Cuba's Government and Ernesto Guevara
analytical Essay
1464 words
Cuba's Government and Ernesto Guevara
Ernesto “Che” Guevara Che Guevara was the Argentine born Marxist guerrilla who helped oust the corrupt Cuban government and set up a communist system 90 miles from the US. Che under the leadership of Fidel Castro helped lead a small guerrilla band of soldiers to take over the country. After the old government was out Che helped Castro decide communism as the way to go for Cuba. He helped Castro try to quickly industrialize the country, set up social reforms to try, and make Cuba a better place for its citizens. Che supported the struggle against imperialism by taking bands of guerrillas to Congo and Bolivia to help with revolutions there. Ernesto Guevara was born May 14, 1928 in Rosario, Argentina. He was born to Ernesto Guevara Lynch and Celia de la Serna, two Argentines that were fairly well off at the time. At two years old, Che was diagnosed with asthma, which could plague him for the rest of his life. His asthma affected his family’s life, forcing them to move until they found a place where his asthma could be stabilized. Che was home schooled until the age of nine because of his illness. Guevara took after his mother in that he was attracted to danger and he ended up with his father’s temper. Guevara did all right in school, but it wasn’t until he got to college that he started to shine. At first Che wanted to study engineering at the University. After the death of his grandmother Che decided to study medicines instead of engineering. He was accepted to the University of Buenos Aires to study medicine. By college, his parents were separated, though still married, and Che became to come into his own. He worked part time jobs while he was in school to help pay for his needs. Che started to take weekend hitchhiking trips across Argentina. After awhile the trips started getting longer as he began to want to see more and more of Latino America. Che was introduces to Fidel Castro, the young Cuban revolutionary, in Mexico City in 1955. After several hours of talking Fidel invited Che to join the guerrilla movement. Che accepted on the spot, he was to take on the position of being the group’s doctor. After receiving military training Che was quickly promoted as an officer in Castro’s ranks. In 1956 almost all of Castro’s group was arrested officially for breaking Mexico’s immigration laws, despite the media frenzy sayin...
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...ed for what he believed in, the fight against imperialism. This courage is what made the Argentine born Marxist such an inspirational figure around the world. Che was a symbol of hope and a better life for the people of Cuba, and the world.
Bibliography
Works Cited
Anderson, Jon Lee. Che Guevara A Revolutionary Life. New York: Grove Press, 1997.
Castaneda, Jorge G. Companero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.
Harris, Richard. Death of a Revolutionary: Che Guevara’s Last Mission. New York: W.W. Norton, 1970.
“Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara”. Bolivia Web. 1997. (13 April 1999).
Perez - Stable, Marifeli. The Cuban Revolution: Origins, Course and Legacy. New York: Oxford UP, 1993.
Rojo, Ricardo. My Friend Che. New York: The Dial Press, 1968.
Rohter, Larry. “Cuba Buries Che, the Man, but keeps the Myth Alive.” New York Times 17 October 1997.
Ryan, Henry Butterfield. “A Look At…Myths of Cuba: Che Guevara: The Triumph Mystique.” Washington Post 2 November 1997: CO3.
Stockwell, Norman. “Reclaiming Che’s Legacy.” Capital Times 3 October 1997.
Taibo, Paco Ignacio. Guevara Also Known As Che. New York: St. Martin’s, 1997.
In this essay, the author
- Describes ernesto guevara as an argentine born marxist guerrilla who helped oust the corrupt cuban government and set up a communist system 90 miles from the us.
- Describes how che was introduced to fidel castro, the young cuban revolutionary, in mexico city in 1955. after receiving military training, he was promoted as an officer in castro’s ranks.
- Describes how the guerrillas started to have an effect all across cuba. fidel set up groups of men in all the towns and cities he conquered to help keep law and order.
- Analyzes how che guevara resigned his position and disappeared from public site in 1965 to help the "struggle against imperialism" around the world.
- Analyzes how che guevara was taken captive and positively identified by bolivian authorities, claiming to have failed in his cuban mission. the argentine born marxist inspired thousands to take a stand against imperialistic governments.
- Describes castaneda, jorge g. companero: the life and death of che guevara.
- Describes harris, richard, death of a revolutionary: che guevara’s last mission, new york: w.w. norton, 1970.
- Opines that perez - stable, marifeli, the cuban revolution: origins, course and legacy.
- Opines that cuba buries che, the man, but keeps the myth alive.
