Cuban Revolution

01

According to the Platt Amendment of 1901, Cuba became a de facto protectorate of the United States. Dubbed "America's backyard", a US Armed Forces base was set up in Guantanamo, a city in the southeast facing the Caribbean Sea.

After the Second World War, the dictator, Fulgencio Batista, gained power through a military coup. He relied on the United States for funds and strengthened his dictatorship on the basis of pro-American policies. However, before long, an anti-Batista movement was started by students and left-wing organizations.

In 1953, an anti-Batista group led by lawyer, Fidel Castro, and his younger brother, Raul Castro, attacked government troops. The surprise attack ended in failure and they were captured, later escaping to Mexico. While in hiding in Mexico, they linked up with Argentine, Che Guevara. They started a guerrilla war against Cuban government troops and occupied the capital, Havana, in 1959.

Castro established a revolutionary regime, and the Cuban Revolution came to fruition.

Before long, Cuba took a confrontational stance with regard to American funds. This was met with an unsparing attitude by American Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.

Castro drew closer to the Soviet Union and rapidly converted to socialism. The revolutionary regime was purged of former pro-American factions.

In 1960, the US halted trade with Cuba and severed diplomatic relations.