There were many challenges, but social democracy would prosper. Elections would be held. Castro was speaking to the masses, but also to his opponents. The Revolutionary Directorate had handed over the presidential palace to Urrutia, but still had its weapons. Are they going to be used against a free government that respects the rights of the people … when today there is no torture, no political prisoner, no assassination and no terror?
Castro had cornered his rivals. It was the preeminent group and he was the preeminent leader. Outmanoeuvred, the Revolutionary Directorate disbanded.
It gave up its arms, relinquished the university buildings and its officers took moderate roles in the new government. The leaders of the Second Front were consigned to army positions under the panoramic aegis of the commander in chief.
President Urrutia might have been the head of state in the event, he lasted only half a year , but the caravana had conclusively shown who was really running Cuba. Castro understood the country better than anyone. Sensing an opportunity in his disadvantageous location, he produced a piece of theatre so grand in scale that it convinced Cubans he was the guarantor of a prosperous future.
It was his performance throughout the caravana that provided Castro with such a popular mandate that he was able to defy the democratic assurances he gave the Cuban public that night at Camp Columbia. Little did the elated onlookers know, the effects of the caravana would reshape the politics of an entire continent and within four years, bring the world to the brink of nuclear destruction.
Daniel Rey Published 08 Jan Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries enter Havana, 8 January More long reads.
In the next year, he took part in urban riots in Bogota, Colombia. The most outstanding feature of his politics during the period was his anti-American beliefs; he was not yet an overt Marxist.
Castro hoped to seize weapons and announce his revolution from the base radio station, but the barracks were heavily defended, and more than half his men were captured or killed. Castro was himself arrested and put on trial for conspiring to overthrow the Cuban government. During his trial, he argued that he and his rebels were fighting to restore democracy to Cuba, but he was nonetheless found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Two years later, Batista felt confident enough in his power that he granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners, including Castro. On December 2, , Castro and 81 armed men landed on the Cuban coast. All of them were killed or captured except for Castro, Raul, Che, and nine others, who retreated into the Sierra Maestra mountain range to wage a guerrilla war against the Batista government.
Castro was supported by the peasantry, to whom he promised land reform, while Batista received aid from the United States, which bombed suspected revolutionary positions. By mid, a number of other Cuban groups were also opposing Batista, and the United States ended military aid to his regime.
You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. By Michelle Chase In the early hours of January 1, Cubans were stunned by news that the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro had toppled reigning dictator Fulgencio Batista. The February 24, front-page New York Times story by Herb Matthews marked a propaganda coup for the young rebel army. Photo card printed by Studios Naranjo, photographer unknown. This commemorative album of the Granma expedition, probably printed in or , is unusual for depicting Fidel and Che as they looked just prior to the formation of the Rebel Army.
A similar album was printed for the failed Corinthia expedition. Like this: Like Loading Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:.
Email required Address never made public. Name required. Nursing Clio The Personal is Historical. Borealia Early Canadian History. What will change in Cuba now that Fidel is gone? Lattell said Diaz-Canel is unlikely to introduce major change to Cuban policy even if it were politically possible. The only change that Diaz-Canel might make is in the military. Despite the renewed relationship the United States has developed with Cuba, the West should not underestimate Diaz-Canel.
Photo: Fidel Castro at a rally on May 1, , by U. Federal Government via Wikimedia. Licensed under CC 3. Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NATO Association of Canada.
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