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Cuba in the Cold War. Fidel Castro. Born in 1927 Attended Jesuit schools as he was growing up He attended law school in Havana and established a law practice in 1950 Joined the Cuban People’s Party
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Fidel Castro • Born in 1927 • Attended Jesuit schools as he was growing up • He attended law school in Havana and established a law practice in 1950 • Joined the Cuban People’s Party • In 1952, he planned to run for parliament, but General Batista overthrew the government and nullified the election
Castro’s Rule • Castro actively protested the Batista election and his practices through the court system, but failed. • In 1953, he organized a rebel group and was jailed in 1955. • In 1956, he organized a new group called the “26 of July Movement,” which was defeated. • Promising to restore the 1940 Constitution and respect for civil liberties, Castro wrested power from the Batista regime on January 1, 1959, which he maintained until February, 2008. • He stepped down as president due to illness, and his brother Raul became the president of Cuba.
Castro’s Policies • Although considered to be a revolution, Castro’s policies of redistribution, education, and health policies are widely popular. • Throughout his forty year reign, Castro never held a popular election and quickly arrested or executed anyone who held contradictory opinions.
Communism in Cuba • Castro adopted a command economy or “communism” and allied himself with the Soviet Union during President Dwight Eisenhower’s time. • Castro came to the United States to meet with Eisenhower, who refused to meet with him. In turn, Castro turned to the Soviet Union as a means of economic survival and in retaliation for the United States not recognizing his leadership.
Bay of Pigs • Another reason for siding with the Soviets was that the United States government tried to remove Castro from power. One example of this was the Bay of Pigs incident. • President John F. Kennedy’s failed invasion of Cuba led by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) pushed Castro to the Soviet side indefinitely.
Cuban Missile Crisis • Castro allowed the Soviets to station nuclear weapons in Cuba in 1962. This was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. • The Soviets backed down, however, and the missiles were removed.
Modern Relations with Cuba • Kennedy issued an embargo on Cuba which is still in force today. Cuba had to depend on the Soviets for trade and financial support. • Since the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba has managed to survive.