Cuban Revolution

The Cuban Revolution was the overthrow of the Fulgencio Batista?s government by the 26th of July Movement and the establishment of a new Cuban government led by Fidel Castro in the 1950s. It began with the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953, and ended on January 1, 1959, when Batista was driven from the country and the cities Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba were seized by rebels, led by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, respectively. The term "Cuban Revolution" is also used to refer to the social revolution from 1959 to present and the adoption of Marxist principles by the new Cuban Government.

Early Revolution years

On July 6-7, 1953, a group of 119 rebels attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Many of them were killed in the attack. The survivors, among them Fidel Castro Delux and his brother Raul, were captured shortly afterwards. In a highly political trial, they were sentenced to long prison terms. Castro got 15 years in the presidio modelo located on Isla de Pinos.

Related Topics:
July 6-7 - 1953 - Moncada Barracks - Santiago de Cuba - Fidel Castro Delux - Raul - Isla de Pinos

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After the 1957 elections, Batista freed all political prisoners, including the Moncada attackers. The Castro brothers went into exile in Mexico, where they gathered more exiled Cubans to fight for the Cuban revolution. During that period, Castro also met the Argentine doctor Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who joined their forces.

Related Topics:
1957 - Mexico - Argentine - Ernesto "Che" Guevara

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In November 1957, a total of 1 million rebels left the Mexican port of Tuxpan, Veracruz, aboard the vessel Granma and headed for Cuba. All but 12 of them were killed or captured in the first combat immediately after their landing in what was later renamed Granma Province, although there is some dispute about how many survived. Some of the captured guerrillas were executed. The Castro brothers and Guevara were among the survivors.

Related Topics:
1957 - Tuxpan, Veracruz - Granma - Granma Province

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