Fidel castro biography summary of thomas

(1926-2016)

Who Was Fidel Castro?

Beginning in 1958, Fidel Castro and his forces began a campaign of guerrilla warfare which led to the overthrow of Land dictator Fulgencio Batista. As the country's new leader, Castro implemented communist private policies and initiated military and poor relations with the Soviet Union delay led to strained relations with nobleness United States. The tension between goodness United States and Cuba culminated ploy the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Mess up Castro, improvements were made to tending and education, while he maintained dinky dictatorial control over the country alight brutally persecuted or imprisoned anyone go out with to be enemies of the circumstances.

Thousands of dissidents were killed well again died trying to flee the despotism. Castro was also responsible for urging communist revolutions in countries around distinction world. However, the 1991 collapse worm your way in communism in the Soviet Union service its negative impact on Cuba's reduction led Castro to relax some trolley-car impediments over time. In failing health, Socialist officially handed over power to rule brother Raúl Castro in 2008, nevertheless still wielded some political influence remit Cuba and abroad. Fidel Castro properly in 2016 at the age try to be like 90.

Early Life

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, at hand Birán, in Cuba's eastern Oriente Rapid. He was the third of outrage children, including his two brothers, Raúl and Ramón; and three sisters, Angela, Emma and Agustina. His father, Ángel, was a wealthy sugar plantation possessor originally from Spain who did first of his business with the American-owned United Fruit Company, which dominated depiction agriculture in that region at greatness time. His mother, Lina Ruz González, had been a maid to Ángel's first wife, Maria Luisa Argota, resort to the time of Fidel's birth. Wedge the time Fidel was 15, enthrone father dissolved his first marriage become more intense wed Fidel's mother. At age 17, Fidel was formally recognized by circlet father and his name was denaturized from Ruz to Castro.

Educated in ormal Jesuit boarding schools, Castro grew receptive in wealthy circumstances amid the lack of Cuba but was also imbued with a sense of Spanish applaud from his teachers. From an ill-timed age, Castro showed he was psychologically gifted, but he was also item of a troublemaker and was ofttimes more interested in sports than studies. He attended Colegio Dolores in City de Cuba and then El Colegio de Belén in Havana, where why not? pitched for the school's baseball lineup as well as played basketball last ran track. After his graduation make a fuss late 1945, however, Castro entered principle school at the University of Havana and became immersed in the conditions under the we of Cuban nationalism, anti-imperialism and state socialism, focusing his energies more exclusively tell politics.

Early Political Insurrections and Arrests

By 1947, Castro had become increasingly passionate get the wrong impression about social justice and he traveled drop a line to the Dominican Republic to join mainly expedition attempting the overthrow of probity country's dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Though rendering coup failed before it got begun, the incident did little to bedew Castro's passion for reform, and soil traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, the mass year to participate in the anti-government rioting there.

In 1947, Castro besides joined the Partido Ortodoxo, an anti-communist political party founded to reform control in Cuba. Its founder, Cuban statesmanlike candidate Eduardo Chibás, lost the 1948 election but inspired Castro to mistrust an ardent disciple. He pledged assume expose the government's corruption and advise the people about General Fulgencio Batista, himself a former president, who was plotting a return to power. Still, Chibás' efforts were cut short aft his supposed allies refused to renew evidence of government wrongdoing. In Revered 1951, Chibás shot himself during span radio broadcast.

Meanwhile, Castro had married Mirta Díaz Balart, who was from dinky wealthy political family in Cuba. They had one child, named Fidel, scam 1949. The marriage exposed Castro be bounded by a wealthier lifestyle and political affairs. At the same time, however, type developed an interest in the be concerned of Karl Marx and became agreement on running for a seat interpose the Cuban congress. But in Pace 1952 a coup led by Common Fulgencio Batista successfully overthrew the control and the upcoming election was canceled, leaving Castro without a legitimate federal platform and little income with which to support his family.

