Fidel Castro And The Cuban Revolution

Louis A. Pérez Jr. is an American author who wrote this source in 2002, which was four years before the end of Castro’s rule. The journal article in its entirety was made to explore how and why the US had fear of and loathing towards Fidel Castro. In the extracts, I have selected benefits and disadvantages brought about by Castro are mentioned and explored. The source, for example, mentions how Castro nationalised US property such as sugar corporations, cattle ranches, oil refineries, utilities, mines, railroads and banks. Although it may have initially created economic problems, the nationalism of US property would have been a good thing, as it would have helped Cuba feel more independent and free and therefore benefit the nation socially by creating a sense of patriotism. In another extract pulled from the same article, the four

After it became officially globally acknowledged that Cuba was in fact a communist state and was being led through a dictatorship run by Castro, it did not take long before powerful enemies and essential allies were formed. The act of seizing all foreign land with none or very little compensation was received with great hostility amongst those who lost in their property through this process, and probably the reaction that had the biggest impact on Cuba’s economy was that of the US. Castro’s communistic policies did not of course help calm this resentment and also took part in leading to the establishment of trade embargos with Cuba from the US. This meant that Cuba would now lose a very valuable buyer of their precious sugar, [5] but they did however gain another one, a powerful nation that shared quite similar Marxist ideals and were quick to form an alliance with the Cubans, the USSR.

In the 1950’s, tourists visited the island of Cuba for its warm beaches, culture and Spanish colonial architecture. But underneath the surface, was a revolution ready to burst through the Cuban people they just needed the right person to lead them. Cuba at this time was run by a Political Dictator named Fulgencio Batista.

The history of Cuba has gone through many dramatic changes affecting not only the economy but the citizens as well. On January 1st, 1969 Dictator Fulgenico Batiste (Fidel Castro) fled the Island of Cuba, with his revolutionaries seizing control with the U.S backing the situation. This caused chaos and excitement in Havana, rumbling the idea of "anti-americanism." This relates back to the conflict theory, as this had a great impact on the citizens of Cuba, causing more hate on america and its people causing conflict and negativity. Within all of this chaos with Fidel Castro and Cuba’s people, America still supported the Island of Cuba. As time passed this situation caused great suspicion as the US was not sure of Castro’s intentions and his leftist ideology, thinking this would lead to an attack from Castro on US investments and properties in Cuba. American officials were nearly unanimous opposing Castro’s revolutionary movement.

The Cuban Revolution during the 1950’s was a time of turmoil and quarrel. According to the article “Cuban Revolution”, it was a time when rebels- in allegiance with guerrilla leaders, Fidel and Raul Castro -riot against their current dictator Fulgencio Batista. Though people believed in their savior, Fidel Castro; they are eventually betrayed as Castro establishes himself “… as the sole political power within Cuba”(“Cuban Revolution”). Well-known Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas ' is (as stated by R. Ocasio in his article "Becoming Reinaldo Arenas") very much affected and persecuted by Castro 's new regime. For he is a homosexual living in a country with strong homophobic regulations. As a means of expressing his emotional distress, Arenas wrote stories and novels (Ocasio). In Reinaldo Arenas graphic short narrative; “Goodbye Mother", Arenas was able to, symbolically, convey his contradictory feelings in relation to his beloved country, and it’s unethical government.

His father Ángel was a wealthy sugar plantation owner who did most of his business with the American- owned fruit company. Which dominated the agriculture in the region at the time.

War is inevitable when a deficiency of power exists within a nation, this weakness was evident for the US during the time of the Cuban Revolution. The Cuban Revolution displayed to the world a flaw in of ability to react to potential disaster such as Cuba turning to the Soviets and Communism for trade after The US denied those rights in an attempt to undermine the Castro regime. A later attempt to invade Cuba with a force of American trained Cubans failed to prove successful.

Cuba is an island located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 11.27 million people with 60% of them being Roman Catholics. It's the largest island in the Caribbean and the westernmost island in the Greater Antilles. The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Cuban Peso.

The Cuban revolution was the spark that ignited the flame of communism in Cuba. The developing nation gained independence only as recently as 1898, and was already filled with an atmosphere of distrust and resentment towards the United States. In July of 1953, a revolution began in Cuba between the United States backed President Batista and Fidel Castro. Fidel and his brother Raul Castro lead a series of guerilla warfare battles against the forces of President Batista. “I am Fidel Castro and we have come to liberate Cuba,” stated Fidel Castro. In January of 1959, Fidel Castro became the President of Cuba. With the regime of Fidel Castro, Cuba would fall to communism.

Castro’s involvement with the foreign and domestic politics during the early Cold War period greatly influenced the outcome of the Cuban Revolution. Without the actions taken by foreign powers like the United States and Russia, some events on the domestic front may have had very different results. It is important to understand how every nation’s foreign policies can influence more than just one other nation, and this was especially true for Cuba. It was this mix and chain of events which produced the communist Cuba that we are familiar with today.

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, born in Birán, Cuba on August 13, 1926, changed his country ever since he came to power. Castro’s father, Ángel Castro y Argiz, was a wealthy plantation owner and was an immigrant from Galicia, Spain. His mother, Lina Ruz González, was Ángel’s mistress and house servant while Ángel was still married to Maria Luisa Argota. Castro was educated in many Jesuit boarding schools, from grade school to middle school, in which he was a mediocre student and was not well behaved, only focusing on playing sports. Although Castro attended a religious boarding school, it did not affect him in any way and was still getting into trouble as a young child. After Castro graduated from high school he studied law at the University of Havana. In his classes, he became very fond of anti-imperialism, socialism, and the political climate of Cuban nationalism, which had helped him while in power.

In 1940 to 1944, communist Fulgencio Batista withheld power as the president of Cuba and then from 1952 to 1959, United States backed dictator until fleeing Cuba because of Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement. Socialist Fidel Castro governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Fidel Castro’s intent was to provide Cuba with an honest democratic government by diminishing the corrupt way in which the country was run, the large role the United States played in the running of Cuba as well as the poor treatment & the living conditions of the lower class.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist in the late 1950’s. He was also a major figure of the Cuban Revolution. In 1948, Guevara entered the University of Buenos Aires to study medicine. His hunger to explore the world led him to go on two long journeys that would change the way he viewed himself and the economic conditions in Latin America. The first expedition in 1950 was a 2,800 mile solo trip through northern Argentina on a bicycle on which he installed a small engine. This was followed in 1951 by a nine-month, 5,000 mile motorcycle trip through most of South America. He took a year off from his studies to go with his friend Alberto Granado, with

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. He was a major figure of the Cuban Revolution.

Words without deeds are worthless! When asked about Che Guevara the first thing that is mentioned is the famous image of his face on t-shirts worn by left-leaning young adults, but did you know he was a prominent figure in the Cuban Revolution? Guevara was both a visionary and ethical leader because of his ability to lead the Cuban Revolution and because he cared about suffering. In this paper we will review how Guevara was a visionary leader through his communication, continuous engagement and willingness to put everything on the line. Second, we will examine how Guevara applied ethical principles though reflective thinking and intellectual empathy in helping him make the ethical decision to be a Revolutionary. Finally, I will reflect on how Guevara’s visionary and ethical leadership has influenced me to make changes to my leadership style. Guevara used his visionary and ethical leadership traits to start a revolution across Latin America.