The Cuban Revolutionary War - Research Paper Example

The Cuban Revolutionary War Revolutionary wars are battles projected by certain group of political elite to oust the other ruling party or the likely party to rule and deny them access to power. Revolutionary wars can also be scheduled by a certain group of armies to oust ruling political party deemed as authoritative and undemocratic towards its noble citizens. Most revolutionary wars have been wedged to expel unruly leaders across the globe. The Cuban revolutionary war is one such an example of wars fought to delve undemocratic presidents who breach the fundamental rights of the subjects. According to Minster, the Cuban revolutionary war was started by the former Sergeant army Fulgencio Batista who took power following a highly contested and disputed presidential election. History has it that Batista became president of Cuba from 1940 to 1944 and again attempted to resume power in the 1952 presidential election. Upon realizing that he was likely to lose in the election, retired Sergeant Batista seized power before actual election date. In the reports of Minster, the presidential election of 1952 was projected to favor a new presidential candidate, Fidel Castro. Upon cancellation of election results due to the ensuing political upheaval, Mr. Fidel Castro begun to plan strategies by which he could oust President Batista. In order to fight the ruling government, Mr. Fidel Castro had to organize for weapons to wage attacks specially destined against Moncada Barracks, which was perceived to bear the power of the government military force. In July1953, Castro organized 138 militia men with whom they attacked Moncada Barracks resulting in the capture of the rebel militia men and death of nineteen federal soldiers (Minster). The war also led to the arrest of Fidel Castro and Raul Castro alongside some of the rebel soldiers. Other soldiers died of gun shots of the fierce federal armies. Fidel Castro and Raul Castro together with the rebels faced to public trial for their involvement in the botched coup. Hutsell, Sanders and Kuntz report that being a professional lawyer; Fidel Castro defended himself by claiming that he waged a just war against the perceived dictatorial regime under the leadership of Batista. Despite the justification of Castro’s defense speech, he was sentenced to fifteen year imprisonment. Minster reports that in May 1955, Batista’s government faced numerous accusations from the international spectrum accusing him of tyrannical leadership. In the effect, the government released all the prisoners including the rebels who took part in the attacks on Moncada Barracks. Hutsell, Kuntz and Sanders further confirm that upon release, Fidel Castro and Raul Castro flew to Mexico to organize another strategy for more sustained attacks on Batista’s government. In Mexico, Raul and Fidel met the exiled Cubans with whom they joined hands to form the 26th July Movement typically named as a commemoration of the Moncada militia attacks. In the group of the organized revolutionary militia in Mexico organized to propagate war against Batista’s government, were the Camilo Cienfuegos and the Argentine doctor by the name Ernesto Che Guevara. In November of 1956, the top leaders comprising of Fidel, Raul, Camilo and Ernesto together with other eighty two men sailed to Cuba in full preparation for the revolutionary war against the government of President Batista (Hutsell, Kuntz and Sanders). Minster illustrates that the arrival of the militia group from Mexico was well discerned by Batista’s administration and had therefore prepared to face them off. However, the ingenuity of Raul and Fidel made them to lead their group to the thick and impenetrable woodland located in the center of Cuba. Minster confirms that the revolutionary group used the opportunity in the forest to regroup and attract other new members. The period spent on the highland forest also assisted towards collection of weapons for waging the guerrilla war against the armies of the ruling government. On 26th July 1957, the rebel groups gained strength and power on the highlands and garnered additional support from other smaller militia groups. In addition, other smaller rebel group formed in the cities of Cuba, mostly applying a hit and run strategy, which brought them closer to assassinating President Batista. Realizing the weight of the circumstance, President Batista reorganized federal armies and admonished for total destruction of the highland in which the rebel hid. However, the plan never succeeded due to a tipoff relayed to the militia group that enabled them to strategize a fierce hit back against the federal armies. In 1958, Fidel Castro split his forces into three smaller groups, which were well organized to attack strategic points. One group of the forces was led by Camilo Cienfuegos as the other smaller group was delegated to Ernesto Guevara. The last group was guided by Fidel Castro himself. The three rebel groups were set to move along villages and towns where they had to fight and oust any forces linked to the federal government of President Batista. In December 1958, Ernesto with the support of the 300 militia men fought and overcame federal forces stationed at Santa Clara City. During the battle of Santa Clara, Ernesto and his group managed to seize ammunitions used by the federal forces. In the process of the revolutionary war, the government of President Batista pledged for peaceful negotiation with the rebel group with intent of stopping bloodshed in the country. Upon realizing that the strength of the rebel forces, Batista together with his armies surrendered power, looted and flee to exile. Despite him fleeing away, Batista organized some of his subordinates to bar Fidel Castro and his groups from ascending to power. Upon achieving victory, civilians took to the streets of the cities with barricades expressing joy and relief from the tyrannical rule of Batista while greeting and cheering the rebels and the chief militia personnel. Roques reports that in January 1959, Fidel Castro called for national workers strike that received great turn up. On forming the government, Manuel Urrutia one of the hardliner members of the 26th July Movement was installed as the national president of Cuba with Fidel Castro assuming the position of prime minister. On 16th July 1959, another ridge developed that saw the resignation of Castro from the post of prime minister due to disagreement over satisfaction of the core agendas of the revolutionary party. Castro expected that the government formed by the revolutionary party would address land disputes, lower the cost of rent by 30% to 55% and reduce the cost of electricity to a level affordable to common citizens (Roques). In January 1959, Cienfuegos and Guevara together with their troops entered in Havana where they conducted disarmament process of the existing military forces. After completely ousting the Batista regime and his policy makers, Raul Castro and Fidel Castro consolidated power and vexed out the militias who assisted in the revolutionary war. Raul Castro and Ernesto Guevara were mandated to organize jurists who could bring to justice Batista and his accomplices who tortured and killed innocent citizens. After assuming power in 1959, Castro’s administration tended to adopt communism, which contradicted the policies supported by the US (Farber 3). Due to the differences between the two countries, US government imposed numerous sanctions on the Cuban government. Minster reports that Cuban government illuminated into the international spectrum when it deployed military to Angola to support the opposition. In conclusion, the Cuban revolution marked one of the historic examples of the revolutionary wars fought against undemocratic governments. Fidel Castro being the most likely candidate to claim leadership of Cuba had the election not been cancelled had no option other than to plan retaliatory attacks to oust the government. The first attempt that brought together 180 militia to attack Moncada barracks ended unsuccessfully with tragic death of fifty rebel militias. The revolution achieved its objective of ending the Baptista era oppression and dictatorship. Works cited Farber, Samuel. The origins of the Cuban Revolution reconsidered. North Carolina, NC. University of North Carolina Press, 2006. Print. Hutsell, Reagan, Sanders Lee and Kuntz Anna. A Quick Overview of the Cuban Revolution. 1999. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. < http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/revsfall99/cuba/> Minster, Christopher. The Cuban Revolution. 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2011 Roques, Richard. History of Cuba: The Cuban revolution. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. < http://www.rcgfrfi.easynet.co.uk/ratb/cuba/history4.htm> Read More