The Cuban Revolution

When Fidel Castro rolled into Havana, Cuba, in January of 1959 along with some 5,000 members of his triumphant rebel army, the entire city, it seemed, turned out to celebrate. Thousands poured into the streets, peered down from balconies, or perched on rooftops, many holding Cuban flags, as they showered Castro with confetti. After parading with his forces, Castro delivered a passionate speech that lasted until dawn.

“I am not interested in power,” Castro said as he claimed victory in the Cuban Revolution, “nor do I envisage assuming it at any time.”

Castro, 32, had spent two years battling the brutal, U.S.-backed dictatorship of President Fulgencio Batista. By New Year’s Eve 1958, with Castro’s guerrilla forces closing in, Batista had fled Cuba in the dark of night, marking the end of his rule.

At the time, Castro was widely hailed as a champion of the working class for liberating Cuba from an oppressive regime. But before long, everything changed. Castro’s embrace of Communism alienated Cuba from the U.S., and his promise to bring democracy and prosperity to ordinary Cubans never materialized.

Today Castro is often credited with improving Cuba’s education and health care systems, yet his repressive regime left a nation where free speech still isn’t tolerated and Cubans struggle to provide for their families.

“The situation gets worse every day,” says René de Jesús Gómez, a longtime Cuban dissident who was born in Havana. “Here, whoever doesn’t leave, it’s because they can’t.”

In January of 1959, Fidel Castro entered Havana, Cuba. He had some 5,000 members of his triumphant rebel army with him. It seemed like the entire city was celebrating. Thousands of people poured into the streets, looked down from balconies, or sat on rooftops. Many were holding Cuban flags.  They showered Castro with confetti. After parading with his forces, Castro delivered a passionate speech that lasted until dawn.

“I am not interested in power,” Castro said as he claimed victory in the Cuban Revolution, “nor do I envisage assuming it at any time.”

Castro, 32, had spent two years battling the brutal, U.S.-backed dictatorship of President Fulgencio Batista. By New Year’s Eve 1958, with Castro’s forces closing in, Batista had left Cuba in the middle of the night. It marked the end of his rule.

At the time, Castro was seen as a champion of the working class because he freed Cuba from an oppressive regime. But before long, everything changed. Castro’s embrace of Communism alienated Cuba from the U.S.  His promise to bring democracy and prosperity to ordinary Cubans never materialized.

Today Castro is often credited with improving Cuba’s education and health care system. But it is still a nation where free speech isn’t tolerated and Cubans struggle to provide for their families.

“The situation gets worse every day,” says René de Jesús Gómez, a longtime Cuban dissident who was born in Havana. “Here, whoever doesn’t leave, it’s because they can’t.”

Cubans spent centuries living under oppressive rulers, starting in the 1500s when Spain colonized the island. In the Spanish-American war of 1898, the U.S. helped Cuba break free from Spain (see timeline slideshow, below). But even after Cuba formed an independent government, in 1902, the U.S. continued to exert influence.

In 1933, Cuban Army Sergeant Fulgencio Batista staged a military coup and then ran the country for the next two-and-a-half decades, both as president and through a series of puppet presidents. For much of that time, Batista ruled as a cruel dictator, manipulating elections, censoring the press, controlling Congress, and embezzling money from the government. Still, as the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union heated up in the 1950s, the U.S. chose to recognize Batista’s government because he opposed Communism.

Cubans spent centuries living under oppressive rulers. It started in the 1500s when Spain colonized the island. In the Spanish-American war of 1898, the U.S. helped Cuba break free from Spain (see timeline slideshow, below). But even after Cuba formed an independent government, in 1902, the U.S. continued to exert influence.

In 1933, Cuban Army Sergeant Fulgencio Batista staged a military coup. He then ran the country for the next 25 years, both as president and through a series of presidents he controlled. For much of that time, Batista ruled as a cruel dictator. He manipulated elections, censored the press, and controlled the Congress. He even stole money from the government. As the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union heated up in the 1950s, the U.S. chose to recognize Batista’s government because he was against Communism.

Under Batista, Cuba’s economy soared, but most Cubans didn’t share in the wealth. Havana, Cuba’s capital, became a playground for American socialites. Well-off Cubans got richer, while the poor living in the countryside struggled to get by.

