che: the motivations and principles of a revoluntionary

Che Guevara: The Motivations & Principles of a Revolutionary : 

Che Guevara: The Motivations & Principles of a Revolutionary Angela Wohlfarth

Questions and Arguments : 

What was Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s motivation for becoming a revolutionary? U.S. interference with Latin America Believed capital greed caused the social injustices in Latin American societies Examine the Guatemala Revolution Did Che save Fidel’s invasion on Cuba and make the Revolution a success? Theory of guerrilla warfare Examine the Cuba Revolution Questions and Arguments

Guatemala Revolution, 1954 : 

Causes Arbenz enacted land-reform ending latifundia and nationalizing the properties of United Fruit Company (U.S. owned) Ties of Eisenhower Admin to United Fruit John Foster Dulles (Sec. of State and lawyer for United Fruit) Allen Dulles (CIA director and director of J. Henry Schroder Banking Corp) John Moors Cabot (Asst. Sec. for Inter-American Affairs and investor) U.S. interference based on communist activities Picture: Glorious Victory by Diego Rivera, 1954 Information Source: Jon Lee Anderson, Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, 122. Guatemala Revolution, 1954

Guatemala Revolution, 1954 : 

Ernesto Guevara’s Role Developed political ideology “One must be prepared to fight U.S. interference, rather than try to avoid or neutralize it.” (Castaneda, Companero, 71) Became a supporter of the Soviet Union and Communism Supported the Arbenz government, but never fought for it Disappointed Arbenz gave up so quickly – believed if the people were armed, they could have defeated the army. Sought asylum at Argentina Embassy before going to Mexico Information Source: Jose Castaneda, Companero and Paul Dosal Comandante Che Picture: CIA funded and trained Guatemalan Army used to overthrow Arbenz. Guatemala Revolution, 1954

Guatemala Revolution, 1954 : 

Analysis Ernesto Guevara was looking for a fight against U.S. imperialism. He believed the social ills of Latin America were contributed to the capitalist system embodied by U.S. businesses and government. These ills could only be treated by eradicating foreign powers from the region and instituting a socialist system. Guevara believed Guatemala would be the perfect place for an authentic revolution because the Arbenz government went up against the U.S. owned United Fruit Company (imperialism) to give the land back to the people (socialism) Guatemala Revolution, 1954

Cuba Revolution : 

Cuba Revolution Causes U.S. government backed Cuban leader Batista Suspended elections and ended constitutional government Cuban dependency on U.S. for sugar exports Platt Amendment of 1902 Denied Cuba their independency Allow U.S. to interfere anytime public order was threatened Picture: Fulgencio Batista Information Source: Jose Castaneda, Companero

Cuba Revolution : 

Guevara’s Role Persuaded Fidel to use guerrilla warfare Small group of men cannot defeat an army using conventional methods of war (Castro’s plan) A prolonged war will engage the people and gather support Believed a revolution did not have to wait for the right conditions, rather had to fight the system than work within it (create your own conditions) Theory of the “foco” Picture: Castro and Che in the Sierra Maestra Cuba Revolution

Cuba Revolution : 

Guevara’s Role Advocated social change not just political (regime) change Willing to die and kill for the cause Revolution must be fought on principles (must know what to do once government is taken over) Che Guevara Reader, 88 Revolution must be about the masses: a bottom up rather than top down Social change came from economic and political reform Picture: Che giving a speech at the U.N., 1964 Cuba Revolution

Cuba Revolution : 

Guevara’s Role Supported Castro’s move toward communism and the Soviet Union The path to economic independence and development was socialism Trade agreements were viewed as selling merchandise, not their national sovereignty to the Soviet Union. (Che Guevara Reader, 106) Picture: Che Guevara visiting the Soviet Union Cuba Revolution

Cuba Revolution : 

Analysis After solidifying his main goals to join a revolutionary cause, Che found a leader in Fidel Castro. The relationship between Castro and Che made the Cuba Revolution a success. Che brought with him the knowledge of guerrilla warfare and saw the value of the support of the peasants in the countryside as crucial for any revolution to succeed. In addition, Che believed principles, clearly defined and steadfast, added to the success of a revolution. Cuba Revolution