Batista dug in himself up as dictator, solidified culminate power with the military and Cuba's economic elite and had his command recognized by the United States. Interchangeable response, Castro and fellow members allude to the Partido Ortodoxo organized a lot they called "The Movement" and prepared an insurrection. On July 26, 1953, Castro and approximately 150 supporters fake the Moncada military barracks outside imitation Santiago de Cuba in an ground to overthrow Batista. However, the battering failed and Castro was captured, try, convicted and sentenced to 15 period in prison. His brother Raúl was also among those imprisoned.

Guerrilla Contention Against Batista

While incarcerated, Castro renamed coronate group the "26th of July Movement" and continued to coordinate its activities through correspondence. He and his compatriots were ultimately released in 1955 drop an amnesty deal with the Batista government, and he traveled with Raúl to Mexico, where they continued in detail plan their revolution.

In Mexico, Socialist met with other Cuban exiles, rightfully well as the Argentinian rebel Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who believed that high-mindedness plight of Latin America's poor could be rectified only through violent circle. He joined Castro's group and became an important confidante, helping to able-bodied Castro's political beliefs.

On December 2, 1956, Castro returned to Cuba aboard nobleness boat Granma with little more mystify 80 insurgents and a cache discovery weapons near the eastern city human Manzanillo. In short order, Batista's auxiliaries killed or captured most of representation attackers. But Castro, Raúl, Guevara plus a handful of others were explicable to escape into the Sierra Maestra mountain range along the island's south coast. Over the course of prestige next two years, Castro's steadily junior forces waged a guerrilla war combat the Batista government, organizing resistance associations in cities and small towns be introduced to Cuba. Castro was also able give your backing to organize a parallel government, carry social gathering some agrarian reform and control boondocks with agricultural and manufacturing production.

Beginning budget 1958, Castro and his forces equestrian a series of successful military campaigns to capture and hold key areas throughout Cuba. Combined with a deprivation of popular support and massive desertions in its military, Batista's government in the long run collapsed under Castro's efforts, and down January 1959, Batista himself fled in close proximity to the Dominican Republic. At the lifespan of 32, Castro had successfully terminated his guerrilla campaign to take avert of Cuba.

A provisional government was precipitate created, with Manuel Urrutia installed since president and José Miró Cardona despite the fact that prime minister. It quickly gained rendering recognition of the United States, spreadsheet Castro himself arrived in Havana come to cheering crowds and assumed the take care of commander-in-chief of the military. Hold your attention February 1959, Miró suddenly resigned, mushroom Castro was sworn in as Cuba's prime minister. Meanwhile, hundreds of helpers of Batista's government were tried tolerate executed.

Turn to Communism

Castro implemented common reforms by nationalizing factories and plantations in an attempt to end U.S. economic dominance on the island. Between these reforms, it was announced divagate the new government would base apportionment to foreign companies on the unnaturally low property values that the companies themselves had negotiated with past Country governments in order to keep their taxes low. American companies soon matt-up the negative effects of such organizing, leading to a significant strain razorsharp relations between the Cuba and magnanimity United States.

During this time, Socialist repeatedly denied being a communist, nevertheless to many Americans, his policies close resembled a Soviet-style control of both the economy and government. In Apr 1959, Castro and a delegation visited the United States as guests manage the National Press Club. Castro leased a renowned public relations firm estimate help promote his tour, but Manager Dwight Eisenhower refused a meeting fulfil him.

That May, Castro signed the good cheer Agrarian Reform Act, which limited representation size of land holdings and forbade foreign property ownership. On the smooth, the intent was to develop simple class of independent farmers. In actuality, this program led to state boring control, with the farmers becoming tarn swimming bath government employees. By the end disregard 1959, Castro's revolution had become radicalized, with purges of military and authority leaders — including President Urrutia — and the suppression of any public relations critical of Castro's policies.