In 1952, Fidel Castro, a 25-year-old activist and lawyer, began a campaign to dislodge Batista as head of state. On July 26, 1953, Castro led 160 men in a failed attack on military barracks in the city of Santiago. Castro was imprisoned, and most of the men were killed or captured. After his release in 1955, Castro fled Cuba and went into exile in Mexico, where he continued plotting his campaign to overthrow Batista and take control of the country.

Under Batista, Cuba’s economy soared, but most Cubans didn’t share in the wealth. Havana, Cuba’s capital, became a playground for American socialites. Rich Cubans got richer, but the poor living in the countryside struggled to get by.

In 1952, Fidel Castro, a 25-year-old activist and lawyer, began a campaign to remove Batista as head of state. On July 26, 1953, Castro led 160 men in an attack on military barracks in the city of Santiago. They failed and Castro was imprisoned. Most of the men were killed or captured. After his release in 1955, Castro fled Cuba and went into exile in Mexico. He continued plotting his campaign to overthrow Batista and take control of the country.

In December 1956, Castro led a group of 81 armed men from Mexico on a mission to return to Cuba aboard a small, leaky yacht. But Batista’s forces were waiting for them, and most of the men were killed. Fidel and his brother Raúl Castro survived, along with Ernesto “Che” Guevara and a few others.

The remaining men retreated to Cuba’s Sierra Maestra mountains, set up camp, and began training a guerrilla army. They stole weapons from Batista’s forces, and their numbers grew as volunteer fighters joined them.

Over the next two years, Castro led his guerrillas in a string of victories over the Batista government’s army, and he waged a propaganda campaign to win over the Cuban people. By the time Batista fled at the end of 1958, it was clear he’d been defeated.

In December 1956, Castro led a group of 81 armed men from Mexico on a mission to return to Cuba. They were aboard a small, leaky yacht. But Batista’s forces were waiting for them, and most of the men were killed. Fidel and his brother Raúl Castro survived, along with Ernesto “Che” Guevara and a few others.

The remaining men retreated to Cuba’s Sierra Maestra mountains. They set up camp and began training an independent army. They stole weapons from Batista’s forces. More volunteer fighters joined them.

Over the next two years, Castro led his fighters in a string of victories over the Batista government’s army. He started a propaganda campaign to win over the Cuban people. By the time Batista fled at the end of 1958, it was clear he’d been defeated.

Before the revolution, Castro portrayed himself as a counterpoint to Batista’s harsh dictatorship, promising to hold free elections and reinstate the political and civil liberties that Batista had stripped away. A few months after the revolution ended, Castro visited the U.S., where he met with lawmakers as excited crowds chanted his name.

“That trip really showed [Castro’s] tremendous appeal worldwide, both to third-world countries and to resistance movements in the United States,” says Aviva Chomsky, a historian at Salem State University in Massachusetts.

But soon, Castro radicalized his agenda, putting himself in charge of Cuba’s government and executing Batista supporters without fair trials. He also denounced American influence in Cuba and seized the assets of American businesses without compensation. In response, President John F. Kennedy imposed an embargo on Cuban goods that’s still in effect today. Castro, in turn, forged a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in 1960.

Before the revolution, Castro portrayed himself as a counterpoint to Batista’s harsh dictatorship. He promised to hold free elections and reinstate the political and civil liberties that Batista had taken away. A few months after the revolution ended, Castro visited the U.S. He met with lawmakers as excited crowds chanted his name.

“That trip really showed [Castro’s] tremendous appeal worldwide, both to third-world countries and to resistance movements in the United States,” says Aviva Chomsky, a historian at Salem State University in Massachusetts.

But soon, Castro radicalized his agenda. He put himself in charge of Cuba’s government and executed Batista supporters without fair trials.

He also denounced American influence in Cuba. He seized the assets of American businesses without financial compensation. In response, President John F. Kennedy imposed an embargo on Cuban goods. This ban is still in effect today. Castro, in turn, forged a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in 1960.

During the height of the Cold War, having a Communist nation and Soviet ally just 90 nautical miles off the coast of Florida was too close for the comfort of U.S. leaders. The U.S. began a series of attempts to dislodge Castro. In 1961, a group of 1,500 Cuban exiles aided by the U.S. launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs, on Cuba’s southwestern coast. It failed spectacularly, and most of the invaders were killed or imprisoned.

