Guiding Questions:
1. What were the key events of the 1930s, 40s and 50s that explain Castro's seizure of power in 1959?
Learning Method:
1. Read brief and simple information on Cuban history from 1930-1959 to build up a basic framework of knowledge. Creating a Mind Map or Time line to collect this information is an excellent idea to show key events, personalities, developments, dates and terms
2. Undertake detailed learning in your own time: A general biography is a great idea as well as the use of documentaries and podcasts. Journals and other sources of information are listed below.
3. Show an awareness of the value, purpose and limitations of the information you learn from. Your essays require you to write critically; as the historian you need to reach well-informed judgments
Detailed information PBS Bio - Cuban society and politics - excellent PBS Bio - Castro's rise in detail - excellent The Cuban Revolution Biography documentaryand more - I have the DVD, some of it can be watched online Rise to power class wiki 1930s movements Castro Article D.T.docx Biographical article Comandante Fidel Castro documentary Short clip: why the revolution succeeded Key issues/debates 1. Was Castro's rise inevitable? What 'what if's' are there?
2. How important are long-term, medium-term and short-term factors?
3. What schools of thought are there?
4. How far does Stephen Lee's criteria on the rise of European dictators apply to Castro?
5. What similarities and differences are there in explaining the rise of Castro to Mao, Hitler or Stalin?
6. What challenges do we face as historians in explaining the rise of a dictator who is still alive? (March 2010)
Castro's Rise to Power 1930-59
Guiding Questions:1. What were the key events of the 1930s, 40s and 50s that explain Castro's seizure of power in 1959?
Learning Method:
1. Read brief and simple information on Cuban history from 1930-1959 to build up a basic framework of knowledge. Creating a Mind Map or Time line to collect this information is an excellent idea to show key events, personalities, developments, dates and terms2. Undertake detailed learning in your own time: A general biography is a great idea as well as the use of documentaries and podcasts. Journals and other sources of information are listed below.
3. Show an awareness of the value, purpose and limitations of the information you learn from. Your essays require you to write critically; as the historian you need to reach well-informed judgments
General information
Cuba contextMap of Cuba/intro
Rise to power.pptx
History of Cuba site
Detailed information
PBS Bio - Cuban society and politics - excellent
PBS Bio - Castro's rise in detail - excellent
The Cuban Revolution
Biography documentary and more - I have the DVD, some of it can be watched online
Rise to power class wiki
1930s movements
Castro Article D.T.docx
Biographical article
Comandante Fidel Castro documentary
Short clip: why the revolution succeeded
Key issues/debates
1. Was Castro's rise inevitable? What 'what if's' are there?
2. How important are long-term, medium-term and short-term factors?
3. What schools of thought are there?
4. How far does Stephen Lee's criteria on the rise of European dictators apply to Castro?
5. What similarities and differences are there in explaining the rise of Castro to Mao, Hitler or Stalin?
6. What challenges do we face as historians in explaining the rise of a dictator who is still alive? (March 2010)
Historiography