Rise+to+power

Who was Fulgencio Batista? How did he achieve power from Gerardo Machado in 1933? What was the social democratic charter of 1940? What was Batista's relationship with the Communists? (PSP). Under what circumstances did Batista become President in 1934? Who supported him and why? What were the features of his rule? Who was Jose Marti and how was Castro influenced by him? How did Grau San Martin 1944 and the Autenticos bring about a further degeneration of political life? What was the impact of World War II on Cuba? How did the Cold war affect the fortunes of the Communists? How did his experience at Havana university develop Casto's connection to politics? Who were the Ortodoxos? What were the similarities and differences between Castro and Chibas? What were Castro's views of the PSP? What happened to Castro in Bogota in 1948 and how did it influence his beliefs? How did the Presidency of Carlos Prio Socarras affect Cuban political life after 1948? What was the impact of Castro's denunciation of the secret pact between the President and the gangs?
 * Castro 1930-1959** ** Content Areas ** The 1930s
 * The 1940s**

**The 1950s**
How did Castro's legal experience after 1950 shape him? How did Batista's coup in 1952 impact on Cuban life? How did it confirm Castro's place belief in the need for revolution? Why did the CTC (Cuban Labour Federation) decide to collaborate with Batista? Why did the student movement oppose the coup? Why were they disillusioned with the Ortodoxo leadership at this time? How did Castro organise a clandestine movement/network of revolutionaries? Why did the Moncada Barracks coup attempt in 1953 fail? Why was Castro's speech 'History will absolve me', presented at his trial, so significant? - What were the main aspects of the Moncada Programme? Why were Castro and his collaborators freed from prison by Batista in 1955? How was new 26th movement different? - What had Castro learnt? What impact did Che Guevara have on the movement? How did the PSP view the movement?

The Revolution of 1956-9
In spite of its disastrous beginnings, why did the new revolution succeed? Think about: 1. The peasants of the Sierra 2. The new mythology 3. The urban underground 4. Castro's public relations campaign 5. The murder of Frank Pais and the general strike 6. The consolidation of the rebel army 7. The rapprochement between Castro and the PSP

How did Castro's political ideas become more defined? What was the Caracas Pact? Who actually removed Batista from power?