Cuba before the Revolution was characterized by foreign domination, corruption, and poor living conditions for most Cubans. It was ruled by Fulgencio Batista, who allowed the US to control much of Cuba's economy. Batista had a corrupt military and rigged elections to remain in power. Most Cubans lived in poverty without access to electricity, indoor plumbing, healthcare, or education. Havana had become dominated by organized crime. The Cuban people suffered greatly under Batista's repressive regime, with an estimated 20,000 killed or tortured. This ultimately led to a Cuban revolution as the people sought to free themselves from corruption and oppression.