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Causes of the Cuban Revolution, FOREIGN INFLUENCE, POLITICAL ISSUES,…
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FOREIGN INFLUENCE
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• The Platt Amendment which was added to the Cuban constitution gave the US the right to intervene in
Cuba’s foreign affairs and in its economy. The US used the amendment to justify intervention in Cuba to
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POLITICAL ISSUES
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• General Batista had seized power in 1933 and had ruled as a military dictator. Batista initially put in place a ‘puppet’
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• Between 1944 and 1952 a limited democracy developed, however there was widespread corruption. Batista returned
as President in March 1952 taking power in a coup; he suspended the constitution and ruled as a dictator.
• Historian Hugh Thomas suggests that Batista’s lack of reforms was a key cause of civil war as he ‘spent a lot of time
dealing with his private affairs and his foreign fortunes leaving himself too little time for affairs of state’.
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• The two main parties were the Authentic Party [PA] and the Orthodox Party [PO]. There was also the Popular Socialist
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• Fidel Castro was a charismatic member of the Orthodox Party and planned to stand for a seat in Congress in the
elections of 1952. However, the elections did not take place due to Batista’s coup.
• No prospect of legal political change, Castro, a middle class lawyer and more a liberal nationalist than a communist,
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ECONOMIC FACTORS
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• The US was the main purchaser of Cuban sugar and offered a higher price than the global market, in return
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• Unemployment periodically high: 8% during sugar harvest, 30% rest of the year.
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• Wealth, ownership of land and sugar mills, was in the hands of a small elite
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much more expensive to buy in Cuba. However, Cuba could not develop industry and diversify the
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• The middle classes and wealthy elites were becoming disillusioned with the regime. Their savings were
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