Castro’s Domestic Policies Castro’s Domestic Policies – Part 1– Part 1

Castro’s First Domestic Castro’s First Domestic PoliciesPolicies

• Eliminate corruption and illiteracyEliminate corruption and illiteracy• Project to drain a huge swamp for rice-Project to drain a huge swamp for rice-

growing and tourismgrowing and tourism• Low salaries were raisedLow salaries were raised• Big estates (many owned by the U.S.) were Big estates (many owned by the U.S.) were

broken up and converted into cooperativesbroken up and converted into cooperatives• U.S. companies began to be nationalizedU.S. companies began to be nationalized• In the short term, all but the very rich found In the short term, all but the very rich found

themselves better offthemselves better off

Castro’s First Domestic Castro’s First Domestic PoliciesPolicies

• Equality for blacksEquality for blacks

• More rights for womenMore rights for women

• Every citizen was guaranteed employmentEvery citizen was guaranteed employment

• Social services were extended to all classes of Social services were extended to all classes of societysociety

• Compulsory military service taught discipline Compulsory military service taught discipline and hard workand hard work

• Temporarily allowed disaffected people to leaveTemporarily allowed disaffected people to leave

Heading for the U.S.Heading for the U.S.

•Anti-Castro Cubans headed Anti-Castro Cubans headed for the U.S., especially FL. for the U.S., especially FL. Nearly 1 million arrived Nearly 1 million arrived between 1960 and 2000between 1960 and 2000

•There many conducted a There many conducted a terrorist campaign against terrorist campaign against the Castro regime with the the Castro regime with the active support of the CIAactive support of the CIA

End of President UrrutiaEnd of President Urrutia

• The commander of the Air Force, Diaz Lanz, defected The commander of the Air Force, Diaz Lanz, defected to the U.S. because of the growth of communismto the U.S. because of the growth of communism

• President Urrutia denounced Lanz for his defection, President Urrutia denounced Lanz for his defection, but made a lengthy attack on communism, implying but made a lengthy attack on communism, implying that Lanz had a legitimate cause for concernthat Lanz had a legitimate cause for concern

• Castro “resigned” from the government because he Castro “resigned” from the government because he believed that Urrutia had shown no interest in believed that Urrutia had shown no interest in promoting social improvementpromoting social improvement

• However, a mass public meeting of ½ million on the However, a mass public meeting of ½ million on the 2626thth of July showed support for Castro to resume his of July showed support for Castro to resume his post and caused Urrutia to resignpost and caused Urrutia to resign

Consolidating PowerConsolidating Power• Being anti-communist was the same as being counter-Being anti-communist was the same as being counter-

revolutionaryrevolutionary• At Havana University, troublesome professors were At Havana University, troublesome professors were

expelled or neutralizedexpelled or neutralized• Trade unions were infiltrated by communistsTrade unions were infiltrated by communists• Arrests of outspoken journalists caused hostile Arrests of outspoken journalists caused hostile

newspapers, television, and radio stations to conform or newspapers, television, and radio stations to conform or close downclose down

• Foreign priests were expelled, Cuban priests harassed and Foreign priests were expelled, Cuban priests harassed and imprisoned, seminaries closed won, publications imprisoned, seminaries closed won, publications prohibited, and security men placed in churchesprohibited, and security men placed in churches

• Security services placed bugsSecurity services placed bugs

Castro’s Education PoliciesCastro’s Education Policies

• In 1961, the government nationalized all In 1961, the government nationalized all private educational institutions and private educational institutions and introduced a state-directed systemintroduced a state-directed system

• Education is free at all levels and controlled Education is free at all levels and controlled by the Cuban Ministry for Educationby the Cuban Ministry for Education

• However, once a student reaches the 7However, once a student reaches the 7thth-12-12thth grades, he is required to spend 30 days grades, he is required to spend 30 days without pay each year working on the landwithout pay each year working on the land

Castro’s Education PoliciesCastro’s Education Policies• Also in 1961, Cuban schools close for Also in 1961, Cuban schools close for

several months. Students are sent to the several months. Students are sent to the countryside in 'alphabetization brigades' to countryside in 'alphabetization brigades' to teach the population reading and writingteach the population reading and writing

• The exercise books are highly political: The exercise books are highly political: among the first words taught are among the first words taught are 'Organization of American States', 'Organization of American States', 'agrarian reform' and 'cooperation‘'agrarian reform' and 'cooperation‘

