Charismatic Leadership and the use of propaganda:
● Strict control of the media, with censorship
○ Newspaper called Granma
■ Used to generally promote successes of Castro’s rule
● Radio was also used to promote marxism
○ Radio Havana (1961)
● Billboards and posters were used to promote speeches and ideological messages to the
population
● Many street and graffiti artist in Cuba reinforced the cult of personality of Castro by
drawing revolutionary images of him in the cities such as Havana and Santigao
● Council of ministers
○ No stand alone dictatorship
○ Brand new political system for Cuba
Legal Methods:
● Castro sought to create the new government systems for the running of Cuba
○ Council of Ministers, worked as the highest branch of the government
○ Castro was prime minister
● Castro did not restore the 1940 constitution
○ Governed without written constitution until 1976
● Trade union leaders were replaced with people who were known to be pro-Castro
Forgein Policy:
● Castro’s relationship with the USA defined the Cuban and world history in the early years
of his power
● USA tentatively supported Castro over Batista, the relationship quickly soured thereafter
● Castro’s anti-Americanism was quickly evident in the seizing of assets and expulsion of
the companies that were based in Cuba
● USA removed its diplomatic recognition of the new Cuban administration as a result of
this and many American policy makers were concerned about the nature of the regime
● Castro had made agreements with the Soviet Leader Khrushchev
Cuban Constitution 1976:
● Castro was head of state, serving as president and head of Cuban Communist Party
● Constitution stated that Cuba was a single-party, socialist state
● Commitments to free education and health care were included
● Strict control of the media, with censorship
○ Newspaper called Granma
■ Used to generally promote successes of Castro’s rule
● Radio was also used to promote marxism
○ Radio Havana (1961)
● Billboards and posters were used to promote speeches and ideological messages to the
population
● Many street and graffiti artist in Cuba reinforced the cult of personality of Castro by
drawing revolutionary images of him in the cities such as Havana and Santigao
● Council of ministers
○ No stand alone dictatorship
○ Brand new political system for Cuba
Legal Methods:
● Castro sought to create the new government systems for the running of Cuba
○ Council of Ministers, worked as the highest branch of the government
○ Castro was prime minister
● Castro did not restore the 1940 constitution
○ Governed without written constitution until 1976
● Trade union leaders were replaced with people who were known to be pro-Castro
Forgein Policy:
● Castro’s relationship with the USA defined the Cuban and world history in the early years
of his power
● USA tentatively supported Castro over Batista, the relationship quickly soured thereafter
● Castro’s anti-Americanism was quickly evident in the seizing of assets and expulsion of
the companies that were based in Cuba
● USA removed its diplomatic recognition of the new Cuban administration as a result of
this and many American policy makers were concerned about the nature of the regime
● Castro had made agreements with the Soviet Leader Khrushchev
Cuban Constitution 1976:
● Castro was head of state, serving as president and head of Cuban Communist Party
● Constitution stated that Cuba was a single-party, socialist state
● Commitments to free education and health care were included
