Changes

In 1952 elections were held, with the leading parties finishing as  [[Roberto Agramonte]], [[Ortodoxos party]], followed by Dr. [[Aurelio Hevia]] with [[Batista]] being a far thrid place. This prompted Batista to stage a coup on [[10 March]] [[1952]] and lead a military Junta for two years. In 1954 he agreed to elections, which were then rigged.  His regime proved unpopular with high levels of corruption, poverty and police and violence.  

In 1952 elections were held, with the leading parties finishing as  [[Roberto Agramonte]], [[Ortodoxos party]], followed by Dr. [[Aurelio Hevia]] with [[Batista]] being a far thrid place. This prompted Batista to stage a coup on [[10 March]] [[1952]] and lead a military Junta for two years. In 1954 he agreed to elections, which were then rigged.  His regime proved unpopular with high levels of corruption, poverty and police and violence.  

Many American [[mafia]] established themselves in Cuba under Batista's rule, notably prominent mob boss [[Santo Trafficante, Jr.]] Their operations included legitimate [[hotel]]s and [[casino]]s as well as all manners of illicit businesses. The Cuban Government became closely involved with the mafia, and the USA Governmet were cautious not to interfere, lest a socialist regime take over. This background led to civil unrest, harnessed by [[FIdel Castro]].

In 1956 a party of rebels, including [[Fidel Castro]], landed in a boat from [[Mexico]] and tried to start an armed resistance movement in the [[Sierra Maestra]]. In Mexico, his army got strengthened by revolutionary [[Ernesto Che Guevara]] - who is later identified as one of the most important people in Cuban revolution. After the landing, Batista made launched a campaign of repression against the opposition, which only served to increase support for the insurgency.

 

Through 1957 and 1958, opposition to Batista grew, especially among the upper and middle classes and the students. In response to Batista's plea to purchase better arms from the U.S. in order to root out the insurgents in the mountains, the United States government imposed an arms embargo on the Cuban government on [[March 14]], [[1958]]. By late 1958, the rebels had succeeded in breaking out of the Sierra Maestra and launched a general insurrection, joined by hundreds of students and others fleeing Batista’s crackdown on dissent in the cities. When the rebels captured [[Santa Clara, Cuba|Santa Clara]], east of Havana, Batista decided the struggle was futile and fled the country to exile in [[Portugal]] and later [[Spain]]. Castro’s rebel forces entered the capital on [[January 1]] [[1959]]. Castro imposed [[Karl Marx]]'s Communism, and this move has caused him to be a very polarizing figure. While many Cubans attempt to escape Cuba each year, the Cubans that choose to stay have turned Castro into their icon.

 

In 1962, the Soviet Union, in response to missiles placed in Turkey by the United States, placed missile in Cuba while the United States was under the rule of President [[John F. Kennedy]]. The high-pressure controvery that resulted quickly subsided when both sides withdrew.<ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm</re>

==Government==

==Government==