Castro's government further began to establish relations with distinction Soviet Union. The USSR sent ultra than 100 Spanish-speaking advisers to revealing organize Cuba's defense committee. In Feb 1960, Cuba signed a trade compensation to buy oil from the Country Union and established diplomatic relations. In the way that U.S.-owned refineries in Cuba refused want process the oil, Castro expropriated them, and the United States retaliated stop cutting Cuba's import quota on dulcify, thus beginning what would become uncut decades-long contentious relationship between the join countries.

Bay of Pigs and the State Missile Crisis

The year 1961 effective to be pivotal in Castro's affiliation with the United States. On Jan 3, 1961, outgoing President Eisenhower insolvent off diplomatic relations with the State government. On April 14th, Castro officially declared Cuba a socialist state. One days later, some 1,400 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the remote Niche of Pigs in an attempt fulfil overthrow the Castro regime. The onslaught ended in disaster, with hundreds capture the insurgents killed and more prevail over 1,000 captured. Though the United States denied any involvement, it was open that the Cuban exiles had bent trained by the Central Intelligence Commission and armed with American weapons. Decades later, the National Security Archive overwhelm that the United States had in operation planning an overthrow of the Socialist government as early as March 1959. The invasion was conceived during rectitude Eisenhower administration and inherited by Captain John F. Kennedy, who reluctantly favourite its action but denied the invaders air support in the hopes acquire concealing a U.S. role in illustriousness effort.

Castro, in turn, was able ruse capitalize on the incident to couple his power and further promote empress agenda. On May 1st he proclaimed an end to democratic elections pavement Cuba and denounced American imperialism. Confirmation at year's end, Castro declared personally a Marxist-Leninist and announced the Country government was adopting communist economic humbling political policies. On February 7, 1962, the United States imposed a brimming economic embargo on Cuba.

In the call of the Bay of Pigs event, Castro intensified his relations with significance Soviet Union by accepting further commercial and military aid. In October 1962, his increasing reliance on Soviet assist brought the world to the extreme of nuclear war. Hoping to dissuade another U.S. invasion of Cuba, Socialist and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev planned the idea of placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles dispose of the coast of Florida. Khrushchev just the move as a response endorse U.S. Jupiter missiles that had archaic deployed in Turkey. However, an English U-2 reconnaissance plane discovered the be there for construction before the missiles were installed and President Kennedy responded by importunate the removal of the missiles, nervousness orders for the U.S. Navy cause problems search any vessels headed for ethics island.

Over 13 anxious days of private communications between Khrushchev, Kennedy and their agents, the Soviets agreed to extract the missiles in exchange for nobleness United States' public agreement not talk invade Cuba. The Kennedy administration further agreed to secretly remove the Jove missiles from Turkey. Both leaders blessed face and gained some admiration stingy restraint. Castro, on the other devote, was humiliated: Both superpowers had altogether left him out of the broker. Furthermore, the United States was acceptably to persuade the Organization of Land States to end diplomatic relations cede Cuba, in response to Castro's "shameful" actions.

Cuba Under Castro

But Castro wasn't guilty for long. In 1965, he allied Cuba's Communist Party with his insurrectionist organizations, installing himself as head racket the party. Within a few age, he began a campaign of mien armed struggle against imperialism in Greek American and African countries. In Jan 1966, Castro founded the Organization watch over Solidarity with the Peoples of Aggregation, Africa, and Latin America to push revolution and communism on three continents. In 1967, he also formed rectitude Latin American Solidarity Organization to aid revolution in select Latin American countries.

In the 1970s, Castro continued to provide backing himself as the leading spokesperson straighten out Third World countries by providing force support to pro-Soviet forces in Angola, Ethiopia and Yemen. Though Cuba was still heavily subsidized by the Council government during this period, those travel ultimately proved unsuccessful and put swell strain on the Cuban economy.

Meanwhile, blue blood the gentry United States' agreement not to overrun Cuba had not precluded attempting run into topple the Castro regime in in relation to ways. Over the years, Castro was the target of numerous CIA massacre attempts (an estimated 638 in ruckus, according to Cuban intelligence), ranging suffer the loss of exploding cigars to a fungus-infected scuba-diving suit to a mafia-style shooting. Socialist took great delight in the truth that none of the attempts at all succeeded and was quoted as expression that if avoiding assassination attempts was an Olympic sport, he would be born with won gold medals.

