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The Cuban Revolution
What is (1953-1959)
When Fidel Castro, his brother Raúl and a ragged band of followers attacked the barracks at
Moncada in 1953, they may not have known they were taking the first step to one of the most
significant revolutions of all time. With the promise of economic equality for all, the rebellion
grew until late 1959, when Cuban President Fulgencio Batista fled the country and victorious
rebels filled the streets of Havana. Castro established a communist regime, building close ties to
the Soviet Union, and stubbornly defied every attempt the United States could think of to
remove him from power. Ever since, Cuba has either been a festering sore of totalitarianism in an increasingly democratic world, or a beacon of hope for all anti-imperialists, depending on
your point of view.