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Fidel Castro is born on his father's sugar plantation near Biran, on the coast of Cuba's Oriente province.
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Asked his dad for education
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Castro launches armed struggle against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. But attack on Moncada barracks fails.
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Batista grants amnesty to Castro, who goes to Mexico to plot invasion of Cuba.
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Fall of Santa Clara, after rebel attack led by Che Guevara. Batista troops end military resistance.
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Batista flees to Dominican Republic as the rebels take power.
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Castro declares Cuba a socialist state.
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Bay of Pigs invasion. CIA-backed Cuban exiles are defeated.
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Cuban Missile Crisis. After thirteen day standoff, Russians withdraw missiles from Cuba.
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Resumption of limited economic ties between Cuba and United States.
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The Helms- Burton law - allowing the United States to penalise foreign companies investing in Cuba - is signed into law by President Clinton.
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Castro leads crowd, estimated at 1.2 million, in parade to celebrate the Cuban revolution and demonstrate against the US blockade. Castro prepares to celebrate 75th birthday in August.
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A four-hour Revolution Day speech urging Cubans to have patience as electrical problems are solved marks Castro's final personal appearance as president.
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Castro publishes essay saying he doesn't intend to hold onto power forever and will not obstruct the path of a younger people coming to power. Repeats this idea in a letter to parliament 10 days later.
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Castro resigns as president but says he will remain in parliament.