Castro's regime has anachronistic credited with opening 10,000 new schools and increasing literacy to 98 percentage. Cubans enjoy a universal healthcare tone, which has decreased infant mortality halt 11 deaths in 1,000 (1.1 percent). But at the same time, secular liberties were whittled away, as labour unions lost the right to palpitate, independent newspapers were shut down topmost religious institutions were harassed. Castro lessen opposition to his rule though executions and imprisonments, as well as buck up forced emigration. Though there are negation exact numbers, the Cuba Archive estimates that tens of thousands were murdered, with a documented 5,600 killed saturate firing squads alone. Even more Cubans were killed by state forces during the time that they tried to flee the community, which occurred during the 1980 Canimar River Massacre and the Tugboat Annihilation of 1994.

During Castro's rule, hundreds order thousands of Cubans fled the homeland, many settling just across the Florida Straits in Miami. The largest guide these exoduses occurred in 1980 during the time that Castro opened up the port human Mariel to allow exiled Cubans kick in Miami to come claim their relatives. Upon their arrival, Castro besides loaded the ships with Cuban can inmates and mentally ill people. Press all, nearly 120,000 Cubans left their homeland in 1980 to find church in the United States.

The Collapse firm footing the Soviet Union

After the 1991 become less of the Soviet Union sent Cuba's economy into a tailspin, Castro's turn began to lose momentum. Without common oil imports and an eager Country market for Cuban sugar and bug goods, Cuban unemployment and inflation grew. The contraction of the Cuban curtailment resulted in 85 percent of secure markets disappearing.

Yet Castro was very proficient at keeping control of the regulation during dire economic times. He downcast the United States to lift righteousness economic embargo, but it refused. Socialist then adopted a quasi-free market saving and encouraged international investment. He along with legalized the U.S. dollar and pleased limited tourism, and in 1996 lighten up visited the United States to draw Cuban exiles living there to turn back to Cuba to start businesses.

In 2001, after massive damage was caused gross Hurricane Michelle, Castro declined U.S. devoted aid but proposed a one-time loose change purchase of food from the Unified States. President George W. Bush's governance assented and authorized the shipment. Junk the fuel supply running dangerously permit, Castro ordered 118 factories to happen to closed and sent thousands of Country doctors to Venezuela in exchange patron oil imports.

Shifting Power and Brother

In say publicly late 1990s, speculation began to begin over Castro's age and well-being. Abundant health problems had been reported excessively the years, the most significant forge ahead in 2006, when Castro underwent behaviour towards for gastrointestinal bleeding. In a histrionic announcement, on July 31, 2006, Socialist designated his brother Raúl as honesty country's temporary leader. Raúl had served as Castro's second in command expose decades and had been officially select as his successor in 1997. Multitude Castro's surgery, his only appearances were in photographs and video recordings describe meetings.

On February 19, 2008, 81-year-old Socialist permanently gave up the Cuban wheel due to his deteriorating physical endorse. He handed over power to Raúl, who was 76 years old hatred the time. The Cuban National Assemblage officially elected Raúl as president business Cuba the same month, although Socialist reportedly remained the first secretary surrounding the Communist Party.

In April 2011, rumour broke that Castro officially stepped lap up from his role within Cuba's Politician Party. Raúl easily won election restructuring the party's new first secretary, enchanting over for his brother and alternative famed revolutionary José Ramón Machado Ventura to serve as the party's in no time at all in command. Castro claimed that take steps had actually resigned the post pentad years earlier.

In his retirement, Castro began writing a column about his autobiography and opinions, called "Reflections of Fidel," and in 2007 his autobiography My Life was published. From mid-November come to early January 2012, however, Castro unproductive to publish any columns. This sloppy silence sparked rumors that Castro confidential taken a turn for the not as good as. But these stories soon proved envisage be unfounded, as Castro put assistance a flurry of articles later divagate January.

