Cuba

The 1959 Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, triggered enormous social, political and economic change for the Cuban people. Following Batista’s oppressive regime, Castro transformed Cuban society by providing equal opportunities for everybody in social welfare, however, Castro’s rule was considered ruthless, causing many Cubans to flee the country. This created conflict between Cuba and the United States, as the US assisted Cuban exiles in an attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The tension heightened when economic circumstances caused the US to instigate an embargo. Cuba then became reliant on support from the Soviet Union, a similarly socialist state, which impacted heavily on Cuban society.

Castro’s rule revolutionised the lifestyle of the Cuban people, granting equality in sectors including housing, education, employment and healthcare. Under Batista’s dictatorship, Cuba suffered from poverty and corruption. Though the country profited from numerous US investments in construction, Batista ensured he received a large portion of the nation’s wealth, resulting in extreme poverty throughout Cuba. The revolution transformed this inequality by implementing new laws such as the Agrarian Reform Law, where large holdings of land were divided and distributed amongst peasants. Additionally, this and the Urban Reform Law, provided housing for all, with reduced or no rent. Developments were also made to create balance in healthcare between rural and urban areas. Castro provided free medical care to all Cubans, and medical facilities were constructed in the countryside. Similarly, education was of high priority, thus Castro launched several campaigns and offered education to all at no cost. These campaigns were highly successful, with the percentage of children between the ages of 6 and 12 enrolled in schools increasing from 56% to 77% between 1953 and 1970. Improvements in education led to increases in employment and Castro ensured that all Cubans secured a...