- Analyzes ryan, henry butterfield's "a look at...myths of cuba: che guevara: the triumph mystique." washington post, 2 november 1997.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- explanatory
- Guevara In The Cuban Revolutionanalytical essayGuerrillas become an important factor during the Cuban revolution but it also influenced new guerrilla movements through Latin America. During the time of the revolution, the myth of the guerrillas as a heroic group reached its climax (Wright, 2001). The Cuban revolutionaries used the image of old national heroes to legitimate their actions (Ibíd).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that bolivia became a leading "success story" of western corporate globalization under the tutelage of financial institutions such as the world bank and the international monetary fund.
- Opines that unless an armed movement mobilizes popular support among the middle and working classes in urban areas and poorer sectors of the rural population, it will be isolated and wiped out by government troops using counterinsurgency tactics.
- Analyzes how the cuban revolution influenced new guerrilla movements through latin america. guerrillas became an important factor during the revolution, and ernesto guevara was an influential leader.
- Analyzes how che guevara was an important actor during the revolutions against bolivia's regime, but he never gained the trust of indigenous majority.
564 wordsRead More - Should the United States Lift the Embargo on Cuba?opinion essayWhite, Robert E. 2013. "After Chávez, a Chance to Rethink Relations With Cuba". The New
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the cold war solidified the growing negative relations with cuba, and the embargo embodied it. the evidence, be it economic, diplomatic, or social, points to yes.
- Explains that the united states embargo of cuba began in 1960 when president eisenhower cut off the yearly quota of sugar to be imported from cuba under the sugar act of 1948.
- Opines that a simple repeal of the embargo would bring both the united states and cuba great economic success.
- Explains that the embargo severely limits the necessary functions of international society. it detracts from cuba's access to u.s. markets and interferes in its trade with other countries.
- Explains that cuba's sugar production has fallen from 859 tons to 106 tons per 1,000 people over the past six decades, and cuban cigars are, according to the central intelligence agency, their largest export (2012).
- Opines that lifting the cuban embargo would satisfy a niche market, namely the american car collectors.
- Opines that lifting the embargo will boost the united states' economy and promote the world economy on a greater level.
- Opines that lifting the cuba embargo would boost latin american relations and solve regional stability. the release of castro's grip on cuba offers an opportunity to restore bonds with potential allies who share the american goal of prosperity.
- Opines that latin america's importance to the united states is growing by the day, and cannot be overstated.
- Opines that the united states should lift the embargo on cuba because cuba desires it.
- Opines that as more countries turn to democracy, there will be fewer provocations for war by non-democracies.
- Opines that lifting the embargo is the only way to normalize relations with our 7th closest neighbor.
- Explains that the world factbook cuba is available at cia.gov/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html.
- Cites griswold, daniel, haass, richard, and haven, paul.
- Explains that cuba celebrates 60 years of involution. the cost of the embargo is discussed in dollars&sense.
1425 wordsRead More - The Cuban Revolution: Che Guevaro And The Cuban Revolutionary Warexplanatory essayA revolution is a change in the government or political system, that every nation has to experience in order to establish its’ credibility. Most nations undergo a revolution or war to set in stone a particular right granted to the people that are governed by that nation. There are many outcomes to revolution, rather it’s good or bad. Majority of them have different resolutions, and are handle differently. Some are resolved peacefully and others are ongoing issue and beliefs that may never come to its breaking point. Revolutions also known as wars, never include one nation, it is always the battle of dominance between two more nations, such as the Cuban Revolutionary war which was the battle between Fidel Castro and his allies against the Cuban president Fulgencio Batista. The Cuban Revolutionary was the battle of transforming Cuba into an independent socialist society. This particular movement caused a pressing issue around the world during the time of attack.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that revolution is a change in the government or political system that every nation has to experience in order to establish its credibility.
- Explains that che guevara was an argentine, marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, and a military theorist.
- Describes how the moncada assault was the first attempt to overthrow the batista. fidel and raul castro reunited the 82 men group to plan the next attack.
- Narrates how they sailed from mexico november of 1952 and loaded onto a small yacht named granma. the yacht was built in 1943 to hold 12 people.
- Describes how they reached solid ground, lost, stumbling along like so many shadows or ghosts marching in response to some obscure psychic impulse.
- Narrates how a coast guard spotted the men in belic and immediately contacted batista army. the attack was unexpected and left many wounded.
- Describes how the guerrillas regained power and prepared for war. they were left with only a few members from mexico and were able to find weapons for their next attack.
- Explains how batista's army was too late to take out castro and the group in the highlands. castro had already divided his group by sending them designated area around cuba.
