Fidel Castro's role in the cuban revolution This is an evaluation of Castro's role on the cuban revolution of 1959 which overthrew the Batista regime

The Cuban revolution headed by Fidel Castro succeeded in overthrowing Batista and establishing a Communist dictatorship in Cuba. Throughout this struggle for change Fidel Castro played a crucial role not only in contributing to the success of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 but extending the revolution beyond the seizure of power into a genuine social revolution which transformed Cuban society.

During the period after Batista's military coup, popular reaction was guarded and no major demonstrations occurred. Cuba's apparent calm was shattered in the morning of July 26, 1953 when Fidel Castro began the first revolutionary movements by leading a group of insurgents to attack the Moncada Army barracks. The attack was a failure in principle with many of the rebels being killed and Castro himself being imprisoned. However the Moncada incident catapulted Castro to national celebrity The Moncada event inspired the rise of other rebel groups which aided Castro in the future as well as propelling Castro as the figurehead or leader of the revolution movement.

After receiving an amnesty in 1955, Castro left to Mexico to continue his revolutionary plans and in the following two years he gathered a small revolutionary army of 82 men. The rebels headed by Castro re-entered Cuba on 2nd December, 1956 and made for the mountains of Sierra Maestra. The success of the revolution was largely due to Castro's strategic brilliance in the following three years where he cleverly manipulated propaganda by using broadcasts over his rebel radio station and also performing an interview which was published in the New York Times. These forms of propaganda lent stature and legitimacy to the rebel cause and won Castro new support in Cuba and the USA. This combined with Batista's failed attempts to capture the rebel leader made Castro a growing legend in Cuba. During 1958 Castro's army began a series of offensive strikes which eventually lead to the fall of the Batista regime (on 1st January 1959) and the success of Castro's revolution.

Castro's seizure of power lead to the beginning of a major socialist revolution in Cuba. Castro's great ambition coupled with his transforming ideologies lead the Cuban leader to transform Cuba into a communist state. Castro's strong a vigilant leadership ensured that the social revolution continued as the dictator succeeded in severing ties with the USA and developing new alliances with the Soviet Union. These changes not only affected Cuba domestically but changed its diplomatic position in the world to this present day.

I believe that based on the facts Fidel Castro played a crucial role in the Cuban revolution between 1950 and 1970. Castro was the leader of the revolution and I believe that if it was not for his romantic charisma, soaring ambition, great leadership skills and tactical genius the Cuban revolution would never have succeeded. I believe it's through Castro's ideologies and unique personal qualities that Cuba was revolutionised and shaped into the nation it is to this date.