Development and Aftermath of the Cuban Revolution

Before the Cuban revolution, under president Fulgencio Batista, Cuba was plagued with unemployment and limited water infrastructure. Less than 50% of children were given education and hygiene was very poor. Furthermore, Batista was far more dictatorial than anyone had expected. He even let American companies dominate the economy and formed links to organized crime. 75% of Cuba’s most fertile and arable land was owned by foreign individuals. All of this contributed to making life worse for Cuban citizens and angered them. During the revolution, there wasn’t much change in the lives of Cuban people, but if you were supporting the revolution or joined the military of Cuba, you would have to fight for your cause. You would be given access to food and water as these were two necessities for survival and you were valuable as a supporter.

After Batista was overthrown and most of his government officials were either executed or imprisoned, the new government introduced laws to provide equality for black Cubans and to provide greater rights for women. There were also attempts to improve communications, medical facilities, health, housing, and education. In addition, art exhibitions, concerts, and theatres were built. Throughout time, all children were given education, unemployment and corruption were greatly reduced, and there were huge improvements in hygiene and sanitation. The new government also subdivided the larger land into smaller cooperatives, therefore providing more jobs and increasing the living standards. The government also nationalized all foreign or privately-owned property. They were able to nationalize $25 billion dollars of property. The government also nationalized all religious owned property because they declared the county as an atheist country. Bishops, popes, etc. … were expelled from the country. The government also took money from mafia leaders and arrested them. For all foreign land owners, private land owners, religious people, criminals, mafia leaders, or anti revolutionaries’ lives was made horrible because they were exiled, executed, or imprisoned. The lives of the rest of the Cuban people had greatly improved from what they once were because of all the efforts of the new government.

Significant Turning Points

On October 16, 1953 Fidel Castro, one of the revolutionary leaders and founders gave a speech to the court during his trial for an attack on the Moncada barracks. The famous concluding sentence to his speech was, “history will absolve me.” His speech on how Batista had illegitimately seized power and all the crimes the government had done was very inspiring to the people of Cuba. After 2 years in prison, Fidel Castro and his brother were let out to reform, but instead travelled to Mexico where they regrouped and planned the next step in the revolution. Until this point the revolution had not made any changes and progress was very slow. In the month of June 1955, in Mexico, the brothers meet Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos and gather a total of 82 insurgents. They than set sail to Cuba on November 25, 1956. This is when things really start to speed up and get going. Batista’s men learned of the Castro brothers return and ambushed them on December 5. The brothers, Guevara and a few remaining survivors fled to the wooded central highlands. The 12 remaining rebels regrouped and gained new members among their ranks. In the highlands a force of 10 000 men was sent to flush out the rebels, the rebels defeated this force with a series of guerilla attacks. Many of the 10 000 men sent by Batista either fled or switched sides. The final turning point was when the revolution gained enough fighters to attack and liberate Cuba. This is when all the changes start taking places such as new development, greater rights for women, equality for black Cubans, education for all, and less joblessness.

Decline or Upraise After the Changes

Today, society believes that the changes brought forth by the revolution were great, but they do not know that there were also a few cons which made the outcome not as great as it could have been. The lives of the majority of the Cuban people changed for the better. More medical facilities and housing made life a whole lot better for the people. Places of art and enjoyment such as theatres, art galleries, etc. were introduced. The subdivision of large pieces of arable land into smaller cooperatives provided many more jobs. Over time the job crisis and water infrastructure problem were fixed. There was barely any corruption and foreigners no longer owned any land or companies in Cuba. Cuba also became much more hygienic and sanitary. Women were given greater rights and black Cubans were made equal. For women, black Cubans, and the majority of Cuban people this change was awesome. The downside was since Cuba had declared itself an atheist country, the government seized all religiously owned property and exiled the priests, bishops, etc. the government also took out a lot of organized crime and seized money from mafia leaders. Being homosexual was considered suspicious so all if there was someone supposedly homosexual they would be executed. The society of today can see the good and bad sides to aftermath of the revolution, but for religious people, criminals, and homosexuals the change was bad. They would think that it was better when they had the freedom to commit crimes, have the freedom of religion, or the freedom of homosexuality.

Two Historical Time Periods during The Revolution

The one historical time-period during the Cuban revolution was the Batista-era lasting from March 10th, 1952 – January 1st, 1959. This was the period of time where Batista ruled and greatly upset the people. Under his rule Cuba was plagued with unemployment and limited water infrastructure. Less than 50% of children were given education and hygiene was very poor. Furthermore, Batista was far more dictatorial than anyone had expected. He even let American companies dominate the economy and formed links to organized crime. 75% of Cuba’s most fertile and arable land was owned by foreign individuals. All of this contributed to making life worse for Cuban citizens and angered them. there weren’t any other time periods during the revolution, but one significant event was the United States placing and embargo on Cuba with the exception of food and medical supplies. This embargo is still in place as of now.