948 wordsRead More - The Events That Led to the Independence of Cubaanalytical essayErnesto "Che" Guevara, "One year of Armed Struggle," In Guevara, Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War. Trans Victoria Ortiz. New York,1968.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that castro and the 26-j-m succeeded because they got the public to back them because their reforms would greatly improve their lives and cuba as a whole.
- Analyzes the work of jose marti, who spoke of social change throughout cuba and not political change, but he and his group would not allow others to block cuban progress towards sovereignty.
- Analyzes how castro and the 26-j-m movement were the only real voice of opposition that was able to make a difference for cubans.
- Cites fidel castro's "history will absolve me" in "program manifesto of the 26th of july movement."
- Cites ernesto "che" guevara, reminiscences of the cuban revolutionary war, and thomas paterson, contesting castro.
2746 wordsRead More - The Roles Of Fidel Castro And The Cuban Revolutionanalytical essayFidel Castro was an illegitimate child of the upper middle class in Cuba. He was the son of the family maid and his father, who happened to be a wealthy farmer and landowner. Castro was highly educated for the twentieth century in Cuba, earning a Doctorate in Law. However his success in life did not come to him as a lawyer, but as a ruthless politician and revolutionary. When dictator, Fulgencio Batista was overthrown during the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Fidel Castro boldly took on the role of leader over Cuba, broke away from the domination of the United States, and put Cuba’s economy in the hands of the Soviet Union. According to Charlip, “Castro visualized a reformed Cuba, with agricultural cooperatives, industry, education and healthcare
In this essay, the author
- Explains that fidel castro was an illegitimate child of the upper middle class in cuba. he was educated for the twentieth century, earning a doctorate in law, but was ruthless politician and revolutionary.
- Explains how castro united the people against a common antagonist: the united states. frustrated by the economic domination, castro cut the u.s. out of the economy and found sources elsewhere, the soviet union.
- Analyzes how castro's move to improve education in cuba was a success. the number of teachers tripled, schools quintupled, and illiteracy disappeared.
- Explains how castro's rule improved the quality of life and increased life expectancy. more hospitals and clinics allowed more access to treatment than ever before.
- Explains that the cuban government guaranteed that everyone would have housing, and they lived up to that promise, thereby eliminating homelessness. however, no one was allowed to own more than one dwelling.
- Analyzes how castro used force to achieve an improved society, but his vision for agricultural cooperatives, industry, and being independent economically were not as successful. castro put too much trust in the soviet union.
- Analyzes how the cubans wanted to race headlong into utopia and were convinced that the soviet union's only desire would be to help them get there. the russian leadership was less interested in the fate of 6 million dark-colored, spanish-speaking people living under palm trees.
- Explains that the soviets were using cuba for their own interests against the united states, not out of a sense of camaraderie with cuba.
- Analyzes how castro's socialist successes and trust in the soviets came at a devastating price. castro had to open the country to foreign investment and introduce components of capitalism to the economy.
- Opines that the cuban revolution was not a success for the people because they did not achieve their intended goals.
939 wordsRead More - Fidel Castro: A Political Leaderanalytical essayBorn on August 13, 1926 and raised in a wealthy family, Fidel Castro was a leader that was loved and hated by many. When in rule, Castro changed Cuba forever and made Cuba a communist country. Fidel Castro, a political leader in history, made a plethora of choices that have impacted his nation. Castro’s decision, the impact it had on Cuba, and how genres of literature can show choice and consequences are just a few ways on how a nation can change by one person’s actions.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how fidel castro changed cuba forever and made it a communist country. castro's decision, the impact it had on cuba, and genres of literature can show choice and consequences.
- Describes how castro received his political education at the university of havana, which led him to becoming the next leader of cuba. castro ignited freedom fighter warfare against batista.
- Narrates how castro led a militia of armed men against batista forces to dethrone the former dictator, and now fidel was the new dictator.
- Analyzes how fidel castro was cuba's next president and made decisions that had good and bad consequences.
- Analyzes how fidel castro's choices as the next leader in cuba impacted his nation and many others. castro made various changes to cuba, which had beneficial and disadvantageous impacts.
- Explains how castro pledged to renew and restore cuba. he used military devices to stay in power and not lose his place as dictator against people who disagreed with him.
807 wordsRead More - Fidel Castro's Impact on Cuba, America, and the Worldexplanatory essayFidel Castro, resigned now, and still living, was the dictator of the Cuban nation. He has had an big impact on America, and he an impact on our world. Fidel Castro was a Cuban dictator for a long time coming. Fidel Castro becoming a dictator not only affected the United States, but his arrival affected the world around us.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that fidel castro, resigned now, and still living, was the dictator of the cuban nation. he had an impact on america and the world around him.
