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Castro Rise To Power Essay

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Analyze the methods used by Castro to obtain power and to what extent did Castro follow the aims of his declared ideology?
Kristine Dao
Interlake High School
12 August, 2017
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After centuries of Spanish occupation in Cuba, Cuban resistance to Spanish rule grew resulting in the Spanish-American war which ended in Spain renouncing all rights to Cuba. After a few years of US military rule in Cuba, Cuba was finally granted formal independence in 1902. During this time period before the establishment of Fidel Castro’s rule, discontent began to develop with Cuban citizens being resentful of the system of governance in Cuba in which the US government held a great deal of power. This combined with the fact that Cuba had …show more content…

After leading an attack on the Moncada Barracks, a military garrison, during which many of the insurrectionists were capture and killed, Castro was put on trial where he delivered his defense (Daynes 2). Although this attack had been a failure, the trial gave Castro an opportunity to deliver what is arguably his most famous speech, a four hour long speech that was later reconstructed and published. This speech outlined the goals of the 26th of July Movement, the organization that eventually overthrew the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in Cuba, and allowed him to become a focus of attention for the public. Furthermore, as Castro recounted the attack’s aftermath, he described how his comrades, who he claims were courageous and pure, were brutally tortured and killed by Batista’s forces (Daynes 3). In doing so, he portrays his fallen comrades as heroic martyrs who were mercilessly killed by Batista’s men. Castro was also able to portray himself as a victim of the Batista regime who was fighting for the interests of the public. His speech thrust him into the limelight and allowed for him to enhance his public image, gain support, and ultimately obtain power. Castro was also able to promote his revolution and ideas during an interview with The New York Times after which people started calling him a symbol of opposition to

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