Three Cuban Revolutionary Leaders:

Three Cuban Revolutionary Leaders: Fulgencia Batista, Jose Marti, Fidel Castro and the Revolution A Senior Capstone By Mary C. Hodo

Totalitarian Regimes • Attempt to create and establish a utopian society • Thought by some to be an extreme form of authoritarianism • “Radical” ideas about new ways of politics • Most frequent example- Communist regimes

Totalitarian Regimes • Totalitarian regimes are more brutal than authoritarians- more people die • Create a “mass terror”- genocides of entire people, anyone they consider to be a threat • Seek to gain total control- politically, socially and economically

Authoritarian Regimes • Are much more common today then totalitarian regimes • No utopian ideas or goals • Governed by a single ruler or an “elite” group

Authoritarian Regimes • Rulers tell the people that they must obey based on “moral or sacred” grounds, but • Do not hesitate to use direct brutal force when faced with any kind of rebellion of opposition, however • Common in Latin America- ruling committees- President (general), other generals.

Background and Lead-in Pt 1 • Carlos Prio President before Fulgencia Batista • Batista- President from 1940-1944 • Cuba’s Constitution –no consecutive terms • Batista took over from Prio in 1952- “Chief of State”, not President • Batista- Prio was planning revolt- he was allowed to leave the country by Batista

Background and Lead in Pt 2 • Batista- (1933-1940) could make or break a President, controlled Cuba, seemed to care for people • 1952- formed own party, knew he couldn’t win, so seized the government • Cancelled the Presidential elections and suspended Congress • Banned strikes and protests

Batista- 1933-1944 • 1933-1940- and 1940-1944- seemed to care more for the people, advocated for things like education and social welfare and reform • Military man (General) of strong character, good political mind • During these years, people were free to voice their opinions

Batista- 1933-1944 • Good reputation with U.S.- Batista compliant with Good Neighbor policy • Accepted monetary aid from the U.S. • Were at least 166 American businesses

Batista- 1952-1959 • 166 American businesses by the end, including hotels and casinos- strong U.S. ties • New Batista gov’t- much harsher this time • Now, when anything negative was said or a protest held, harsher consequences than ever

Batista- 1952-1959 • Now,- instead of arresting and jailing- sent them to into exile • “26th of July Movement”- Eastern Cuba • Result- Fidel and Raul Castro exiled to Central America for a few years • Military also killed people who opposed the regime- “freethinkers” • Conclusion: authoritarian (leaning towards totalitarian)

Jose Marti • Freethinker, considered to be the founder of Cuban Revolutionary thought • Born in Havana on Jan. 28, 1853 • Was a legislator, poet, above all, a freethinker- • Poetry still significant today- Cuba’s first “truly” great poet and writer • Possibly most respected political mind in Cuba

Jose Marti • Much of Marti’s life was spent fighting for Cuban independence from Spain • No Cuban heritage, still, he wanted Cubans to unite, despite differences • He also fought for better conditions for workers- believed in the “poor man” • “Guantanamera” lyrics-

Jose Marti • Marti- strong policy on justice- co revolutionaries fair and honest • Theories on society and justice- interdependent • Told Cubans- not to be “complacent”, always want better • For Marti- freedom was the “essence of life” an “inescapable basis for all useful works”

Jose Marti • Interpretation of freedom- 2 opinions • Had many ideas for post- independence, reshaping Cuba • Pride (national) and education were on his “plan” list • Believed that Cubans would all want it, once they saw it was possible

Jose Marti • Marti would not live to see Cuban independence- was killed in battle on May 19, 1895 • Was said by Fidel Castro to be an “auteur intellectual” of the Revolution and its “political goals” • Ideas are still studied and used in studying social democracies

Fidel Castro 1959- • Prime Minister from 1959-1976 • President from 1976- • Major leader of Revolution • At first- seemed like he was going to help Cuba become a leader in Latin America • Belief in Communist doctrine- Cuba would become increasingly subject to “economic hardship and isolation”

Fidel Castro 1959- • Led “26th of July” revolt, 1953 • 1956-1958 led revolt- “army” of rebels called the “26th of July Movement” • Major part of Revolution ended on Jan. 1, 1959, when Batista left Cuba • At first, the Cuban people thought they had won, that they were going to get change

Fidel Castro 1959- • Castro talked in 1963 about Cuba’s problems- blamed people, not his own policies • Believed in personalized interference in order to move the institutional system ahead • Castro grew more and more radical- focused more on developing Communism

Fidel Castro 1959- • Went from “moderate left” to more extreme radical as he gained power as PM • Put political opponents in prison • 1960s- “embraced” Communism, began accepting aid from Soviets • Became hostile to U.S., who had helped Batista • 1960- U.S. embargo on Cuba

Embargo on Cuba exports- medical supplies, soybeans, rice, and corn products • Castro- “Yankee imperialism”- retaliated, seized the 166 U.S. businesses • 1961- Bay of Pigs- Invasion of Cuba by U.S. and Cuban exiles- unsuccessful • 1962-63- Cuban Missile Crisis

Fidel Castro 1959- • 1991- Soviet Union collapsed, Castro isolated • Mid 1990s- thousands fleeing from regime • Jan 1998- Castro lets Pope visit- result, some political prisoners released

Fidel Castro 1959- • 1998- 7 Cuban Americans- indicted for conspiracy and attempt to assassinate Castro • 1999- 4 Cubans arrested for opposing a Communist government- 3 ½-5 years • 1999- Elian Gonzalez- found in boat off coast of FL- mother and stepfather dies seeking refuge in U.S. with relatives

Fidel Castro 1959- • November 2004- Cuban dancers defected to U.S., gov’t told them it was illegal to come here and perform • Were granted asylum

Conclusion • Conclusion: Castro - authoritarian ruler, arrests political opponents, doesn't kill them • What now for Cuba? Should U.S. lift embargo, and allow direct travel there? Should they wait until Castro is out of office?

Three Cuban Revolutionary Leaders: