History of Fulgencio Batista

Fulgencio Batista, a significant figure in Cuban history, remains a controversial figure for his role as both a military leader and a politician who heavily influenced the trajectory of 20th-century Cuba. Batista's political career is marked by two distinct periods of governance: his initial presidency from 1940 to 1944 and his return to power in a coup d'état from 1952 until he was overthrown in 1959.

**Early Life and Rise to Power**

Born on January 16, 1901, in Banes, Cuba, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar came from humble beginnings. He was of mixed race, with African, Chinese, and European ancestry, which played a role in shaping his early experiences in a racially stratified Cuba. He joined the Cuban army as a stenographer in 1921, but his keen intelligence and ambition quickly propelled him through the ranks. By 1933, he had become a significant figure within the military, leading what was known as the "Sergeants' Revolt," which effectively toppled the provisional government.

Batista's leadership in this coup helped establish the "Pentarchy of 1933," marking the beginning of his influence over Cuban politics. Although he did not immediately assume the presidency, Batista wielded considerable power behind the scenes as the army's head. This period was characterized by Batista's manipulation of puppet presidents, effectively controlling Cuba while maintaining a facade of democratic processes.

**First Presidency (1940-1944)**

In 1940, Batista ran for president democratically, this time formally assuming the office. He was a candidate for the newly formed Progressive Action Party and won with the support of a broad coalition that included communists and other left-wing groups. His presidency was notable for progressive reforms and the drafting of the 1940 Constitution, one of the most advanced in Latin America at the time, which provided for land reforms, social welfare, and labor rights. This period was marked by Batista's attempt to position himself as a modern reformer and democrat, and it earned him a degree of popularity and legitimacy.

Batista's first presidency also saw increased government intervention in the economy and infrastructure development, partly funded by American investment. Relations with the United States were friendly, as Batista aligned Cuba with the Allies during World War II, declaring war on the Axis powers.

Despite this, corruption, nepotism, and patronage were pervasive during his administration. Batista did not seek reelection in 1944, honoring the constitutional mandate, and he handed over power to his successor, Ramón Grau.

**Interim Period**

After leaving office, Batista moved to the United States, where he lived comfortably and continued to be involved in Cuban politics from afar. Despite being out of office, he remained a powerful figure in Cuban politics, utilizing his wealth and connections to maintain influence.

**Coup and Second Rule (1952-1959)**

The post-war period in Cuba was marked by political instability and economic challenges. Batista, who had been planning his return to power, seized the opportunity. On March 10, 1952, just before the presidential elections in which he was a candidate lagging in third place, Batista led a successful coup against the sitting president, Carlos Prío Socarrás. This coup was largely bloodless and marked the start of Batista's second and more infamous tenure.

Batista's return was initially supported by segments of the Cuban elite and business interests, as well as foreign investors, particularly those from the United States who saw him as a stabilizing force. However, his regime soon became synonymous with repressive authoritarian rule. He suspended the 1940 Constitution, dissolved the Cuban Congress, and ruled by decree. Batista's government was characterized by rampant corruption, censorship, and the use of brutal tactics against political opponents.

Under his rule, Havana became known as a hedonistic escape for American tourists, replete with casinos and nightclubs, many run by the American mafia. While the economy grew due to foreign investment, most Cubans lived in poverty and the income inequality fueled resentment.

**Downfall**

Batista's suppression of dissent created fertile ground for revolutionary movements. The most significant of these was led by Fidel Castro, a young lawyer who launched an attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953. Though the attack failed, it was the starting point of widespread resistance against Batista's regime. Castro was captured, imprisoned, and released in 1955 under an amnesty, only to flee to Mexico where he regrouped.

From Mexico, Castro formed the 26th of July Movement, which returned to Cuba in 1956 to wage a guerrilla war against Batista. The movement gained momentum, and with growing discontent amongst the populace, Batista's forces began to falter under the pressure of the insurgency and international condemnation. His US allies withdrew support as the scale of his regime's human rights abuses became apparent.

On December 31, 1958, faced with mounting opposition and loss of military and public support, Batista fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic, eventually settling in Portugal.

**Legacy**

Batista's departure marked the end of an era and ushered in Castro's revolutionary government, which dramatically changed Cuba's political and social landscape. Batista remains a polarizing figure in Cuban history—a man who, though initiating progressive reforms, ultimately became a symbol of the corruption and inequality that prompted the Cuban Revolution. His complicated legacy is one of both initial modernization and later tyranny, setting the stage for the revolutionary changes that followed his departure.