• According to government statistics, According to government statistics, contested by others, illiteracy is reduced contested by others, illiteracy is reduced from 20-25 to 4-5 percentfrom 20-25 to 4-5 percent

Castro’s Education PoliciesCastro’s Education Policies

• Schools emphasize hard work, Schools emphasize hard work, self-discipline, and love of self-discipline, and love of countrycountry

• Students are required to work Students are required to work in agriculture three times a in agriculture three times a weekweek

• The system has been The system has been criticized for political criticized for political indoctrinization and for indoctrinization and for monitoring the political monitoring the political opinions of the studentsopinions of the students

Castro’s Education PoliciesCastro’s Education Policies• The “Cumulative School File” documents The “Cumulative School File” documents

whether or not the child and family participate whether or not the child and family participate in mass demonstrations, belong to a church, etc.in mass demonstrations, belong to a church, etc.

• The file accompanies the child for life and is The file accompanies the child for life and is continually updated (later is becomes an continually updated (later is becomes an “employment record”)“employment record”)

• His university options will depend on what the His university options will depend on what the file says. If he does not profess a truly Marxist file says. If he does not profess a truly Marxist life, he will be denied many career possibilitieslife, he will be denied many career possibilities

Castro’s Education PoliciesCastro’s Education Policies• Schools teach that God does Schools teach that God does

not exist and Cuba frowns not exist and Cuba frowns upon religionupon religion

• The “Code for Children, Youth, The “Code for Children, Youth, and Family” provides for a 3-and Family” provides for a 3-year prison sentence for any year prison sentence for any parent who teaches a child parent who teaches a child ideas contrary to communismideas contrary to communism

• Article 8 of the code reads Article 8 of the code reads “Society and the state work “Society and the state work for the efficient protection of for the efficient protection of youth against all influences youth against all influences contrary to their Communist contrary to their Communist formation”formation”

Building of AgricultureBuilding of Agriculture

• Agriculture was collectivizedAgriculture was collectivized

• He wanted the sugar harvest to double He wanted the sugar harvest to double over the next five years to reach 10 million over the next five years to reach 10 million tons by 1970; they reached 8.5 tonstons by 1970; they reached 8.5 tons

• Castro decided to concentrate on milk Castro decided to concentrate on milk production rather than beef, but special production rather than beef, but special conditions and special feed made it conditions and special feed made it expensive to use White Udder cows that expensive to use White Udder cows that were suited for Cuba’s weather conditionswere suited for Cuba’s weather conditions

NationalizationNationalization

• All private enterprises All private enterprises were nationalized - were nationalized - small shops, bars small shops, bars restaurants, repair restaurants, repair centerscenters

• They were centers of They were centers of profiteering, profiteering, corruption, idleness, corruption, idleness, and immoralityand immorality

Ironically Castro’s favorite sport – America’s pastime – baseball. He once tried out for the Washington Senators MLB team

Building of SocialismBuilding of Socialism

•Social servicesSocial services– Education was made available to Education was made available to

Cubans for free (even meals at school)Cubans for free (even meals at school)– Health services were made available to Health services were made available to

Cubans for freeCubans for free– Housing was improvedHousing was improved– Improvements were made in sanitationImprovements were made in sanitation

Building of EconomyBuilding of Economy

•EconomyEconomy– Failed to achieve significant growthFailed to achieve significant growth– Nothing to buyNothing to buy– Failed to reduce its dependence on the Failed to reduce its dependence on the

country’s chief export, cane sugarcountry’s chief export, cane sugar•This was because:This was because:

– Economic warfare was waged by the U.S. – allies were Economic warfare was waged by the U.S. – allies were pressured to join the embargopressured to join the embargo

– Economic decision making power was concentrated in a Economic decision making power was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy headed by Castrocentralized bureaucracy headed by Castro

GovernmentGovernment• Corruption was severely reducedCorruption was severely reduced• In 1976, a new constitution was passed, which set In 1976, a new constitution was passed, which set

up an elected Municipal Assembly, who in turn up an elected Municipal Assembly, who in turn elected Provincial Assemblies, which then elected elected Provincial Assemblies, which then elected the National Assemblythe National Assembly

• The State Council advised Castro like the Cabinet The State Council advised Castro like the Cabinet would the President in the U.S.would the President in the U.S.

