Fidel Castro in power(Notes from Perez “Between the Old and the

New” )

1959

Batista overthrown

• Military coup January 1, 1959Rejected by the Rebel ArmyNationwide general strike calledThe Cuban army ceased to function Colonel Barquin (who had led a conspiracy attempt

against Batista in 1956) appointed to head provisional government

Ceasefire called, cooperation with Rebel Army declared

Fidel Castro arrived in Havana Jan 7, 1959

Provisional government

• Loose coalition of Autenticos and Ortodoxos – no real change of personnel

• However, real power was with Fidel Castro, the Rebel Army and the July 26 Movement

• Concerted effort made to break with the past:– Batista Congress dissolved– Properties, safe deposit boxes and bank account belonging

to batistianos confiscated, seized or frozen– Old political parties abolished– Candidates from elections of 1954 and 1958 banned from

future political activity

Towards a single party state

• Provisional Government clashed with Fidel CastroPrime Minister stepped down in Feb 1959 Fidel Castro the new Prime Minister; power

increasingly concentrated in his handsThe president resigned a few months later New president appointed by Fidel Castro

• Moderates and liberals vs. revolutionaries over methods and objectives moderates and liberals increasingly isolated and sidelined

Revolutionary goals

• Social justice• Economic security• Political freedomThe revolution had just begun when power was

seizedDemand for “immediate, deep, sweeping

change” could not be accommodated within framework of the liberal provisional government

Early policies• Urban Reform Law; reduction of rent INAV; National Savings and housing Institute – built inexpensive housing

on vacant lots• 1500 decrees, laws and edicts enacted within the first nine months of

1959– Reduced telephone and electricity rates– Wages raised and unemployment relief offered– Health and educational reforms– Import of luxury goods restricted

• Agrarian Reform Law; – Limits on size of land holdings– Land excess was nationalized (against compensation) and

reorganized/redistributed

INRA; Agrarian Reform Institute

Support and opposition

• Early policies led to massive and immediate support from lower class in Cuba

• Communist party (PSP) became increasingly important in the new government and administration

• Opposition, or skepticism, from liberals and landowners– Elections postponed indefinitely

• Alarm in the United States– American owned companies suffered from reduced rent,

rates and land holdings– Communist influence in the new government caused

concern

Break with the US• Cuban – Eastern European rapprochement Alternative market for sugar export and potential financial assistance revolution strengthened

• 1960: trade agreements between Cuba and USSR signed– Oil from USSR confrontation with US petroleum companies

refineries nationalized Cuban sugar quota (to the US) cut to zero (July)Cuba expropriated North American properties (August)North American bank branches nationalized (September)US imposed economic embargo on Cuba (October)Further nationalization of privately owned enterprises

• January 1961: US severed diplomatic relations with Cuba

Growth of Cuban state

• By late 1961: 85% of total productive value of Cuban industry was under state control

• The state instrumental in redirecting Cuban economic activity towards the socialist bloc

• The government lost support from middle class liberals increased its social base of support radicalization of the revolution

• Control over mass organizations; students’ federation, trade unions

• Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) created in September 1960

Guaranteed survival

• The ultimate effect of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis was the guaranteed survival of the Cuban revolution

• Attack on the government facilitated further political centralization

• All opposition eliminated– After Bay of Pigs: 100.000 imprisoned or detained– Planeloads of Cubans left

Communism

• Nov ‘61: Fidel declared himself a Marxist-Leninist• Fidel’s leadership based on charisma and nationalism• Road towards socialism more improvised than planned• Inevitable? US reactions predictable Cuban choices:

“do nothing or do everything”• Why did the Cuban revolution succeed this time?

– Fidel Castro’s personality and skills– Role of Communist Party; collaboration, not opposition– USSR– Internal strength

Little opposition

• Old political parties discredited• Opposition newspapers had no credibility; too

close to previous corrupt governments• Old army defeated and demobilized – new army

created based on the guerrilla army• Church’s influence minimal• Very few bourgeois institutions and little class

affinity unable to oppose emigrated– Expected the US to deal with the situation