- Explains that fidel castro wasn't a capitalist person, he was communist. he was known for his athletic skill and smarts.
- Explains that castro had learned a plan to throw the dominican republic leader, rafael trujillo out of office, but it had failed due to the united states stressing the continuing invasion on castro.
- Explains that castro was one of the leading protesters around the cuban revolution time. he stole guns for the group, and returned home later that year.
- Explains that castro agreed to deliver a speech for the november 13, uncovering the government’s top classified deals with the bunch of criminals and other important contributing members.
- Narrates how castro prepared a force to attack the cuban military, but was caught and sentenced for 15 years by the government, and released as part of an amnesty.
- Explains that america supported the batista dictatorship to drive away its communist fellows, but it only drew castro closer to accept marxist, and communist ideas.
- Explains that castro wanted to restore the constitution in the 1940's in which batista was president. now, since cuba was declared as a communist nation, it was easier for americans to hate the cubans, and for the soviet union.
- Explains that the cuban missile crisis was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the united states and the soviet union during the cold war.
- Describes how the missile crisis had the world thinking that armageddon was soon. castro looked tired, uncertain, but his audience warmed to the rhythms of his apocalyptic rhetoric.
- Opines that despite the bad that is sad about fidel castro, there is more good you can find about him than bad.
- Opines that fidel castro had a huge target on his head, and he didn't know what would happen next.
- Narrates how castro had sent his soldiers over to help other countries, and negotiated to let the cuban exiles out of prison and allow them to visit their relatives in cuba.
- Opines that fidel castro had both good and bad parts of his life. he had the biggest impact on america than any other person.
1351 wordsRead More - Jacobson - Cubaexplanatory essaySmith, Wayne S. Portrait of Cuba. First ed. Atlanta Ga: Turner Publishing Inc, 1991. N. pag. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how american culture has adapted many traditions, beliefs, and ethnicities guaranteeing a freedom to form opposing interests and viewpoints of our own, while cuba seeks conformity.
- Explains that afrocubanismo, the syncretic result of the african majority's culture and the dominant european minority, was the "conceptual framework of modern cuban culture."
- Explains that cuba today demonstrates itself as a mostly thriving nation in which all citizens are receive constitutionally protected rights, quality education, health care, and employment opportunities.
- Explains that cuba is 48,800 square miles in area and is home to 11.17 million people. it is rich with historical cultural significances, endeavors of war and peace, economic tragedies and triumphs.
- Explains cuba's spanish language is the primary means of communication since it lies within latin america. the majority of cubans are of mixed african and european descent.
- Explains the history of cuba and its struggle for independence, beginning in the 1500's, with spanish settlement, and achieving its true independence in 1959.
- Describes how the peninsulares, creoles, and african slaves became defined in cuban society after the extinction of the indigenous population.
- Describes how cuban citizens protested the united states' occupation of the island.
- Opines that religion plays a key role in every culture. religion amounts to our beliefs of right and wrong in the world, and how we act morally and ethically.
- Explains that 49 percent of cuba's population was agnostic and 6 percent atheist, while 42 percent professed christianity.
- Explains that cuban religious activities were limited due to conflicts between church and state. pope john paul ii was welcomed to the island in 1998, evidently demonstrating the relaxation of state on matters of religion.
- Explains the cuban military, which consists of the revolutionary army, navy, and air defense forces.
- Explains that cuba's economy is socialist, with the general populous owning means of production, compared to the capitalist society, which america employs.
- Explains that cuba's health care system is a basic right of all cuban citizens, and emphasizes preventative medicine.
- Explains that cubans have improved their health dramatically since 1959, with lower infant and maternal mortality rates, a higher average caloric consumption, and reduced number of persons served by each doctor.
- Explains that food is in short supply in cuba due to a limited agricultural production, limited mostly to sugar. free farmers markets have been reopened, alleviating some of the hunger.
- Explains that the etiquette of cuban culture holds generosity and hospitality in high regard.
- Explains that being generous and hospitable is a highly valued quality. cubans like to complain and argue heatedly, but this kind of argument relieves social tension.
- Explains that american culture is similar in that we learn from a young age to show respect and common courtesies to others, although americans differ in their willingness to openly express conflicts.
- Explains that education is a key factor in all elements of culture and allows future generational development. cuba's educational system is available to all children.
