Introduction
Fidel Castro candidly opposed the American ascendancy in Asian countries; as a result, he is considered a ground-breaking figure.
It is crucial to acknowledge that Fidel assumed a headship role within the communist party in the nation consequently converting Cuba into a country under the guidance of a solitary party. After decreeing the nation for considerable periods, Castro relinquished such roles to his brother.
It is a fact that his political career was dominated by his censure of the capitalist nations like the US. Fidel ruled Cuba for more or less five decades but even with his, acquiescence as president, he is still living in politics.
Life History
Childhood
He was born on August 13 in Cuba to Angel Castro, his father who was a well-to-do sugarcane owner and Lina Ruz, his mother. Despite the high-poverty level in Cuba he still grew up in wealthy conditions.
“In 1945, he joined a Jesuit school in Havana called El Colegio de Belen after finishing elementary education” (Skierka 5). It is noteworthy that he was an intelligent student with a good memory-power, but preferred sports to academics.
Hence, while at Belen he played basketball consequently, his perceptible rebellion during his childhood is said to have contributed to his involvement in politics (Skierka 5).
Politics
“He joined law school at the University of Havana in 1945, where hostility and activism were widespread” (Skierka 5). As a result, he became conversant with the political opinions of the university and went ahead to join one of the gangs.
Castro never won any leadership position while at the university even though he was well-liked. He later joined Partido Ortodoxo in 1945, a party that fought the confrontation against sleaze and spearheaded the autonomy of the Cuban economy from the US.
It is equally noted that Eduardo, an entity renowned for his role in initiating the party struggled to attain the presidency, upon backing by the party.
It is utterly unfortunate that he failed to seal triumph during the suffrage process. Chiba committed suicide in 1951; thus, Fidel campaigned for Chiba’s position (Sweig 4).
Castro was chosen to seek headship of Cuba on the party’s ticket. However, this dream was never fulfilled as Batista seized control of the regime in a coup. It was later realized that he took this move to put off the ascendancy of Orthodoxos in Cuban politics.
Furthermore, his reign was overshadowed with subjugation and murder of his opinionated rivals. It is crucial to mention that Batista drew the support of a variety of agencies.
Hence, Fidel and his party crafted a petition in the constitution court with an unauthenticated claim that Batista had dishonored the constitution. However, the court utterly disregarded his petition and did not even provide a hearing (weight 6).
Rise to power
It is not forgotten that Castro held the notion that propagating a revolt would contribute to the attainment of power. “Castro married, a Cuban lady known as Diaz from a well-heeled background” (Zweig 6). On copious instances, Castro employed diverse tactics to eject Batista.
However, this undertaking failed as many fighters were executed and Castro together with other revolutionists was arrested and sent to prison. Despite the failure of this attempt and his imprisonment, he became more popular in Cuba.
It is evident that Castro and Guevara maintained contact with the soviet astuteness agency to get weapon supply. However, this did not ensue. As a result, they visited the US in an attempt to raise resources and gather workforce from housed in the US.
“They collected enough weapons and recruits and headed to Cuba to start a rebellion against Batista’s government” (Sweig 95).
Additionally, they accorded the group, the label July 26 movement, which was the day Castro dispatched an attack force on Barracks located in Moncada (Sweig 95).
The process of going to the Maestra Mountains was representational since it acted as a means of preparation thus confronting the authorities vested with augmented powers regardless of their resources; furthermore, the journey infused audacity and the craving for improved life in the nation.
On the way, they mislaid their weapons and some of their men through attacks by government soldiers. The events that followed were shadowed by combat as the 26th July movement engaged the government in a guerilla war.
Most importantly, for every territory concurred they disseminated land to the underprivileged. As a result, these people helped the guerillas in the war directed against diffusing Batista and affiliates consequently acting as a way of approval.
Many disobedient groups were then formed across the Cuban countryside and metropolitan areas. This made Batista embark on an undertaking to find information about Castro and his movement. As a result, the populace was captured and questioned with some getting tortured.
The sad part came in when persons of tender age were put to death in public to act as an admonition for those who wanted to join Castro and affiliates.
This, however, made the Fidel Castro’s led guerilla movement gain more support from the people who were tired of this oppression (Geyer 161).
