who largely made up his support,
  were swayed by the idea of improving their lives
  and of gaining land for themselves.
• However, as Castro based nationalist and populist
  issues known, the middle class started to side
  with Castro as well.

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Elimination of Opposition

• The main idea of Castros over throw of Baptista
  was to deprive Baptista of allies and forced him
  to flee, resign, or killed. Though in the end,
  Baptista did flee.
• Castro gave the option of dissenters to leave
  Cuba via a port open for them.
• Other forms of elimination would be censorship.
  Castro censorship the media that gave capitalist
  ideas, but did allow petitions and revision of
  government within socialist bounds.

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Propaganda

• United we fought united we win.

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Totalitarianism

• Attracting support
• 1947 Castro joined the Cuban People's Party
• 1952 Fidel Castro became a candidate for Congress
  for the Cuban People's Party.
• The party was predicted to win the election but
  Fulgencio Batista won.
• 1953 Castro attacked the Moncada Army
• He was send to trial and was sentenced to 15 yrs.
  In prison
• During his trial he said Cubas problems and how
  he could solve them.

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Totalitarianism

• Attracting support
• Batista allowed Castro to be released after 2
  years due to public demand.
• In 1956 Castro and many others went to Cuba they
  were known as July 26 Movement.
• They wanted to set up a base in the Sierra
  Maestra mountains
• Batista would order his army to attack civilians
  in order to gain information.
• Caused many people to go against him
• 1958 45 organizations signed an open letter
  supporting the July 26 Movement
• Castro marched into Havana on January 9,1959 and
  became Cuba's new leader.

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Totalitarianism

• Forms of government control
• controls the centralized economy, labor market
  and the media.
• 1959-Castro signed First Agrarian Reform Law
  (limited the size of land holdings and forbade
  foreign property ownership.)
• Castro announced an end to democratic elections
  in Cuba
• denounced American imperialism.
• Repression of opponents
• Castro accepted economic and military aid by the
  soviet union.
• a trade agreement signed in order to buy oil
  from the Soviet Union and established diplomatic
  relation
• 1966, Castro founded the Asia-Africa-Latin
  America People's Solidarity Organization in order
  to promote revolution.
• executions and imprisonments, and forced
  emigration.

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http//cuba.foreignpolicyblogs.com/files/2009/03/1
nyprotest.jpg
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Totalitarianism

• Extent of opposition
• Proyecto Varela is a group that demanded freedom
  of press. They gathered over 10,000 signatures
  and the government responded by making their own
  petition drive to make the socialist system
  "untouchable (99 voter approval.)
• In 1960 U.S. companies and properties are
  nationalizes.
• Defense of the Revolution committee is
  established to watch over enemies.
• January 1961 the US ends diplomatic relations
  with cuba
• 1962 Castro is kicked out of the group
  Organization of American States
• 1980 activist Ricardo Bofill is arrested for
  spreading "enemy propaganda
• 1984 The U.S. and Cuba reach an immigration
  agreement,.
• An anti-Castro station funded by U.S. is
  launched. And the Cuban government blocks the
  signal.

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Castro and Status of Women

• Once he took power he believed in equality
  between sexes.
• He believed that women deserved rights.
• After the Cuban revolution womens status changed
• The Cuban constitution gives women economic,
  social, political, cultural and family rights and
  opportunities that are equal to men

• "The liberation of women is dependent upon the
  Revolution's success in attaining its primary
  objectives to establish a wholly socialist
  economy and society. Women can be free only to
  the extent that they commit themselves first and
  foremost to the Revolution.1

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Castro and Status of Women

• Article 32 enforces that women and men have
  equal rights. (social, economic, political,
  cultural)
• Article 41 All citizens have equal duties
• Article 42 Sex discrimination is forbidden
• Article 43Everyone has the right to education,
  work and career advancement, housing, transport
  and public areas.

24
Castro and Religion

• After the revolution in 1959 Castro restricted
  religious practices.
• From 1959-1961 many catholic priest left Cuba.
• Believes in the separation between church and
  state.

25
Castro and Religion

• In 1992 he agreed to loosen restrictions on
  religion.
• Christmas became officially a holiday in 1997
• I feel a great respect for all religions. -1998
  speech

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The Downfall

• The factors that led to Castro's downfall are
•      The Cuban Crisis
•      The Decline of Cuban Sugar
•      The Emergence of Anti-Castro Groups
•      Alliance System
•      The Unied States Embargo Act of Cuba
•      Castro's Security Threats
•      Castro's Illness
•    
•  
• The factors listed above caused the downfall
  of Fidel Castro which falls under political,
  ecnomical, and social issues in Cuba.    
•   
•  
•  

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The Cuban Crisis

• Castro's ineffective ways of leading the conomy 
  delayed the free markets in Cuba and the progress
  and prosperity of the economy.
• Central Planning Board (1960) was an attempt to
  control the Cuban economy.
•  The Revolutionary Law of 1963 eliminated private
  businesses and free market activities.

