Week 16 - Lecture

It was out-of-classroom activity. Everyone were given different topic and we were supposed to write a report on it.


Q14. Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro is a revolutionary figure and former Prime Minister of Cuba who served the country from 1959 to 1976 and gained a reputation of an anti- ...

Write a short essay with regards to the leader in this study (200 to 500 words), on:

• His/her contribution to the nation
• One example of his contribution
• Did his/her leadership bring to the rise or downfall to the nation.

In 1959, Fidel Castro took over Cuba by force. Cuba was controlled by him under his dictation for nearly five decades. He was the focus of public dispute internationally because he was the only communist leader in the Western Hemisphere.

Between 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba. He brought the industry under his ownership. He was a collectivist and brought agriculture under his ownership too. He seized businesses and farms owned by the Americans. Castro broke off diplomatic relations with the United States and established strong ties with the Soviet Union. Cuba then turned towards communism.

Castro passed laws to close down institutions that were against morality, such as casinos and night-clubs. All citizens received free education, removing the problem of illiteracy. He provided free health services to control the death rate of children from diseases. He also gave assistance to foreign revolutions in Angola and Ethiopia.

An example of his contribution is the benefits that the Soviets provided. Castro brought all American property under his ownership because of the United States’ decision to end supplies to Cuba. This led to the increase in dependence of Cuba on the Soviet Union. The Soviets bought large amounts of sugar and provided assistance to Cuba in terms of money and weaponries. With this source of income, Castro was thus able to provide free education and universal health care.

Castro’s leadership brought to the downfall to the nation. Under his rule as a dictator, hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled to the United States. His educational and land reforms benefitted some Cubans. However, there were still people who suffered from lack of food and personal freedoms. Following the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Castro lost his source of help because of his heavy dependence on Soviet aid and trade. Cuba suffered economically in the 1990s with the US embargo against Cuba still in effect.

References:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/castro.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/18355/fidel_castro.html
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDcastroF.htm