Emergence of Fidel Castro – Part II

1. Emergence of Fidel Castro – Part II

2. First Domestic Policies • Eliminate corruption and illiteracy • Project to drain a huge swamp for rice-growing and tourism • Low salaries were raised • Big estates (many owned by the U.S.) were broken up and converted into cooperatives • U.S. companies began to be nationalized • In the short term, all but the very rich found themselves better off

3. End of President Urrutia • The commander of the Air Force, Diaz Lanz, defected to the U.S. because of the growth of communism • President Urrutia denounced Lanz for his defection, but made a lengthy attack on communism, implying that Lanz had a legitimate cause for concern • Castro “resigned” from the government because he believed that Urrutia had shown no interest in promoting social improvement • However, a mass public meeting of ½ million on the 26th of July showed support for Castro to resume his post and caused Urrutia to resign

4. Heading for the U.S. • Anti-Castro Cubans headed for the U.S., especially FL. Nearly 1 million arrived between 1960 and 2000 • There many conducted a terrorist campaign against the Castro regime with the active support of the CIA

5. Consolidating Power • Being anti-communist was the same as being counter-revolutionary • At Havana University, troublesome professors were expelled or neutralized • Trade unions were infiltrated by communists • Arrests of outspoken journalists caused hostile newspapers, television, and radio stations to conform or close down • Foreign priests were expelled, Cuban priests harassed and imprisoned, seminaries closed won, publications prohibited, and security men places in churches • Security services placed bugs

6. The Only Friend • Concerned about U.S. reprisals, no country would risk providing weapons to Cuba except Russia • The Soviet Union imported 1 million tons of sugar in return for oil, technicians, fertilizers, and industrial goods

7. The March 1960 Havana Harbor Incident • A French ship blew up that was carrying Belgian arms and ammunition • 81 people were killed with hundreds more injured • Although there was no evidence that Americans committed this action, he blamed it on them • He invented a new slogan used at the end of every speech – “Homeland or Death, We Shall Prevail!”

8. Nationalizing • In the spring, Castro nationalized Shell, Esso, and Standard Oil, all who refused to process Soviet crude • Castro then nationalized more American assets in Cuba, including banks and sugar mills

9. Last Straw • President Dwight D. Eisenhower didn’t support the regime because Castro unofficially supported communism • In May, the CIA began to arm exiled terrorists and the mob against Cuba • During the winter of 1959-60, there was an increase in CIA-supervised bombing and incendiary raids piloted by exiled Cubans based in the U.S. • In June 1960, Congress passed legislation enabling President Eisenhower to take “retaliatory steps” • An embargo was placed on Cuba which still exists

10. The Bay of Pigs Invasion • In January 1961, diplomatic ties were broken • In April, an invasion force of Cuban exiles trained in the U.S. by the CIA invaded Cuba • Only three U.S. made planes bombed Cuban air bases • They used U.S. equipment and landed at several sites, the main one being the Bay of Pigs

12. The Bay of Pigs Invasion • Castro had agents in the CIA and knew of the invasion plans • He arrested at least 20,000 people and held them in theaters or sports arenas as a precaution • His troops were waiting for them and captured 1,100 men

13. The Bay of Pigs Invasion • Castro compared the attack to Pearl Harbor and compared Kennedy’s policies to Hitler • Castro agreed to the repatriation of the prisoners in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine • The invasion resulted in the boosting the popularity of Castro, even in other Latin America countries

14. Cuban Missile Crisis • Since the U.S. had ringed the USSR with hostile alliances and nuclear missiles aimed at the country, the Krushchev decided to install medium-range nuclear missiles in Cuba • This was done because: • It would counter U.S. nuclear missiles • They believed it could win a nuclear war • Double the number of targets that Soviet missiles were capable of hitting

15. Cuban Missile Crisis • In July 1962, the U.S. government became aware that missiles were being imported and set up in Cuba • U-2 spy planes photographed the missile sites • By October 16th, President Kennedy opted for a naval quarantine (blockade) to prevent Soviet ships bearing missiles from reaching Cuba

16. Cuban Missile Crisis • The USSR denounced the blockade • From October 22nd-24th, Soviet ships were on course for Cuba • The U.S. put its nuclear forces on red alert and assembled an invasion force in Florida • On October 24th, the Soviet ships slowed down and then changed course away from Cuba • Khrushchev sent Kennedy a message offering to withdraw the missiles in Cuba in exchange for: • A U.S. pledge never to invade the island • U.S. withdrawal of nuclear missiles in Turkey

17. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis • It was the closest to nuclear war that any two countries have ever come • The Soviet and U.S. missiles were removed • The U.S. had to tolerate a Communist country in the Caribbean • Relations were stained between Khrushchev and Castro • It led to a decrease in tension in the Cold War • Khrushchev was discredited

18. Castro’s Policies • Equality for blacks • More rights for women • Every citizen was guaranteed employment • Social services were extended to all classes of society • Compulsory military service taught discipline and hard work • Temporarily allowed disaffected people to leave

19. Building of Agriculture • Wanted the sugar harvest to double over the next five years to reach 10 million tons by 1970; they reached 8.5 tons • Combine harvester was inefficient on rough land • China pulled out of a rice for sugar deal • Castro decided to concentrate on milk production rather than beef – special conditions and feed made it difficult and expensive to use White Udder cows that were suited for Cuba’s weather conditions

20. Great Revolutionary Offensive • All private enterprises were nationalized - small shops, bars restaurants, repair centers • They were centers of profiteering, corruption, idleness, and immorality

21. Building of Socialism • Social services • Education was made available to Cubans for free (even meals at school) • Health services were made available to Cubans for free • Housing was improved • Improvements were made in sanitation

22. Building of Economy • Economy • Failed to achieve significant growth • Nothing to buy • Failed to reduce its dependence on the country’s chief export, cane sugar • This was because: • Economic warfare was waged by the U.S. – allies were pressured to join the embargo • Economic decision making power was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy headed by Castro

23. Government • Corruption was severely reduced • In 1976, a new constitution was passed, which set up an elected Municipal Assembly, who in turn elected Provincial Assemblies, which then elected the National Assembly • The State Council advised Castro • Castro was the still the head of state and the National Assembly and State Council “rubber stamped” his decisions • The CDRs also made sure no one hostile to the revolution was elected

24. Why Follow Castro? • Emphasis on the good • New schools, roads, hospitals • He never stopped talking and discussing • He used a type of “direct democracy” that made millions of Cubans feel involved and consulted in a way that had never happened under previous governments • Compared himself to Christ

25. In 1980, the Peruvian Embassy’s gates were crashed by a bus full of people who wanted to defect, killing a Cuban soldier After refusing to give up the people, Castro removed all the guards – more than 10,000 people crowded into the Embassy buildings Also in 1980, Cuban authorities rounded up criminals and lunatics They took them to the port of Mariel for shipment to Florida Cuba eventually got rid of a total of 120,000 discontented or unwanted people Embassy and Mariel Incidents

26. “Special Period” • With the collapse of the Soviet Union: • The price for Cuban sugar declined • The price for Cuba’s main import – oil – rose • The Cuban economy went into a free fall • Bicycles replaced cars; oxen replaced tractors • Government officials were laid off • Construction projects stopped • Factories producing non-essential goods were closed • Electricity cuts began and lasted up to 16 hours a day

27. “Special Period” • People sold and bought on the black market • Prostitution became legal • Most people ate one meal a day • There was an epidemic of a disease causing blindness – caused by malnutrition • Bush extended the embargo and limited the number of Cubans gaining visas

28. Fixing the Economy • Small scale private enterprise was legalized • Farmers could sell products on open markets at prices fixed by themselves • “War of All the People” defense strategy called for guerilla warfare, so bunkers and tunnels were built • In 1994, when economic unrest led to anti-government demonstrations, restrictions were lifted on those wanting to leave the country

29. Fixing the Economy • Cuba couldn’t make inroads in bio-technology because of many years of testing and giant multinationals • Oil companies wouldn’t sign contracts to explore for oil due to fear of the U.S. (BP feared CANF would sabotage its stations) • CANF (Cuban-American National Foundation), a powerful lobbying group, wouldn’t let any politician normalize relations with Cuba

30. Effects of U.S. Aggression • The EU and UN both signed resolutions deploring the U.S. trade embargo • Forced the Castro regime to be on the defensive • Ensured the development of a totalitarian state • Forced the Cubans into the Communist camp and an alliance with the USSR • Damaged the development of Cuba