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On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro united a rebel force with systematized plans to overthrow the Cuban dictator. Then a young lawyer and activist, had joined the highest ranks of the reformist Cuban People’s Party was slated for candidacy as the party’s delegate. He had long accused Batista of corruption and tyranny, and petitioned for his expulsion.
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In 1954 Fulgencio Batista made himself the president. He was now the sole leader of the country. He also became the leader of the troops.
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When a 1955 political amnesty freed Castro and his brother Raúl, the two fled to Mexico where, among other Cuban exiles, they organized the 26th of July Movement marking the beginning of the campaign that would finally oust Batista.
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March 1958, U.S.-Cuban relations were changing drastically, contributing significantly to the unrelenting defeat of Batista’s forces. On March 14 of that year, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower imposed an arms embargo on the island. American support was swiftly shifting away from Batista and, without being able to get American parts for repairs, the Cuban air force started to break down.
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In April, 1958, The people flocked behind Fidel Castro. When he told them to quit working, they all went on strike. It hurt the country's economy.
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May, 1958, President Batista sent an army of 10,000 men. To fight against Fidel Castro. Castro's small army defeated Batista's larger one.
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On Aug. 21, 1958, Castro’s rebels launched their own offensive. They split off into columns of fighters lead by Castro, Guevara and Cienfuegos.
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A Cuban plane flying out of Miami, FL, was hijacked. The hijackers wanted to use the plane to deliver weapons. To Fidel Castro's troops in november, 1958
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On Jan. 2, 1959 a military commander ordered his troops not to fight in the city of Santiago de Cuba. He did not want them to fight they're because that would endanger the civilians.
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The 26th of July movement had triumphed. The rebel columns set out on a victory march to the island capital of Havana. Fidel Castro finally arrived on Jan. 8, 1959.
