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How Did Castro Cause The Cuban Revolution

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DRAFT - Fidel Castro - A Rebel With A Cause
The Cuban Revolution was a massive revolt led by Fidel Castro and powered by people with the common goal to bring back the peace. The Cuban government was led by the dictator Fulgencio Batista who took away basic freedoms that damaged society. Fidel Castro wanted to bring back the peace with a radical mission to overtake a nearby army garrison. With a chaotic attack on Moncada Barracks, Fidel Castro failed at his coup d’etat but did not meet an unsuccessful end. Fidel Castro’s gruesome attempt at claiming control of the Moncada Barracks ultimately backfired on him and created the spark for the Cuban Revolution.
For years the Cuban government had claimed ultimate control over society which outraged …show more content…

On March 10, 1952. Batista was facing an upcoming election and it looked like he was going to lose badly. Some junior officers in the army convinced him to state a coup d’etat because he was going to lose badly to either Carlos Prio Socarras or Roberto Agramonte. He then decided to take the government by force to stay in power. Batista took several officers and took control of the massive Camp Columbia army barracks where half of the army was housed. No one opposed him and there was no bloodshed. His coup d’etat erased Cuban democracy and he assumed the title of dictator. He also called off the election and dissolved congress, the Cuban Communist party, and the labor unions. This put business leaders out of positions and badly damaged the economy. The U.S. began selling weapons to Batista after recognizing his …show more content…

Later he surrendered after being promised a fair trial where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. At his trial he said “You may condemn me. History will absolve me” (PBS) and left these words ringing in the ears of history. What is so remarkable about his trial is that he acted as his own attorney and his speeches were so powerful that he influenced the Cuban Bill of Rights. While being denied access to physical papers and documents, he used ideas from European and American revolutions as the basis of his defense. Castro even recalled ideas from Rousseau, Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man and the American Declaration of Independence. Most importantly, he argued how he was fighting for the people of Cuba, how Batista had created a reign of terror, and that the people should uprise in order to achieve peace. Fidel Castro was sent to prison for 15 years until Batista would release him on the terms of “general amnesty” 2 years later. After his release the people of Cuba would look to him for leadership against the Cuban dictator Fulgencio

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