• Castro was the still the head of state and the Castro was the still the head of state and the National Assembly and State Council “rubber National Assembly and State Council “rubber stamped” his decisionsstamped” his decisions

• The CDRs also made sure no one hostile to the The CDRs also made sure no one hostile to the revolution was elected; political parties bannedrevolution was elected; political parties banned

Why Follow Castro?Why Follow Castro?

• Emphasis on the goodEmphasis on the good– New schools, roads, hospitalsNew schools, roads, hospitals

• He never stopped talking and discussingHe never stopped talking and discussing

• He used a type of “direct democracy” that He used a type of “direct democracy” that made millions of Cubans feel involved and made millions of Cubans feel involved and consulted in a way that had never happened consulted in a way that had never happened under previous governmentsunder previous governments

• Compared himself to Christ; cult of Compared himself to Christ; cult of personality was built uppersonality was built up

• Common enemy and scapegoat was the U.S.Common enemy and scapegoat was the U.S.

Embassy and Mariel Embassy and Mariel IncidentsIncidents

• In 1980, the Peruvian In 1980, the Peruvian Embassy’s gates were Embassy’s gates were crashed by a bus full of crashed by a bus full of people who wanted to people who wanted to defect, killing a Cuban defect, killing a Cuban soldiersoldier

• After refusing to give After refusing to give up the people, Castro up the people, Castro removed all the guards removed all the guards – more than 10,000 – more than 10,000 people crowded into people crowded into the Embassy buildingsthe Embassy buildings

• Also in 1980, Cuban Also in 1980, Cuban authorities rounded up authorities rounded up criminals and lunaticscriminals and lunatics

• They took them to the They took them to the port of Mariel for port of Mariel for shipment to Floridashipment to Florida

• Cuba eventually got Cuba eventually got rid of a total of rid of a total of 120,000 discontented 120,000 discontented or unwanted peopleor unwanted people

One of the boats in the Mariel Boatlift

Peruvian Embassy in Cuba

– 10,800 disaffected

Cubans stormed it

““Special Period”Special Period”

• With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991:With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991:– The price for Cuban sugar declinedThe price for Cuban sugar declined– The price for Cuba’s main import – oil – roseThe price for Cuba’s main import – oil – rose– The Cuban economy went into a free fallThe Cuban economy went into a free fall– Bicycles replaced cars; oxen replaced tractorsBicycles replaced cars; oxen replaced tractors– Government officials were laid offGovernment officials were laid off– Construction projects stoppedConstruction projects stopped– Factories producing non-essential goods were closedFactories producing non-essential goods were closed– Electricity cuts began and lasted up to 16 hours a Electricity cuts began and lasted up to 16 hours a

dayday

““Special Period”Special Period”

• With the collapse of the Soviet Union in With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991:1991:– People sold and bought on the black marketPeople sold and bought on the black market– Prostitution became legalProstitution became legal– Most people ate one meal a dayMost people ate one meal a day– There was an epidemic of a disease causing There was an epidemic of a disease causing

blindness – caused by malnutritionblindness – caused by malnutrition

• Bush extended the embargo and limited Bush extended the embargo and limited the number of Cubans gaining visasthe number of Cubans gaining visas

Fixing the EconomyFixing the Economy

• Small scale private enterprise was legalizedSmall scale private enterprise was legalized

• Farmers could sell products on open markets at Farmers could sell products on open markets at prices fixed by themselvesprices fixed by themselves

• ““War of All the People” defense strategy called War of All the People” defense strategy called for guerilla warfare, so bunkers and tunnels were for guerilla warfare, so bunkers and tunnels were builtbuilt

• In 1994, when economic unrest led to anti-In 1994, when economic unrest led to anti-government demonstrations, restrictions were government demonstrations, restrictions were lifted on those wanting to leave the countrylifted on those wanting to leave the country

Fixing the EconomyFixing the Economy

• Cuba couldn’t make inroads in bio-technology Cuba couldn’t make inroads in bio-technology because of many years of testing and giant because of many years of testing and giant multinationalsmultinationals

• Oil companies wouldn’t sign contracts to Oil companies wouldn’t sign contracts to explore for oil due to fear of the U.S. (BP feared explore for oil due to fear of the U.S. (BP feared CANF would sabotage its stations)CANF would sabotage its stations)

• CANF (Cuban-American National Foundation), a CANF (Cuban-American National Foundation), a powerful lobbying group, wouldn’t let any powerful lobbying group, wouldn’t let any politician normalize relations with Cubapolitician normalize relations with Cuba