The Events That Led to the Independence of Cuba

The Events That Led to the Independence of Cuba

During the course of the semester, we have looked at numerous videos and have read numerous pieces of writing that has presented Cuba before Fidel Castro completed the great Revolution in 1959. These works have represented many views on the Cuban struggle for complete independence. These works have contributed to reinforce my opinion on the subject at hand. The works have shown that Cuba’s history is filled with discontent from within towards an outside presence. In the beginning, the outside force was Spain, Cuba’s colonial leader. The United States became the outsider in the early nineteenth century, when it intervened in Cuba’s fight for independence. Only until Castro took over in 1959 did Cuba truly become free and independent. The spirit and aspirations invoked by the original independence leaders, men like Jose Marti, had finally been achieved.

"In my view, the solution to the Cuban problem is not a political but a social one." Jose Marti-1882

"Our goal is not so much a mere political change [but] a good, sound and just and equitable social system without demagogic fawning or arrogance of authority. And let us never forget that the greater the suffering, the greater the right to justice; and the prejudices of me and social inequities cannot prevail over the equality which nature has created. [...]

The revolution will be for the benefit of all who contribute to it." Jose Marti-1892

Fidel Castro claimed that he and his group was continuing the struggle that the original freedom fighters of 1868, 1898, and 1933 had begun. He spoke of history and the destiny that Cubans have been waiting to achieve. Castro said, in the 26th of July Manifesto, that their struggle "e...

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...e reform. Cuba’s inability to keep a stable representative democracy combined with great social inequality led to the development of socialistic reform combined with Communistic policy.

Resources Used

Perez-Stable, Marifeli. The Cuban Revolution: Origins,Course, and Legacy. New York, 1993.

26th of July Movement, "Program Manifesto of the 26th of July Movement," in Cuba in Revolution, ed. R. Bonachea and Nelson Valdes. Garden City, NJ, 1972.

Fidel Castro, "History Will Absolve Me" [excerpts]. Closing Speech in trial for the 1953 Moncada attach.

* www.habana.com/history.html The whole speech.

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, "One year of Armed Struggle," In Guevara, Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War. Trans Victoria Ortiz. New York,1968.

Thomas Paterson, Contesting Castro: The United States and the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution. New York, 1994.