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| <b>Fidel Castro</b> (], ] - ) has been ruler of ] since 1959. | <b>Fidel Castro</b> (], ] - ) has been ruler of ] since ]. | ||
| Born in Mayari, Cuba into a wealthy farming family |
Born in Mayari, Cuba, into a wealthy farming family, he was educated at Jesuit schools and then the ] preparatory school Colegio Belen in ]. Leaving school in 1945 he went to the University of Havana to study law, graduating in 1950. | ||
| He practiced law in a small partnership, 1950-52. Castro intended to stand for parliament in 1952 for the Ortodoxo Party but the coup d'etat of General ] overthrew the government of ] and canceled the election. Castro charged Batista with violating the constitution in court but his petition was refused. In response Castro organized |
He practiced law in a small partnership, 1950-52. Castro intended to stand for parliament in 1952 for the Ortodoxo Party but the coup d'etat of General ] overthrew the government of ] and canceled the election. Castro charged Batista with violating the constitution in court but his petition was refused. In response Castro organized a disastrous armed attack on the Moncada Barracks in Oriente province on ], ]. Over eighty of the attackers were killed, and Castro was taken prisoner, tried, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He was released in a general amnesty in May 1955 and went into exile in Mexico and the United States. | ||
| He returned to |
He returned to Cuba with a number of other exiles as the ''26th of July Revolutionary Movement''. Most of the eighty men were killed in their first action in Oriente province on ], ]. Only twelve survived to retreat into the Sierra Maestra mountains and from there wage a guerrilla war against the Batista government. The survivors included ], ], and ]. Castro's movement gained popular support and grew to over 800 men. On May 24, 1958, Batista launched seventeen battalions against Castro in ''Operación Veran''. Despite being outnumbered, Castro's forces scored a series of stunning victories, aided by massive desertion and surrender amongst Batista's army. On New Year's Day 1959 Batista fled the country, and Castro's forces took Havana. | ||
| Initially the United States was quick to |
Initially the United States was quick to recognize the new government. Castro assumed the position of premier in February and friction soon occurred when the new government began expropriating property owned by American companies (] in particular), paying little compensation. In February 1960, Cuba made overt moves towards the ], and signed an agreement to buy Russian oil. The United States broke diplomatic relations with the Castro government soon after. | ||
| The United States then sponsored an unsuccessful attack on Cuba. On April 17, 1961, a force of 1,300 Cuban exiles, financed and trained by the ], |
The United States then sponsored an unsuccessful attack on Cuba. On April 17, 1961, a force of 1,300 Cuban exiles, financed and trained by the ], landed in the south at the ]. The CIA's assumption was that the invasion would spark a popular rising against Castro. There was no rising and what of the invasion force made it ashore were slaughtered as President ] withdrew support at, literally, the last minute. | ||
| In October, 1962 the ] occurred. After |
In October, 1962, the ] occurred. After the tensions were diffused, relations remained mutually hostile, and the CIA continued to sponsor a number of daft assassination schemes over the following years. | ||
| Castro nationalized industry, confiscated property owned by non-Cubans, collectivized agriculture, and enacted policies to benefit the workers. Many Cubans fled the country, some to ], Florida where they established a large, active anti-Castro community. Cuba became increasingly dependent on |
Castro nationalized industry, confiscated property owned by non-Cubans, collectivized agriculture, and enacted policies to benefit the workers. Many Cubans fled the country, some to ], Florida, where they established a large, active anti-Castro community. Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet subsidies, which financed large improvements in Cuba's social conditions. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 brought real economic hardship to Cuba. | ||
Revision as of 03:11, 21 February 2002
Fidel Castro (August 13, 1926 - ) has been ruler of Cuba since 1959.
Born in Mayari, Cuba, into a wealthy farming family, he was educated at Jesuit schools and then the Jesuit preparatory school Colegio Belen in Havana. Leaving school in 1945 he went to the University of Havana to study law, graduating in 1950.
He practiced law in a small partnership, 1950-52. Castro intended to stand for parliament in 1952 for the Ortodoxo Party but the coup d'etat of General Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government of Carlos Prio Socarras and canceled the election. Castro charged Batista with violating the constitution in court but his petition was refused. In response Castro organized a disastrous armed attack on the Moncada Barracks in Oriente province on July 26, 1953. Over eighty of the attackers were killed, and Castro was taken prisoner, tried, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He was released in a general amnesty in May 1955 and went into exile in Mexico and the United States.
He returned to Cuba with a number of other exiles as the 26th of July Revolutionary Movement. Most of the eighty men were killed in their first action in Oriente province on December 2, 1956. Only twelve survived to retreat into the Sierra Maestra mountains and from there wage a guerrilla war against the Batista government. The survivors included Che Guevara, Raul Castro, and Camilo Cienfuegos. Castro's movement gained popular support and grew to over 800 men. On May 24, 1958, Batista launched seventeen battalions against Castro in Operación Veran. Despite being outnumbered, Castro's forces scored a series of stunning victories, aided by massive desertion and surrender amongst Batista's army. On New Year's Day 1959 Batista fled the country, and Castro's forces took Havana.
Initially the United States was quick to recognize the new government. Castro assumed the position of premier in February and friction soon occurred when the new government began expropriating property owned by American companies (United Fruit in particular), paying little compensation. In February 1960, Cuba made overt moves towards the USSR, and signed an agreement to buy Russian oil. The United States broke diplomatic relations with the Castro government soon after.
The United States then sponsored an unsuccessful attack on Cuba. On April 17, 1961, a force of 1,300 Cuban exiles, financed and trained by the CIA, landed in the south at the Bay of Pigs. The CIA's assumption was that the invasion would spark a popular rising against Castro. There was no rising and what of the invasion force made it ashore were slaughtered as President Kennedy withdrew support at, literally, the last minute.
In October, 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred. After the tensions were diffused, relations remained mutually hostile, and the CIA continued to sponsor a number of daft assassination schemes over the following years.
Castro nationalized industry, confiscated property owned by non-Cubans, collectivized agriculture, and enacted policies to benefit the workers. Many Cubans fled the country, some to Miami, Florida, where they established a large, active anti-Castro community. Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet subsidies, which financed large improvements in Cuba's social conditions. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 brought real economic hardship to Cuba.