26th of July Movement,
Spanish MOVIMIENTO 26 DE JULIO
[Index] , revolutionary movement
led by Fidel
Castro that overthrew
the regime of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba (1959). Its name commemorated
an attack on the Santiago army barracks on July 26, 1953. The
movement began formally in 1955 when Castro went to Mexico to
form a disciplined guerrilla force. The leaders of the movement
remaining in Cuba to carry out sabotage and political activities
were Frank País, Armando Hart, and Enrique Oltuski. At
this time the movement espoused a reform program that included
distribution of land to peasants, nationalization of public
services, industrialization, and mass education.
In early 1957, with Castro back in Cuba fighting in the Sierra
Maestra, "Civic Resistance" groups were organized in the cities,
and numerous middle-class and professional persons gravitated
toward Castro. In 1958 the movement joined in a "Junta of Unity"
with most other groups opposing Batista. After Castro's victory,
the 26th of July Movement was integrated into the Organizaciones
Revolucionarias Integradas in 1961.
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Related Propaedia Topics:
The Cuban Revolution of 1959: Fidel Castro's program for Cuban Socialism