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Castro leads rebels in an attack on the Moncada Barracks
Fidel Castro leads his "26th of July Movement" to attack the Moncada Barracks. With his 135 men opposing the Batista government, the attack was a failure, and Fidel Castro was captured. -
Castro states his "History Will Absolve Me" speech
Castro states his speech entitled, "History Will Absolve Me". He then is givin amnesty and leaves for Mexico. -
Fidel Castro and rebels land in Cuba
Castro leaves mexico (on the yacht Granam), and has a rough landing on eastern Cuba. With his survivors, they reach the Sierra Maestra mountains and launch guerrilla warfafre against the Batista Dictatorship. -
Batista flees Cuba
Fulgencio Batista resigns and flees from Cuba. Castro leads his troops into Havana. -
Period: to
Fidel Castro in power in Cuba
Castro in in power from 1959-2008. -
Fidel Castro visits the U.S.
Fidel Castro visits the United States, denies he is a communist and claims Cuba will not confiscate foreigner's properties. Promises good U.S. relations along with free elections. -
Cuban exiles land at the Bay of Pigs
Cuban exiles trained by the CIA land at the Bay of Pigs, and lose. Fidel Castro declares the revolution socialist and says there will not be any elections. -
Fidel Castro declares he is a Marxist-Leninist
Fidel Castro declares he is a Marxist-Leninist and always has been. -
Castro sends out soldiers to Angola
Castro sends out about 18,000 soldiers to Angola -
Castro maintains the idea of the revolution
In the face of reforms by Mikhail Gorbachev, Castro maintains the ideological purity of the revolution. (Within the Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy.) -
Castro announces U.S. currency will be allowed to circulate
Castro announces that U.S. currency will be allowed to circulate in Cuba. (Restrictions lifted on exile visits.) -
Castro falls after speech
Castro falls after a speech in Santa Clara, shattering his kneecap. -
Castro suffers "intestinal crises" that requires surgery
Castro at the age of 79, suffers an "intestinal crises" that requires surgery. He teporarily cedes most of his titles to his brother Raul Castro. -
Castro retires
Fidel Castro retires and says he will not seek re-election.