This day in history
Patrick Haynes
Issue date: 12/2/09 Section: News
Fidel Castro achieved success in his attempts to overthrow the Cuban government on this day, Dec. 2, in 1976, when he reshaped the nation into a new form of dictatorship that he called the Council of State of Cuba, naming himself president. ?
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on Aug. 13, 1926 in Biran, Cuba, to Angel Castro y Argis, a Spanish immigrant who was successful in the sugar business, and Lina Ruz Gonzalez, a household servant. Fidel was one of three of Angel's sons, and he had four sisters and two half siblings. ?
Fidel Castro entered the University of Havana in 1945, with aspirations of being a lawyer. Castro fully immersed himself in the politics of Cuba and joined many political action groups, one being Partido Ortodoxo, led by Eduardo Chibas, who ran for president several times with Castro acting as his right hand man. ?
In the early 1950s, Castro abandoned his law practices to form an underground resistance group, backed by his brother Raul and others, to overthrow the military coup of former family friend, ex-President Fulgencio Batista. Castro and his followers attacked Batista's second biggest garrison, Mancada Barracks, killing nearly half of the militants on duty. ?
In 1955, Castro would meet Ernesto "Che" Guevara, a revolutionist who was an expert in the field of guerrilla warfare. Together, with Raul Castro, the group defeated Batista and his followers in 1959. Fidel swore that it would be the end of dictatorship in Cuba, though he himself was often accused of leading the country with an iron fist. ?
After taking the title of Prime Minister of Cuba, Castro began limiting the influence of the United States on Cuba. The U.S. ambassador position was an influential position prior to Castro's reign, and it was severely decreased during his run of power. ?
In 1961, the U.S. attempted to send in CIA-trained Cuban exiles into Cuba to overthrow Castro by force in an event that would later be known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The "Invasion" would be later seen as an embarrassment in the presidency of John F. Kennedy and would lead to Castro banning U.S. visitors in a few years following the botched attack. ?
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on Aug. 13, 1926 in Biran, Cuba, to Angel Castro y Argis, a Spanish immigrant who was successful in the sugar business, and Lina Ruz Gonzalez, a household servant. Fidel was one of three of Angel's sons, and he had four sisters and two half siblings. ?
Fidel Castro entered the University of Havana in 1945, with aspirations of being a lawyer. Castro fully immersed himself in the politics of Cuba and joined many political action groups, one being Partido Ortodoxo, led by Eduardo Chibas, who ran for president several times with Castro acting as his right hand man. ?
In the early 1950s, Castro abandoned his law practices to form an underground resistance group, backed by his brother Raul and others, to overthrow the military coup of former family friend, ex-President Fulgencio Batista. Castro and his followers attacked Batista's second biggest garrison, Mancada Barracks, killing nearly half of the militants on duty. ?
In 1955, Castro would meet Ernesto "Che" Guevara, a revolutionist who was an expert in the field of guerrilla warfare. Together, with Raul Castro, the group defeated Batista and his followers in 1959. Fidel swore that it would be the end of dictatorship in Cuba, though he himself was often accused of leading the country with an iron fist. ?
After taking the title of Prime Minister of Cuba, Castro began limiting the influence of the United States on Cuba. The U.S. ambassador position was an influential position prior to Castro's reign, and it was severely decreased during his run of power. ?
In 1961, the U.S. attempted to send in CIA-trained Cuban exiles into Cuba to overthrow Castro by force in an event that would later be known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The "Invasion" would be later seen as an embarrassment in the presidency of John F. Kennedy and would lead to Castro banning U.S. visitors in a few years following the botched attack. ?
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