In 1958, Batista laid down strategies to endeavor and stop Castro’s insurgency as it was escalating. It is a fact that his military was not well skilled; thus, they lost on many occasions. As a result, he got ousted and disappeared to the Dominican Republic.
It is equally notable that Castro failed to agree with the idea that the presence of a temporary president as propagated by the Army will make things better.
Castro became well-liked in Cuba because of the potency and willpower he possessed during the guerilla warfare that led to the toppling over of the earlier regime; many viewed him as the savior of those that were being browbeaten by Batista.
He settled on a former judge, Dr. Urritia as the impermanent president on 5th January and Miro as his subordinate president. January 8, was momentous since Castro was accorded roles about directing defense roles.
It is further noted that he was accorded the role of premiership later on in February. It is noteworthy that the US recognized this government despite Castro setting severe reforms.
Most importantly, he enacted new laws which included confiscation of Batista and his minister’s wealth. A lot of anti-capitalism reforms by Castro led to the stop of U.S economic dominance in Cuba.
It was noted that Castro allied himself with the Soviet Union, and in 1960, he signed various agreements that led to Cuba receiving military and economic aid from the USSR.
The elimination of the United States from Cuban affairs by Castro made Washington bring to an end diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Furthermore, he affirmed Cuba a collectivist and Maoist state. This is traced back to April 1961 thus culminating in the disruption of societal harmony as the people and interested parties were adapting to the emerging circumstances.
In the end, it is not forgotten that many invaders were killed and another significant proportion arrested (Gonzalez 29).
Operation Mongoose
It is evident that in March 1960, the ruling entities in the US through the CIA crafted a plan to get rid off Castro. The plan included the training of a paramilitary force in readiness for a guerilla war. Also, Fidel Castro is said to have survived a lot of shooting attempts directed on him by the CIA.
From a survey carried out it was evident that over 90% of Cubans supported Fidel Castro. As a result, he gained more grasp on Cuba, and it became difficult to oust him despite the attacks by the U.S.
Similarly, he banned the establishment of political parties in Cuba claiming that their formation was a threat to national harmony. Castro became callous to the political analysts and intellectuals who disapproved or argued against his policies.
Additionally, he allowed a band of soldiers who were devoted to him during the guerilla war to join his military (Marsico 59).
Retirement
Castro suffered from ruthless illnesses throughout his tenure as the head of Cuba. As a result, on July 31, 2006, he resigned as head as his health had deteriorated. Consequently, he directed all presidential control to his younger brother, Raul.
His appearance in the song “We did not start the Fire.”
This is a song by Joel Billy that is in his album best known as the “1989 storm front”. It is evident that in the song, he mentions facts that made a significant impact throughout his life. As a result, he mentions Fidel Castro under the subject matter of communism and the cold war.
In the lyrics, he depicts how Castro together with others made significant upheaval in the leadership of nations around the world.
Also, he highlights the proceedings that these people went through to bring change in their countries. Thus, Joel Billy through his song recognizes Castro as a prominent influence (Gonzalez 43).
Conclusion
It is worth noting that Fidel Castro is a significant figure in the revolution that transpired in Cuba. He fought hard to restore democracy in Cuba after the coup carried on by Batista. As a result, he engaged Batista in a guerilla war.
It is a fact that he managed to overwhelm Batista for the reason that he got support from another revolutionist especially Guevara. However, immediately he took over the leadership of Cuba he seemed to have forgotten his principles like oppression and democracy.
This is evident when he oppresses those opposed to his policies and also banning of political parties in Cuba.
Furthermore, he was opposed to capitalism being practiced by countries like the United States of America. He decided to free his country’s economy from dependency on the US.
As a result, he built links with the USSR a move which angered Washington. In response, Washington cut its diplomatic links with Cuba and carried out attacks in a bid to oust Castro.
Works Cited
Geyer, Georgie. Guerrilla Prince: The Untold Story of Fidel Castro. Missouri. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002. Print.
González, Servando. The secret Fidel Castro: deconstructing the symbol. New York, NY. InteliNet/InteliBooks, 2001. Print.
Marsico, Katie. Fidel Castro: Cuban President & Revolutionary. Minnesota, MN: ABDO Publishers, 2009. Print.
Skierka, Volker. Fidel Castro: a biography. Massachusetts, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2004. Print.
Sweig, Julia. Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the urban underground. New York, NY: Harvard University Press, 2002. Print.