Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Moments in History ❮❮ 37

1953: Castro
7 TOP 10 NATIONAL FIGURES
Attacks Moncada
Castro launched the Cuban 1 Christopher Columbus
Revo lution with an audacious attack (1451–1506)
timed to coincide with carnival Visionary Genoese explorer and
celebrations in Santiago. The assault the first European to sight Cuba
failed, and 64 captured rebels were on October 28, 1492.
tortured to death. Fidel delivered a 2 Hatüey (died 1512)
brilliant defense at his trial, during Heroic Taíno chieftain who led
which he gained national sympathy. resistance to Spanish colonial rule
and was burned at the stake.
3 Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
(1819–74)
The “Father of the Homeland” freed
his slaves and launched the wars
for independence.
4 José Martí (1853–95)
Cuba’s foremost national hero, a writer
and leader martyred in battle.
5 Máximo Gómez (1836–1905)
Dominican-born general and
supreme commander of the
Fidel Castro enters Havana
Cuban liberation army.
1959: Revolution
8 6 Antonio Maceo Grajales
Triumphs
(1845–96)
On New Year’s Eve 1958, General Successful guerrilla leader in the
Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba, and independence wars, Grajales
was killed in battle.
Castro delivered a victory speech
in Santiago in advance of his trium­ 7 Calixto García (1839–98)
phant journey to Havana. A newly Second-in-command of the
formed democratic government was independence army, and liberator
of many Spanish-held cities.
quickly usurped by Castro, who allied
with the Soviet Union and initiated 8 Gerardo Machado (1871–1939)
dramatic reforms. Corrupt dictator who ruled Cuba with
an iron fist between 1924 and 1933,
1961: Bay of
9 when he was forced into exile.
Pigs Invasion
9 Fulgencio Batista (1901–73)
CIA­trained Cuban exiles stormed Mulatto general who seized power
in 1934 and ruled Cuba until he fled
ashore to assist Cuban­based on New Year’s Eve in 1958.
counter­revolutionaries in toppling
Castro. The attack was repelled, 10 Fidel Castro (b.1926)
and Castro took ad van tage of Former head of state who led
the Revolution. Castro held power
popular sentiment against the for five decades.
US­inspired invasion to announce
that Cuba would be socialist.
1991: Período
0
Especial Begins
Thirty years of economic support
ended overnight when the Soviet
Union collapsed. The economy
imploded, and Cubans faced extreme
hardship, triggering a mass exodus
to the US on flimsy rafts. Since 1994,
the crisis has eased with a tourism Calixto Garcia
boom helping to promote recovery.
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