Fidel Castro became the dictator of Cuba in 1959, when he overthrew the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batiste. Castro promised freedom for the Cuban people, but he changed Cuba into a communist state. Tall and bearded, Castro became famous for his long, fiery anti-american speeches. Castro was born Fidel Castro Ruz in Oriente Province, Cuba. He graduated from the University of Havana with a Doctor of Laws degree in 1950. While at the university, Castro became a popular student leader and entered Cuban politics. On July 26, 1953, He tried to statr a revolution against the Baptiste government by attacking the Moncada Army Barracks in Santiago De Cube. Castro's attack with a band of about one hundred and seventy young followers failed. He was captured and sentenced to fifteen years in Prison. But Batiste released him in 1955 and Castro went into exile in Mexico.Castro then organized the twenty-six of July movement, training a small rebel force near Mexico City. On December 1, 1956, he invaded Cuba with about 80 rebels. Many were killed, and the survivors fled to the Sierra, Maestra montains. The group grew as supporters from the surrounding countryside joined the movement. The band hid in the mountains and waged guerrilla warfare until Batistefle fled form Cuba on January 1, 1959. Castro then became head of the Cuban Government.Castro's government seized property owned by Americans, other foreigners and wealthy Cubans. The United States stopped buying Cuban sugar and finally all relations with Cuba. Castro turned to Russia for economic and military aid and declared himself a communist. He built a strong military force and defeated and invading ban of Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, and he boasted of starting revolutions in other Latin-American courntries.Castro provided improved education, housing, and healthy facilities in Cuba. But the Cuban economy lagged despite Russian Economic aid....
