Biography of Fidel Castro

"IB History." Rise of Castro -. http://ibhistory.wikidot.com/rise-of-castro (accessed June 8, 2014).
BBC News. "Fidel Castro." http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/fidel_castro (accessed June 8, 2014).
Guardian News and Media. "Timeline: Fidel Castro." theguardian.com. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/19/cuba.usa4 (accessed June 8, 2014).
Ibid. 3
"Fidel Castro (1926- )." Gwu.edu. 2006. Accessed June 04, 2014. http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/mep/displaydoc.cfm?docid=erpn-fidcas.
"Biography of Raul Castro - Raul Castro Profile." About.com Latin American History. http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofcuba/p/09raulcastro.htm (accessed June 8, 2014).
Sinclair, Andrew. "Che Guevara (Argentine-Cuban revolutionary)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248399/Che-Guevara (accessed June 8, 2014).
Ibid. 6
William Poteat
Final Project
History P.4
6/4/14

The Rise of Fidel Castro

On August 13th, 1926, a man entered the world who would forever change the face of politics in the western hemisphere. Born in the Southeastern province of Cuba to rich, landowning and successful Cuban sugar planters, Fidel Castro would go on to lead his home country. As a child, he attended many different Catholic schools prior to entering the University of Havana in 1945. It was here that Castro gained an interest in politics, and five years later graduated with his doctorate in law. Because of his interest in politics, Castro had planned to run in the upcoming elections in 1952. His plans were thrown away, however, when General Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government and took power for himself. Fidel attempted to prosecute Batista through the judicial system for violating the Cuban constitution of 1940 but his case was quickly dismissed on part of the new leadership. However, Castro was determined to succeed and "from then on, he used more covert rebellions" in order to pursue his final goal -- the highest position of power.
From then on, "Castro rejected democracy and declared himself in favor of armed revolution." This influenced his next action. In 1953, Castro launched what would forever be known as The 26th of July Movement. On this day, Castro and his brother Raúl attacked the Moncada barracks with 160 other armed men. The attempt was a failure and "Castro [was] sentenced to fifteen years, making [his] famous 'history will absolve me' speech" in court for his own defense. Although Castro was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, he was granted amnesty along with his collaborators only two years later when the Cuban government was in a time of prosperity. After being released, Castro wasted no time and quickly fled to Mexico. It was here that he would meet his infamous partner Che Guevara and plan his next assault on the Cuban government.
On December 2, 1953, after assembling a small, but well-trained force, Castro landed on Playa Las Coloradas in a boat named Granma Yacht. He was accompanied again by his brother Raúl and this time with his new partner Che Guevara along with another eighty or so men. In their initial attack, the "Cuban army easily outnumber[ed] and rout[ed the] rebels, but [the] survivors [took] refuge in [the] Sierra Maestra mountains and launch[ed a] guerrilla war." It was here that Castro "trained and indoctrinated soldiers in preparation for a guerrilla campaign." He used these men to take over towns one by one, slowly capturing Cuba. Finally, in 1958, Castro launched a full-scale attack, and Batista was forced to flee to the Dominican Republic. Castro was later sworn in as Prime Minister on February 16, 1959. Castro then went on to declare Cuba a socialist state, internationalize Cuban trading, and assist communist interests.
An important part of Castro's rise to power were his main comrades. His brother Raúl was "one of several illegitimate children to sugar farmer Angel Castro and his maid, Lina Ruz González." Raul followed in Fidel Castro's footsteps, but more timidly. He also came to support communism in the same way that his brother, Fidel Castro did. During the Castro brothers' exile, Raúl befriended Ernesto Che Guevara, a doctor, and fellow communist. Che Guevara then went on to be one of Fidel Castro's most trusted aids, and helped overthrow the Cuban government along with Raúl. Guevara ended up serving as the "Chief of the Industrial Department of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform, President of the National Bank of Cuba, and Minister of Industry." And Raúl as the "head of the Communist Party, Minister of Defense, Vice President of the Council of State and many more important positions." Both Raúl and Che Guevara were essential in Fidel's rise to power, and his ability to keep control over Cuba.
Before Castro took over Cuba, there was a huge amount of corruption, and the people had to deal with widespread poverty, high unemployment, an export-dependent economy and oppression from their own government. Also, the United States held ownership over a huge area of Cuba, including 75% of its agriculture and various oil refineries. After Castro, there was free education, free medical care, and more essential governmental services put in place. Generally speaking, Castro drastically improved the previous situation of Cuba during the 1950's. Although there was a large immigration of Cubans to the U.S. after he took power, it is still reasonable to take account of Castro's various achievements which may be looked over by Americans because of bias and a trade embargo set upon Cuba. The only real reason for this embargo was because of hurt feelings after Castro took the Cubans resources from the U.S. government and gave them back to the people of his country. Americans should look past this and reconstruct a relationship with Cuba, even if they are communist.


















Works Cited

http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/mep/displaydoc.cfm?docid=erpn-fidcas

GWU. "Fidel Castro (1926- )." Fidel Castro (1926- ). http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/mep/displaydoc.cfm?docid=erpn-fidcas (accessed June 8, 2014).

http://ibhistory.wikidot.com/rise-of-castro

"IB History." Rise of Castro -. http://ibhistory.wikidot.com/rise-of-castro (accessed June 8, 2014).

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/19/cuba.usa4

Guardian News and Media. "Timeline: Fidel Castro." theguardian.com. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/19/cuba.usa4 (accessed June 8, 2014).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/fidel_castro

BBC News. "Fidel Castro." http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/fidel_castro (accessed June 8, 2014).

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofcuba/p/09raulcastro.htm

"Biography of Raul Castro - Raul Castro Profile." About.com Latin American History. http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofcuba/p/09raulcastro.htm (accessed June 8, 2014).

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248399/Che-Guevara

Sinclair, Andrew. "Che Guevara (Argentine-Cuban revolutionary)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248399/Che-Guevara (accessed June 8, 2014).