-
Who was Fidel Castro?
Fidel Alejandro Castro. Was born in August 13, 1926 in Birán, a small town in Cuba.
Castro enrolled as a law student in the University of Havana.
He became interested in politics. He is known for establishing the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. -
Participation in Cuban Reformist Party
1950- after his graduation he began to practice law and participated in the Cuban Reformist Party they were called Orthodox)
1953 – Castro began to organize a rebel force to overthrow the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
He led 160 men in an attack on the Moncada military barracks in hopes of sparkling popular uprising.
He was arrested, but years later was released. In 1955, while in Mexico, he meets Ernesto Che Guevara. -
Return to Cuba
1956 he makes a return to Cuba on a yatch “Granma”. Castro, his brother Raul Castro and Che Guevara regroup in Sierra Maestra mountains to plan a guerrilla war. By 1957 they already were recruiting and winning small battles against Rural Guard Patrols.
Jan. 1959, he enters Havana after triumphal journey across Cuba , and launched new reforms.
Once in power, radical policies were established, like the nationalization of Cuba’s private commerce and Industries. -
End of Diplomatic relations with US
1961 - U.S. then ended diplomatic relations and impose trade embargo and they attempt to invade in order to overthrow Castro , with help of the CIA landing near the Bay of Pigs.
Castro declared himself a Marxist- Leninist and became more dependent on the Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962- the US discovers nuclear missiles that has been installed in Cuba, the Cuban Missile crisis starts between US and Soviet Union, with the fear of setting World War III. Castro was left out of these negotiations made in 13 days -
1990s - Death
After taking power he abolished legal discrimination, brought electricity to the countryside, provided full employment and advanced the causes of education and health care. But he also closed the opposition newspapers, jailed thousands of political opponents, etc.
By the 1990s, he has switched his title of Prime Minister to President. In the year 2008, he permanently resigned.
Castro died on Nov. 25 , 2016. -
Bibliography
Britannica. (n.d.). Fidel Castro. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fidel-Castro
The Westport Library. (n.d.). Fidel Castro: A History. Retrieved from https://westportlibrary.libguides.com/castro
History.com. (2020, March 4). Fidel Castro. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/fidel-castro