Republic of Cuba
      (1940's to the 1950's)

Government

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Fulgencio Batista

- He was born in Cuba in 1901.
- In the 1952 elections, Batista overthrew President Carlos Prio with armed forces and took control of the nation.
- Became a President/ Dicator/ Military Leader
- He was a capitalist, and admired the United States.
- He was the Cuban leader until 1959, when he was overthrown by the Cuban Revolution.

Fidel Castro

- He was born in 1926
- He started to criticize and went against Batista's government and the United States' influences on Cuba. (former communist)
- On July 26th, 1953, Castro led a group and attacked the Moncada Barracks, which was the spark of the Cuban Revolution.
- After the attack, Castro was captured and released few years later. He went to Mexico and organized and planned for an attack on Cuba.

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Cuban Revolution

- July 26th, 1953 ~ January 1st, 1959
- The revolution was led by Fidel Castro. It was an armed revolt against Fulgencio Batista and U.S's support on Cuba.
- In 1955, Batista freed some prisoners including the attackers of Moncada Barracks.
- The freed men went to Mexico with Castro to help assist and plan for the attack on Cuba.
- When fighters arrived, the revolutionist fighters retreated to Sierra Maestra mountains.
- Operation Verano: Army of about 12,000 soldiers were sent to the mountains from Batista. However, Castro's army defeated the soldiers.
- With the continued defeats, Batista fled to Dominican Republic on January 1st, 1959, and never came back to Cuba.
- From then on, Castro has been actively played roles and became a powerful Cuban politian.