Cuba — Castro’s Revolution and the Bay of Pigs

Abstract

In November 1956 Fidel Castro and 82 revolutionaries departed Mexico aboard the yacht Granma. Their destination was Cuba. They were one of several groups determined to overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Landing at Las Coloradas, they were quickly ambushed, and only a handful escaped into the scarcely accessible Sierra Maestro. Promising justice, land reform, education and health care, Castro won the support of the peasantry. A formidable revolutionary army was formed. After defeating Batista’s attempt to destroy their strongholds, the revolutionaries went on the offensive in December 1958. As Castro’s forces swept through Santiago de Cuba and through Santa Clara towards Havana, Batista fled Cuba. Castro’s revolution had triumphed.