***got into Oxford Uni to study History*** IB History HL Paper 3 Political Developments in Latin America- Causes of Cuban Revolution- Social/economic/political causes
Cuban Revolution
Social Causes ................................................................................................................1
Economic Causes...........................................................................................................2
Political Causes .............................................................................................................3
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, Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro and 26th of July
revolutionaries. Revolution began in July 1953 and continued sporadically until rebels ousted
Batista on 31 December 1958, replacing his gov. 26 July 1953 is celebrated in Cuba as "Day of
the Revolution".
Social Causes
Thesis- Susan Eckstein- "social and economic problems provided the necessary conditions, but
Castro provided the spark"- agree with this but social to a larger extent than economic in my
view
Historic Long-term resentment
• Cubans resented quasi-US colonialism
- 1902 Platt Amendment was imposed on Cuban Constitution- meant US had right to intervene
in Cuban affairs at any time
- By mid 1920s; US had quasi-colonial control over complete political/economic/military
control over Cuba- reliance on US sales of sugar (60% of sugar harvest controlled by US) + US-
manufactured goods flooded the Cuban market- fueled Cuban nationalism
- Exacerbated by resentment towards Spanish colonialism + history of African slavery
• Historic Social Unrest- wanted something different
- Native born Cubans (“Criollos”) were outnumbered by Spanish immigrants (“Peninsulares”)-
long-term anger with civil wars
Social changes happening
• Small-scale successes boosted national confidence
- Cuba began to pioneer autonomous actions with small-scale industrial growth (boost
confidence) EG 1923 Cuban manufacturers formed own National Association to press for
more support in industry
• Changing societal dynamics
- Increasing urbanisation: greater proportion of skilled workers (wanted good job
opportunities)
- Increasing proportion of middle-class: greater proportion of wealthy people- Cuban national
bank of 1950 was extending credit to new businesses
• Greater Cuban consciousness of economic inequality
- Rural-urban inequality: rural poverty (1/2 of all Cubans were undernourished)
- Havana + rest of Cuba inequality: poverty outside of Havana (60% of doctors + 80% of hospital
beds were focused in developed Havana region)
Castro was exciting figure
• Castro’s cause was attractive to a large base of Cubans (did not alienate any of electorate)
- Frequent references to national hero José Martí (to gain nationalist support) = Martí was
major force in Ten Years War
- Castro did not associate himself with general strikes because they failed (kept strong image)
- Liberal support- Chose a liberal judge Manuel Urrita as president
- Communist support- Maintained a relationship with the Cuban Communists
- Middle-class support- Offered reform programme
- Edwin Williamson: Batista lost the propaganda war + Castro’s “romantic image” prevailed in
international media
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