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Cuban Revolution

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description Cuban Revolution Overview

The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement and its allies against the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Lasting from 1953 to 1959, the guerrilla campaign successfully overthrew Batista's government and replaced it with a socialist state. Key figures in the revolution included Che Guevara, Raúl Castro, and Camilo Cienfuegos. The political shift established a communist government located just 90 miles from the United States, fundamentally altering Cold War geopolitics.

help Cuban Revolution FAQ

What started the Cuban Revolution?

The revolution began with opposition to Fulgencio Batista's military dictatorship, including Fidel Castro's failed attack on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953. Castro's movement later reorganized as the 26th of July Movement.

When did Fidel Castro's guerrilla campaign begin in the Sierra Maestra?

Castro and his supporters returned to Cuba aboard the yacht Granma in 1956 and established a guerrilla campaign in the Sierra Maestra. The mountain campaign eventually helped overthrow Batista on January 1, 1959.

Who fought alongside Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution?

Important revolutionary figures included Raúl Castro, Che Guevara, and Camilo Cienfuegos. The 26th of July Movement also worked with other anti-Batista groups before victory in 1959.

What happened to Cuba after Batista left?

Batista fled Cuba on January 1, 1959, and Castro's forces entered Havana soon afterward. The revolutionary government then moved toward a socialist political and economic system, which transformed Cuba's relationship with the United States.

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