The Cuban Revolution

In this essay, the author

• Explains that fidel's rebel army consisted of students or graduates, and nearly all of them were young people like himself and his brother, ral.
• Describes how the rebels gathered outside santiago, in the fidel's native province of oriente, where they could launch an attack on moncada barracks, the army’s second largest military installation.
• Narrates how fort moncada was captured by surprise, with machine guns, tanks, armored trucks, up-to-date rifles and ammunition.

• Explains that fidel's rebel army consisted of students or graduates, and nearly all of them were young people like himself and his brother, ral.
• Describes how the rebels gathered outside santiago, in the fidel's native province of oriente, where they could launch an attack on moncada barracks, the army’s second largest military installation.
• Narrates how fort moncada was captured by surprise, with machine guns, tanks, armored trucks, up-to-date rifles and ammunition.
• Opines that they were to announce a revolution based on ‘creole values,’ led by new men, free of all obstacles with foreign nations and... of appetites of politicians.
• Analyzes how the publicity was designed to call the people to revolt against the dictator, batista. undercut from his main prop of support, he would resign and the orthodox party would vault into political power.
• Analyzes how fidel castro failed to consult the party, informing it of his intended actions only a day before the assault on moncada. other rebels managed to enter the barracks and overpowered the guards.
• Analyzes how lieutenant pedro sarria whispered in castro's ear to never give his real name, or else he would be killed.
• Analyzes how the attack on moncada barracks ended in disaster and the rebels did not reach their main targets, but it was not entirely a failure. it catapulted fidel castro into the forefront of anti-batista forces and convinced many cubans that only an armed struggle would ouster batist
• Analyzes how fidel proved he was brilliant, courageous, learned, a scholar of distinction in law, philosophy, history, and cited lack of freedom in cuba as reason for his involvement.
• Analyzes how fidel's speech to the court was discursive and carefully wrought. he used this position to embarrass the batista regime.
• Analyzes how fidel challenged the prosecution's case which rested on article 148 of the code of social defense.
• Analyzes how castro's regime prevented him from attending court sessions under the pretext that he was ill. the revolutionary movement was already aware of the length the regime could go.
• Analyzes how fidel spoke for five hours and read history will absolve me, a speech he wrote while in the prison cell. he called for reforms of cuba's political system, an end to economic dependency on the united states, and social justice.
• Analyzes how the sentencing of castro and his group only brought woes to batista's regime.
• Describes how batista's campaign for amnesty for all political prisoners and exiles grew strong after the grau’s withdrawal of his candidacy in the presidential race.
• Narrates how batista gave in to domestic and international pressure to grant all political prisoners amnesty.
• Explains that batista had no intention of letting the legend, fidel grow into a menace, despite granting amnesty to the prisoners.
• Narrates how fidel, ral and guevara were joined by many of the moncada survivors and others who had been in exile. the revolutionaries had to procure arms and be trained in the use of arms.
• Narrates how castro sought support from the exiles living in the united states and raised money among them in florida and new york. he then returned to mexico and procured arms.
• Analyzes how the guerrilla movement deteriorated inside cuba, and how a serious army conspiracy led by colonel ramón barqun led to the gradual decline in batista's support.
• Narrates how the guerrillas learned how to shoot with pistols, rifles and machines guns. they were ready to launch the invasion of cuba, and castro secretly met echeverra and agreed to work together with the 26th july movement.
• Narrates how the rising began in santiago on november 30, 1956, the day the rebels were supposed to land in cuba.
• Narrates how fidel met a new york times correspondent herbert matthews on february 15, 1957, who convinced the people that castro was still alive.
• Describes how the batista's army forced thousands of peasants into camps near santiago to counteract the guerrillas.
• Analyzes how the united states helped the demise of batista by placing an arms embargo on cuban government before fidel's planned offensive against guerrillas.
• Analyzes how batista planned to hold elections in november at which his candidate, rivero aguero, would be chosen as a successor.
• Narrates how the batista camp collapsed during the last weeks of december. the battle of santa clara ended in a total fiasco for government troops.
• Narrates how fidel's army marched into santiago, and accepted unconditional surrender of batista’s forces at moncada. the war was over and he rode in triumph from one end of the island to the other and arrived in havana on january 8.