Cuban Revolution (jul 26, 1953 – jan 1, 1959)

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Castro ran for candidacy in 1952, but that year Batista led a coup against the government, making him dictator. He attempted to overthrow the government with a raid on July 26, 1953, on the Santiago army barracks, which failed and Castro and his brother were sent to prison until 1955. After, Castro went to Mexico and started organizing an “invading force of Cuban exiles”. Castro returns back to Cuba on December 2, 1956, with 81 men, but they were quickly defeated and the few remnants escaped, starting a campaign of guerilla warfare against Batista, named the 26th of July Movement. After this, Cuba was in constant chaos, the Revolutionary Directorate, attacked the Presidential Palace unsuccessfully. Batista later suspended freedom of assembly and expression. The revolution continued, bringing the Cuban economy to its knees, taking advantage of the chaos, Batista postponed the presidential election. In July 1958, Government forces launched a major counteroffensive against the rebels but were pushed back. Before the election, three major candidates came up, Batista’s successor, Andres Aguero, Carlos Sterling, and the Revolutionary’s candidate San Martin. When the election results were announced it was obvious that voter fraud had occurred in favor of Rivero Aguero. Support for Aguero plummeted, his army was very ineffective and he relinquished presidency on January 1, 1959, and handed over power to the commander of the army. On January 3rd, Guevara led rebels into Havana, unopposed, and Manuel Lleo and Castro become the new leaders of Cuba.

What did the Cuban revolution accomplish? Would Cuba have been better off without it?
What effect did Castro’s “History will absolve me” speech have on the revolution as a whole?

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