Fidel Castro

A Biographical Summary of Fidel Castro

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, commonly known as Fidel Castro, was a Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008.

Born in Birán, Cuba, on August 13, 1926, Castro studied law at the University of Havana. He became involved in left-wing politics and led a failed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government in 1953. Following his imprisonment, Castro and his followers regrouped and launched a successful guerilla campaign that culminated in the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship in 1959.

Castro established a communist government in Cuba, aligning the island nation with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He implemented sweeping social and economic reforms, including nationalizing industries, expanding healthcare and education, and promoting literacy. Castro's rule was marked by both successes and controversies. He is credited with improving the lives of many Cubans, but his regime was also characterized by authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and economic stagnation. Castro stepped down as president in 2008 due to health reasons and died on November 25, 2016, at the age of 90.