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From 1952 to 1958,
Ruben Fulgencio Batista Zaldivar ruled Cuba. He
gained power by launching a second coup on March 10,
1952 overthrowing the President Carlos Prios
Socarras three months before democratic elections.
Seventeen days after Batista seized power; his
government was recognised by United States. This man
of humble origins entered the Cuban political
history and scene with the September 4, 1933, the
Sergeant Revolt. Since then the army has regulated
the administration, life and policy of Cuba.
In 1940, after Batista won the election and became
the president. In order to win public support,
Batista amended the constitution making provision
for the Cuban society’s welfare. The life in Cuba
improved a lot. Public health, education and public
administration offered better services. Rural
hospitals were built.
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Schools were opened
across rural Cuba under the army’s control. The
minimum salary of public and private officers and
workers increased. The big landowners did not
appreciate. The governmental forces got a better
treatment in exchange of their loyalty towards their
president.
They earned a better
pay pension and were granted a good medical care.
Indeed, there was an increase in the commercial
relations with the United States and also taxes on
Cuban citizens. An era of prosperity flowed on Cuba
under Batista.
President Batista also cancelled elections and
dissolved all political parties. About a year after
the coup, in July 26 1953, a guerrilla under the
leadership of Castro attacked Moncada Barracks.
The civil society was
calling for free election and the re-establishment
of democracy.
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This was then the
start of riots and unrest in the country for the
government neglected to deal with the economic and
social problems in the country. With the deletion of
Dialogo Civilo, organized crime, gambling,
corruption flourished in Cuba and there were a halt
in public and development welfare.
Though the salary and
doctor per capita in all Latin America was rated
best in all Latin America and literacy rate was 76%,
people waited on boarders on road of rural Cuba to
get a transport and get access to health care.
In order to counterattack his enemies, Batista
riposted with equal energy against his opponents. In
the countryside terrorism was matched with counter
terrorism and in urban areas underground resistance
groups formed.
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Late1955, instead of changing its policy, Batista
strengthened his undemocratic actions by censoring
the media, legalizing violence and suspending the
rights of the citizens. With curfews, no one was
allowed to wander in the streets at night without a
repressive actions or imprisonment.
This boosted up the
decline of the Batista era. In 1956 the Castro
brothers, Fidel and Raul and Che Guevera arrived at
Granma, Cuba and started to fight against the
government forces. With accumulated defeats against
the guerrilla, Batista left Cuba on the night of
31st December 1958, together with many members of
his troops.
Pre- Castro era was characterized by corruption in
the government and the armed forces of Cuba.
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