Cuban Revolution

• 1a. In 1952, Cuba had been taken over by Batista, a very US-friendly dictator.
• 2a. Batista allowed US firms special privileges in Cuba, and the US Mafia ran organised crime.
• 3a. A Cuban lawyer, Fidel Castro, started opposing Batista. He was imprisoned in 1953.
• 4a. In 1955, Castro was released and went into exile in Mexico and then the US.
• 5a. On December 2 1956, Castro and 81 companions invaded Cuba.
• 6a. They spent the next two years fighting Batista using guerrilla tactics.
• 7a. By late December 1958 they were close to the capital, Havana.
• 8a. On 1 January 1959 Batista fled Cuba for the USA, and Castro became leader a week later.
• 1b. Castro expelled the US Mafia from Havana.
• 2b. Castro introduced socialist-style reforms like breaking up large farms.
• 3b. Cuba became increasingly left wing and Castro included communists in the government.
• 4b. Castro made anti-American speeches and urged other Central American countries to have left-wing revolutions.
• 5b. Cuba became closer to the USSR.
• 6b. The USA responded by launching the Bay of Pigs invasion.
• 7b. The Cuban Revolution was a factor in causing the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Who was the dictator of Cuba in 1952?

  Batista
• Who ran organized crime in Cuba during Batista's rule?

  The US Mafia
• What was Fidel Castro's profession before opposing Batista?

  A lawyer
• What happened to Castro in 1953?

  He was imprisoned
• Where did Castro go after his release in 1955?

  Mexico and then the US
• When did Castro and his companions invade Cuba?

  December 2, 1956
• What tactics did Castro use against Batista?

  Guerrilla tactics
• What was the status of Castro's forces by late December 1958?

  They were close to Havana
• What happened on January 1, 1959?

  Batista fled Cuba for the USA
• What was Castro's position a week after Batista fled?

  He became the leader of Cuba
• What did Castro do to the US Mafia in Havana?

  He expelled them
• What type of reforms did Castro introduce?

  Socialist-style reforms
• What was one of the socialist reforms Castro implemented?

  Breaking up large farms
• How did Cuba's political stance change under Castro?

  It became increasingly left wing
• Who did Castro include in his government?

  Communists
• What type of speeches did Castro make?

  Anti-American speeches
• What did Castro urge other Central American countries to do?

  Have left-wing revolutions
• How did Cuba's relationship with the USSR change?

  Cuba became closer to the USSR
• What was the USA's response to Castro's actions?

  They launched the Bay of Pigs invasion
• How did the Cuban Revolution contribute to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  It was a factor in causing the crisis