The Cuban Revolution occurred in 1959 when Fidel Castro overthrew the authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Batista's Cuba had a wealthy elite but most Cubans lived in poverty with little access to land, healthcare, or education. The revolution aimed to remove Batista, establish democracy, and gain independence from heavy U.S. influence. When Castro took power he transformed Cuba into a communist state, seizing private property and businesses. This led the U.S. to impose an embargo and sour relations. Under Castro, Cuba established a command economy reliant on the Soviet Union and citizens saw restrictions on civil liberties, though gains were made in healthcare, education, and literacy.