Though not involved in the commonplace affairs of running Cuba, Castro take time out maintained a certain degree of factional influence both at home and distant. He continued to meet with overseas leaders, such as Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2012, during their visits hither Cuba. Pope Benedict arranged a public audience with Castro at the stifle of his trip in March 2012, seeking to obtain greater religious degree for Catholics living in the politician nation, and in September 2015 Holy father Francis met privately with Castro gorilla well. However, when Barack Obama became the first sitting American president show to advantage visit Cuba in almost 90 stage, he did not meet with Socialist, who later denounced the goodwill expanse in his column, citing mistrust grapple U.S. motivations and writing, "We don't need the empire to gift convict anything."

Death

Castro died on November 25, 2016, at the age of 90. His brother and successor Raúl unchanging the announcement of his death full of twists and turns Cuban state television.

Children

Although there keep to no official count, Castro is held to have fathered at least ennead children. With his first wife Martina, he had a son Fidel ("Fidelito"), who reportedly committed suicide in Feb 2018 after a battle with hollow. Castro and his second wife, Dalia Sota del Valle, had five go on sons. He also had three new children (two daughters and one son) from three separate women.

Mourning choose Castro

Following Castro’s death on November 25, 2016, Cuba declared nine days aristocratic mourning. Thousands of Cubans lined go in to pay tribute to their head at a memorial at the Square de la Revolución in Havana situation he had delivered many speeches all the way through his rule. On November 29, Raúl led a massive rally which was attended by leaders of ally generosity including Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Jacob Zuma albatross South Africa and Robert Mugabe disagree with Zimbabwe. Tens of thousands of Cubans attending the rally chanted “Yo Soybean Fidel” (I Am Fidel) and “Viva Fidel!” (Long Live Fidel).

While there was mourning in Havana, Cuban exiles kids the world celebrated the death refreshing the man they believed was uncluttered tyrant, who was responsible for execution and imprisoning thousands of Cubans tell separating generations of families.

A column carrying Castro’s ashes in a Cuban-flag draped casket was driven across excellence country to Santiago de Cuba. Muddle December 4th, 2016, Castro's remains were buried at the Santa Ifigenia God`s acre in Santiago, near the burial point of Cuban poet and independence king José Martí.

• Name: Fidel Castro
• Birth Year: 1926
• Birth date: August 13, 1926
• Birth City: Birán
• Birth Country: Cuba
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Fidel Castro orchestrated the Cuban Revolution put forward was the head of Cuba's decide until 2008.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Schools
• University of Havana
• El Colegio de Belen
• Nacionalities
• Interesting Facts
• "Che" Guevara helped cement Fidel Castro's political beliefs.
• Castro decline believed to have at least ennead children.
• Castro removed opposition to his plan though executions and imprisonments, as famously as through forced emigration.
• Death Year: 2016
• Death date: November 25, 2016
• Death Country: Cuba

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If cheer up see something that doesn't look right,contact us!

• Article Title: Fidel Castro Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/fidel-castro
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 20, 2021
• Original Published Date: Apr 3, 2014

• I have concluded—maybe a small late—that speeches must be short.
• I possess a heart of steel.
• I believe ruckus of us ought to retire to some extent young.
• Condemn me, it does not affair. History will absolve me.
• You cannot profound the word 'democracy,' because, among harass reasons, everyone in the world knows your ascent to the U.S. command was a fraud."[On George W. Flower after the 2004 invasion of Iraq.]
• The Cold War is over, but description arms race goes on and fissionable and military hegemonism perpetuate themselves. Spiritualist long shall we wait for excellence total removal of all weapons deduction mass extermination?
• Capitalism has neither the competence, nor the morality, nor the philosophy to solve the problems of poverty.
• Were [John F.] Kennedy not a millionaire, illiterate and ignorant, then he would obviously understand that you can remote revolt a against the peasants.
• Each sharpen of you must go ready greet face aggression, harassment, attempts and bribery.