Summary
When the Cuban Revolution succeeded in overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, rebel commander Fidel Castro declared, "The Revolution begins now." In the following decades, Castro remade Cuba into a one-party socialist nation. The Cuban Revolution survived attempts to topple Castro's government, a crippling American embargo, a cold war-era nuclear confrontation, and many difficult economic downturns. Although it created successful social programs and produced a more equitable society, it failed to live up to the democratic ideals promised by denying basic civil liberties and jailing political opponents. Additionally, more than a million Cubans left their homeland, turning their backs on their country so long as Castro's regime was in charge.
Illustrated with full-color and black-and-white photographs, and accompanied by a chronology, bibliography, and further resources, The Cuban Revolution, Updated Edition provides a clear and comprehensive account of this dramatic period in Latin American history. Historical spotlights and excerpts from primary source documents are also included.
About the Author(s)
G.S. Prentzas is the author of numerous books for young readers. He wrote The Marshall Plan in Chelsea House's Milestones in Modern World History series and The World Health Organization in Chelsea House's Global Organizations set. He lives near New York City.