The Duality of Cuba Before the Revolution and Its Path to Change
On January 1, 1959, the island nation of Cuba witnessed a significant turning point with the advent of the revolution led by Fidel Castro. This event changed the course of the country's history dramatically. However, the social and economic conditions prior to this revolution are often overlooked or misunderstood. This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at the situation in Cuba in the years preceding the 1959 revolution and how it paved the way for the attainment of a more radical social and legal system under Castro's rule.
Overview of Cuba's Pre-Revolution Conditions
By the late 1950s, the socio-economic landscape of Cuba was a mix of progress and poverty. The War of Independence against Spain, which ended in 1898, had left the country in ruins. Population losses and the destruction of infrastructure had set back the nation significantly. However, by the 1950s, Cuba had made substantial strides in various sectors, especially in urbanization and economic output.
Cuba's Urbanization and Middle Class
In 1953, approximately 57% of Cuba's population was urban, with over half living in cities of more than 25,000 inhabitants. Four of the largest cities alone housed about one-third of the total population. Havana, the third-largest capital city in the world per the total number of the nation's inhabitants after London and Vienna, had a particularly significant influence. By the 1950s, Cuba also boasted a substantial middle class, accounting for nearly a third of the population, with 23% of the working class being classified as skilled. This societal structure was noteworthy for lacking powerful landowners or an upper class, and social mobility was relatively high.
Economic Prosperity
Cuba achieved a remarkable level of economic prosperity in the 1950s. Per capita income was among the highest in Latin America, on par with that of Argentina and Venezuela, with an estimated annual income of between 350 and 550 pesos. Consumption rates for key items such as meat and sugar were also high, surpassing those of the U.S. and other European countries. The life expectancy was 58.8 years, surpassing the average for South America, and the infant mortality rate was 37.6 per 1,000, a figure favorable compared to other Latin American countries.
Educational and Media Developments
Education was a significant development in the 1950s, with Cuba having the fourth-highest literacy rate in Latin America. The country had a vibrant media scene, with over 60 newspapers including more than twenty in Havana alone, and magazines such as Bohemia, which had a circulation of 250,000, ranking among the most prominent in Hispanic America.
Technology and Infrastructure
Tech and infrastructure also saw growth, with Cuba having more telephones per capita than any other Latin American country except Argentina and Uruguay, more TVs per capita than any other country in Latin America, and more cars per capita than any Latin American country except Venezuela. This technology was operational under a dual currency system where the dollar and the peso circulated interchangeably.
Path to Change: The 1959 Revolution
The road to the 1959 revolution was not linear. Despite the economic progress, the government's response to these challenges was flawed. In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista. However, the exact date of the revolution is a subject of some controversy. Some argue it began on December 31, 1958, with Batista's flight on January 1, 1959, while others point to January 3, 1959, as the true end of the Batista regime.
Controversy Over the Exact Date
The exact transition to power in Cuba on January 1, 1959, is a topic of debate. During the night of December 31, 1958, Batista and his supporters left the country, leading to a period of uncertainty. On January 1, 1959, President of Congress Anselmo Alliegro assumed the presidency, but he was not supported and resigned on January 2. Judge Carlos Piedra took over on January 3 before stepping down. Meanwhile, Fidel Castro declared Manuel Urrutia, from Santiago de Cuba, as president.
The Aftermath
The revolution marked a dramatic shift, and Castro implemented radical policies, including banning opposition parties. The transition to a more socialist society under Castro's leadership led to the change in Cuba's political and economic systems, which drastically altered the country's landscape for the next several decades.
Legacy
Despite the economic and social progress in the 1950s, the period leading up to the revolution highlighted a significant gap between urban and rural areas, with lower living standards in the countryside. The economy was largely stagnant due to a lack of entrepreneurial incentives.
While the revolution brought changes, it also set the stage for a long period of isolation and economic hardship for Cuba, drawing scrutiny from various academic and political circles.
Through the examination of both the pre-revolutionary progress and the subsequent revolution, it becomes clear that Cuba's path to change was complex and multifaceted, driven by both internal and external pressures that reshaped the nation's destiny.