- Analyzes how culture identifies itself by differences amongst nations of our attitudes and actions. both nations have undergone years of hardship due to events such as war to be where they are today.
- Describes bourne's biography of fidel castro.
- Explains that smith, wayne s. portrait of cuba. atlanta ga: turner publishing inc, 1991.
2778 wordsRead More - The Cuban Embargo: An Economic Sanction that Never Achieved its Goals. Close, But No Cigar.opinion essayLopez, Juan J. Democracy Delayed. The Case of Castro’s Cuba. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD 2002.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the cuban embargo: an economic sanction that never achieved its goals.
- Describes how fidel nationalized all private businesses and land, and president dwight eisenhower cancelled cuba's sugar quota.
- Explains that the economic embargo was maintained to reduce the resources available to the castro government to promote guerrillas in latin america and to advance communism elsewhere.
- Explains that reagan negotiated for normal migration from cuba and reimposed the original travel restrictions, which had been relaxed under carter.
- Explains how congress' attitude towards cuba changed in 1998 when 24 senators hoped to form a national bipartisan commission on cuba initiative. president clinton lifted the embargo on the sale of food and medicine to cuba during the cold war.
- Analyzes how the 45-year history of the embargo has had a limited impact on the united states and its citizens, but the effects are clearly seen in cuba.
- Explains that cuba received $100 to $150 billion in soviet and eastern european aid between 1959 and 1989. cuba had a universal comprehensive healthcare plan which guaranteed free health care to everyone.
- Explains how the cuban democracy act of 1992 reduced access to medicines and medical supplies from other countries, and the helms-burton act made it illegal for all countries to export any medical equipment with any u.s. technology.
- Explains that cuba's sugar cane production fell drastically after the fall of the soviet union. the soviets were paying cuba 5.4 times market value for their sugar crop.
- Opines that a healthy economy is necessary for the population of cuba to meet its basic needs. the embargo is meant to punish castro and his regime.
- Opines that the natural beauty of cuba would attract many american tourist investments if the embargo was lifted.
- Explains that castro's cuba has faced considerable economic hardships, yet shows no signs of political liberalization. the helms-burton act of 1996 was designed to place serious economic pressure on castro.
- Opines that the goal of economic sanctions is to destabilize the targeted country's government, but it has only been half-achieved.
- Agrees that there is unrest and lack of material resources in cuba, but castro is still in power. the embargo forces u.s. firms to keep their investments out of cuba.
- Explains that many proponents of the embargo cite the need for its continuance as the persecution of human rights cubans suffer at the hands of castro.
- Opines that neither lifting the embargo nor lifting it will change castro's political policies. normalized economic relations will lead castro towards a democratic cuba.
- Opines that lifting the embargo would put the pressure and responsibility on castro and his government.
- Opines that the embargo is an outdated ineffective tool that needs to be immediately removed by the u.s. government.
- Summarizes the reasons for the original embargo against cuba in 1960 and the actions the us has taken since then.
- Analyzes whether the cuban embargo has succeeded in containing castro and preventing him from spreading communism in latin america.
- Analyzes how the u.s. lifted its economic embargo with china while egregious human rights violations were still taking place.
- Analyzes how castro's interaction with other democracies shows that removing the embargo will not change his human rights violations.
- Argues that removing the embargo now would revitalize the economy and the cuban people.
- Cites centeno, miguel angel, mauricio font, fernandez, damian j., horowitz, irving louis, and suchlicki, jaime.
4321 wordsRead More - The Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro Ruzexplanatory essayFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who was Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces from 1959 to 2008, and as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. . Politically a Marxist under his administration the Republic of Cuba became a one-party socialist state. Industry and businesses were nationalized, and socialist reforms effected all areas of society. Castro adopted anti-imperialist politics while studying law at the University of Havana.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that castro was a marxist who led the cuban revolution, which ousted batista in 1959, and assumed military and political power.
- Describes how fulgencio batista was elected president of cuba from 1940 to 1944, and dictator from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the cuban revolution.
- Explains that batista suspended the 1940 constitution and revoked most political liberties, and presided over a stagnating economy that widened the gap between rich and poor cubans.
- Describes how castro formed a group called "the movement" publishing underground newspaper el acusador, while arming and training anti-batista recruits.
- Narrates how castro renamed his group the "26th of july movement" in memory of the moncada attack, and formed a school for prisoners.
- Describes how castro's guerrillas overran the outpost at la plata, executing the local mayoral and bombing the hospitals, schools, printing press, slaughterhouse, land-mine factory and cigar-making factory.
1361 wordsRead More