Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was the first President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba. A law graduate, Fidel Castro opposed the dictatorships of South America, which led him to become involved in plans for an uprising in the Dominican Republic. He was imprisoned for two years following General Batista's coup d'état, claiming that Batista had violated the constitution. After his release, he fought the US-backed Cuban military dictatorship for two years. This armed reaction ended with Batista's departure and the arrival in power of Fidel Castro, who established a government inspired by revolutionary socialism, drawing closer to the Cuban Communist Party.
In 1960, a heavy struggle began when the United States announced an embargo against Cuba. This decision led to, among other things, the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. These conflicts led to the establishment of an alliance between Cuba and the USSR.
In the same year, Fidel Castro demanded the nationalization of all companies and outlawed free trade. These decisions led to poverty and a lack of resources, prompting Cubans to emigrate to the United States. Following serious health problems, Castro resigned as head of state in 2008.
He died on November 25, 2016 at the age of 90.
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1926: Fidel Castro is born on August 13. He is the illegitimate son of a mixed-race woman and a wealthy landowner.
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1945: He studies law at Havana University.
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1952: Castro openly criticizes General Batista.
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1953: He is imprisoned.
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1955: He is released thanks to an Amnesty intervention. He leaves the country with his brother Raul Castro.
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1956: He returns to Cuba to overthrow the American-backed military dictatorship.
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1959: General Batista leaves office and Castro takes power. He is appointed prime minister.
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1960: He carries out a series of death sentences, imprisonments and shootings to consolidate his power.
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1961: Castro gains in popularity following the failed U.S. landing at the Bay of Pigs. He took the opportunity to announce Cuba's communism. The USSR, Castro's ally, installs missiles in Cuba, prompting the United States to embargo Cuba.
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1976: Canada is one of the first countries to resume trade with the Cuban people. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, then Prime Minister of Canada, develops a bond of trust with Fidel Castro.
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2008: Fidel Castro announces his retirement from Cuba's political leadership and is replaced by his brother, Raul Castro.