• The Institute for Agrarian Reform nationalized
  private farms and agricultural systems.
• Alliances are weaken between the Soviets and
  Russia.
• The supplier of oil, limber, food, and spare
  machine parts ended.
• The Soviets were only able to deliver 8.6 million
  tons of oil to Cuba, instead of 10 million tons.

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The Decline of Cuban Sugar

• Sugar is Cuba's staple agricultural export which
  is consists of 75 of Cuba's export income
• The production of sugar has decreased from 8.1
  million tons to 5.5 miillion tons.
•  The failure of sugar production, due to unable
  to purchase proper fertilizer/farm equipment,
  agricultural machinery, and low international
  sugar prices.
•  To make matters worse, all Soviet trade
  subsidies to Cuba were eliminated on January 1,
  1992 where the power is transferred to the former
  Soviet republics.
• The shortage of aid for energy had caused a
  ration for gasoline, diesel fuel, and liquid gas
  and affected factories, transportations, and
  constructions.
•  Castro response was to have 'perfect socialism'
  and that 'Cuba is ready to confront the world
  alone through socialism'

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Emergence of Anti-Castro Groups

• As the ecnomy continues to deteriate,two groups
  formed in Cuba those who oppose Raul and Fidel
  Castro and those who support.
•  

• Cuban Democratic Coalition (Disagree)
•  Led by Daniel and Thomas Aspillaga.
• Seeks a transition to democracy and supports the
  contiunation of US economy sanctions.
• Calls for democratic elections and respects
  for human rights.
• More likely to expand due to  bureaucrats,
  military personnel and etc. 

• Democratic Convergence (Agree)
•  Led by Elizardo Sancez, a professor of Marxist
  philosophy.
• Negotiates to improve the human rights, but do
  not call for elections.
•  

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Alliance System

• As Cuba's former communist allies ended, he
  searched for new allies and dictatorships.
• Tried to allie with China which is the most
  significant trading power in Latin America.
• In 1990, the trade between China reached 420
  million Cuba exchanging citrus fruit, medical
  products, and sugar for China's food supply and
  industrial goods.
• Also, signed a trade protocol of exporting
  biotechnology products, tobacco, and rum for
  bicycles, clothing and textiles.
• North Korea provide Castro's government with
  technical assistantance for Cuban sugar.
•  

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The United States Embargo Act

• The embargo restricts United States exports to
  Cuba and vice versa.
• Forced Castro to cut government spending and
  reduced his support for Third World communist
  regimes and caused difficulties to the economy.
• Annually Cuba depended on United States imprts,
  but have to rely on less advanced, cheap supplies
  from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe,
  instead.
•  Limited to export to the Third World, where he
  can't afford ship supplies and advisors for
  terrorist groups.
•  The Soviet Union have to support Cuba's military
  and economy around 75 billion of aid which
  weaken its own economy. 
• Cuba's economy had setback when the Soviet
  Union collapse which was the support for
  its aid.  

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Politcal Cartoon of the United States Embargo Act
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Castro's Security Threats 

• Castro's leadership abilities weakened when the
  Soviet aid was deceased and the isolation of
  Cuba, managed to continue the security threats.
• Continued but limit support for revolutionary
  groups based on his economical conditions.
• Support for international drug cartels to help
  earn hard currency and more control over laws.
•  Mariel type refugee crisis to improve the jail
  system and get rid of Cuban's political
  opponents.
• Threat to Guantanamo to encourage unsatisfied
  Cubans to seek refuge on the base naval.
• Chemical and biological weapons capabilites where
  Castro can sell the weapons to terrorists or used
  against US.
• The military machine buildup created by Soviet
  Union to go against US.
• Also, Cuba had been building nuclear plants which
  is a threat.

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Castro's Illness

• July 31, 206, castro transferd his powers to his
  brother Raul Castro. 
• The "temporary" transfter due to his recovery
  from surgery due to acute intestinal intestinal
  with bleeding. 
• On Decemeber 2nd, 2006 Castro was not present for
  the 50th anniversary of the Granma boat landing
  and his 80th birthday.
• Castro's health had improved drastically, but he
  announced his retirement on February 18, 2008.
• February 24, 2008 he chosed his brother Raul
  Castro to succeed as President of Cuba.

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Castro's Legacy

• Castro was president of Cuba for 49 years, almost
  half a century.
• Cuba is one of the world's highest literacy rates
  and most efficient healthcare systems, and a
  stable government.
• Was able to keep his platform of controlling
  Cuba's independence and isolation by media were
  banned in private homes.
•  Octobr 2009, was named "World Hero of
  Solidarity" by UN General Assembly.

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