A year later, when the U.S. learned that the Soviet Union was equipping Cuba with ballistic missiles, President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island to prevent the Soviets from delivering more equipment. For 13 days, the two superpowers hovered on the brink of nuclear war. Eventually, the Soviets backed down and removed the missiles. In return, Kennedy promised that the U.S. would never invade Cuba.

During the height of the Cold War, having a Communist nation and Soviet ally just 90 nautical miles off the coast of Florida was too close for the comfort of U.S. leaders. The U.S. began a series of attempts to overthrow Castro. In 1961, a group of 1,500 Cuban exiles with the help of the U.S. government launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs, on Cuba’s southwestern coast. It failed and most of the invaders were killed or imprisoned.

A year later, the U.S. learned that the Soviet Union was equipping Cuba with ballistic missiles. President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island to prevent the Soviets from delivering more equipment. For 13 days, the two superpowers hovered on the brink of nuclear war. Eventually, the Soviets backed down and removed the missiles. In return, Kennedy promised that the U.S. would never invade Cuba.

Immediately after the Cuban Revolution, a wave of wealthy Cubans left the country to escape Castro’s policies, while many poor Cubans remained.

“The Cuban government was trying to radically redistribute the wealth of the country in the interests of the poor,” Chomsky says.

But as time wore on, Cuban citizens became increasingly frustrated with the country’s economic situation. In 1980, facing discontent from the populace, Castro opened the country’s borders for six months, and some 125,000 Cubans traveled by boat to Florida to seek asylum in the U.S. More people left after 1991, when the fall of the Soviet Union—Cuba’s longtime benefactor—threw Cuba  deeper into economic crisis.

Raúl Castro took over in 2006 after Fidel developed health issues. The country is now run by the first non-Castro leader of the country in more than half a century, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Immediately after the Cuban Revolution, a wave of wealthy Cubans left the country to escape Castro’s policies. However, many poor Cubans remained.

“The Cuban government was trying to radically redistribute the wealth of the country in the interests of the poor,” Chomsky says.

But as time wore on, Cuban citizens became increasingly frustrated with the country’s economic situation. In 1980, facing upset citizens, Castro opened the country’s borders for six months. During that time, 125,000 Cubans traveled by boat to Florida to seek asylum in the U.S. More people left after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. This threw Cuba deeper into economic crisis.

Raúl Castro took over in 2006 after Fidel developed health issues. The country is now run by the first non-Castro leader of the country in more than half a century, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

President Barack Obama worked to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba, and in 2015 the two countries re-established diplomatic relations. But President Donald Trump later reversed course, saying that better relations rewarded Castro’s dictatorship. Trump ratcheted up sanctions and limited how much money American citizens can send to their relatives in Cuba.

Those policies, along with the Covid-19 pandemic, led to devastating economic decline in Cuba. Hospitals ran out of basic medicines. Blackouts became common. People were forced to wait in line for hours to buy food.

In 2022, the island saw its largest protest movement in decades, leading to a massive government crackdown, with more than 700 Cubans charged for taking part. Now some teenagers are facing 30-year prison sentences, leaving many to wonder what the future of Cuba—and its relations with the rest of the world—might hold.

“Do you know what it’s like not to be able to buy my child food from the store?” says Odalis, a 43-year-old homemaker in Havana, who asked that her last name be withheld for fear of reprisals by the government. “People are fed up with the abuse of power. We are desperate.”

President Barack Obama worked to normalize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. In 2015 the two countries re-established diplomatic relations. But President Donald Trump later reversed course, saying that better relations rewarded Castro’s dictatorship. Trump increased sanctions and limited how much money American citizens can send to their relatives in Cuba.

Those policies, along with the Covid-19 pandemic, led to a great economic decline in Cuba. Hospitals ran out of basic medicines. Blackouts became common. People were forced to wait in line for hours to buy food.

In 2022, the island saw its largest protest movement in decades. This resulted in a massive government crackdown, and more than 700 Cubans were charged for taking part in the protests. Now some teenagers are facing 30-year prison sentences. Many wonder what the future holds for Cuba and what kind of relationship it will have with the rest of the world.

“Do you know what it’s like not to be able to buy my child food from the store?” says Odalis, a 43-year-old homemaker in Havana, who asked that her last name be withheld for fear of reprisals by the government. “People are fed up with the abuse of power. We are desperate.”

With reporting from Oscar Lopez and Ernesto Londoño of The New York Times.

With reporting from Oscar Lopez and Ernesto Londoño of The New York Times.