Castro’s Domestic Policies – Part 1

1. Castro’s Domestic Policies – Part 1

2. Castro’s First Domestic Policies • Eliminate corruption and illiteracy • Project to drain a huge swamp for rice-growing and tourism • Low salaries were raised • Big estates (many owned by the U.S.) were broken up and converted into cooperatives • U.S. companies began to be nationalized • In the short term, all but the very rich found themselves better off

3. Castro’s First Domestic Policies • Equality for blacks • More rights for women • Every citizen was guaranteed employment • Social services were extended to all classes of society • Compulsory military service taught discipline and hard work • Temporarily allowed disaffected people to leave

4. Heading for the U.S. • Anti-Castro Cubans headed for the U.S., especially FL. Nearly 1 million arrived between 1960 and 2000 • There many conducted a terrorist campaign against the Castro regime with the active support of the CIA

5. End of President Urrutia • The commander of the Air Force, Diaz Lanz, defected to the U.S. because of the growth of communism • President Urrutia denounced Lanz for his defection, but made a lengthy attack on communism, implying that Lanz had a legitimate cause for concern • Castro “resigned” from the government because he believed that Urrutia had shown no interest in promoting social improvement • However, a mass public meeting of ½ million on the 26th of July showed support for Castro to resume his post and caused Urrutia to resign

6. Consolidating Power • Being anti-communist was the same as being counter-revolutionary • At Havana University, troublesome professors were expelled or neutralized • Trade unions were infiltrated by communists • Arrests of outspoken journalists caused hostile newspapers, television, and radio stations to conform or close down • Foreign priests were expelled, Cuban priests harassed and imprisoned, seminaries closed won, publications prohibited, and security men placed in churches • Security services placed bugs

7. Castro’s Education Policies • In 1961, the government nationalized all private educational institutions and introduced a state-directed system • Education is free at all levels and controlled by the Cuban Ministry for Education • However, once a student reaches the 7th-12th grades, he is required to spend 30 days without pay each year working on the land

8. Castro’s Education Policies • Also in 1961, Cuban schools close for several months. Students are sent to the countryside in 'alphabetization brigades' to teach the population reading and writing • The exercise books are highly political: among the first words taught are 'Organization of American States', 'agrarian reform' and 'cooperation‘ • According to government statistics, contested by others, illiteracy is reduced from 20-25 to 4-5 percent

9. Castro’s Education Policies • Schools emphasize hard work, self-discipline, and love of country • Students are required to work in agriculture three times a week • The system has been criticized for political indoctrinization and for monitoring the political opinions of the students

10. Castro’s Education Policies • The “Cumulative School File” documents whether or not the child and family participate in mass demonstrations, belong to a church, etc. • The file accompanies the child for life and is continually updated (later is becomes an “employment record”) • His university options will depend on what the file says. If he does not profess a truly Marxist life, he will be denied many career possibilities

11. Castro’s Education Policies • Schools teach that God does not exist and Cuba frowns upon religion • The “Code for Children, Youth, and Family” provides for a 3-year prison sentence for any parent who teaches a child ideas contrary to communism • Article 8 of the code reads “Society and the state work for the efficient protection of youth against all influences contrary to their Communist formation”

12. Building of Agriculture • Agriculture was collectivized • He wanted the sugar harvest to double over the next five years to reach 10 million tons by 1970; they reached 8.5 tons • Castro decided to concentrate on milk production rather than beef, but special conditions and special feed made it expensive to use White Udder cows that were suited for Cuba’s weather conditions

13. Nationalization • All private enterprises were nationalized - small shops, bars restaurants, repair centers • They were centers of profiteering, corruption, idleness, and immorality Ironically Castro’s favorite sport – America’s pastime – baseball. He once tried out for the Washington Senators MLB team

14. Building of Socialism • Social services • Education was made available to Cubans for free (even meals at school) • Health services were made available to Cubans for free • Housing was improved • Improvements were made in sanitation

15. Building of Economy • Economy • Failed to achieve significant growth • Nothing to buy • Failed to reduce its dependence on the country’s chief export, cane sugar • This was because: • Economic warfare was waged by the U.S. – allies were pressured to join the embargo • Economic decision making power was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy headed by Castro

16. Government • Corruption was severely reduced • In 1976, a new constitution was passed, which set up an elected Municipal Assembly, who in turn elected Provincial Assemblies, which then elected the National Assembly • The State Council advised Castro like the Cabinet would the President in the U.S. • Castro was the still the head of state and the National Assembly and State Council “rubber stamped” his decisions • The CDRs also made sure no one hostile to the revolution was elected; political parties banned

17. Why Follow Castro? • Emphasis on the good • New schools, roads, hospitals • He never stopped talking and discussing • He used a type of “direct democracy” that made millions of Cubans feel involved and consulted in a way that had never happened under previous governments • Compared himself to Christ; cult of personality was built up • Common enemy and scapegoat was the U.S.

18. In 1980, the Peruvian Embassy’s gates were crashed by a bus full of people who wanted to defect, killing a Cuban soldier After refusing to give up the people, Castro removed all the guards – more than 10,000 people crowded into the Embassy buildings Also in 1980, Cuban authorities rounded up criminals and lunatics They took them to the port of Mariel for shipment to Florida Cuba eventually got rid of a total of 120,000 discontented or unwanted people Embassy and Mariel Incidents

19. One of the boats in the Mariel Boatlift Peruvian Embassy in Cuba – 10,800 disaffected Cubans stormed it

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

21. “Special Period” • With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991: • People sold and bought on the black market • Prostitution became legal • Most people ate one meal a day • There was an epidemic of a disease causing blindness – caused by malnutrition • Bush extended the embargo and limited the number of Cubans gaining visas

22. Fixing the Economy • Small scale private enterprise was legalized • Farmers could sell products on open markets at prices fixed by themselves • “War of All the People” defense strategy called for guerilla warfare, so bunkers and tunnels were built • In 1994, when economic unrest led to anti-government demonstrations, restrictions were lifted on those wanting to leave the country

23. Fixing the Economy • Cuba couldn’t make inroads in bio-technology because of many years of testing and giant multinationals • Oil companies wouldn’t sign contracts to explore for oil due to fear of the U.S. (BP feared CANF would sabotage its stations) • CANF (Cuban-American National Foundation), a powerful lobbying group, wouldn’t let any politician normalize relations with Cuba