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uh...

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from a stronghold in the wild sierra maestro mountains cuba's fidel castro

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emerged triumphant after two years of guerrilla warfare against the batista

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regime

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the revolution that began with castro a fugitive practically alone landing with

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eighty two followers

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nearly wiped out by government forces ended with the fight of dictator

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fulgencio batista and the entry into havana of rebel forces to be acclaimed

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by the city

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the forces of castro's twenty-sixth of july movement named for the anniversary

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of his first attack on the regime in nineteen fifty three

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have grown vastly

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their power enlarged by captured and surrendered army weapons

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nearly two years of hit and run warfare aimed at toppling batista's government

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by paralyzing cuba's economy

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culminated in victory as nineteen fifty eight and

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castro met an all-out government offensive with a counter-attack

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and in the battle for the key rail center of santa clara

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won the crucial victory

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batista resigned

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to prevent more bloodshed and fled the country

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his departure touched off wild rejoicing in the capital

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as the first elements of rebel forces entered havana

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at first the celebration was peaceful as shouting cheering crowd search for the city

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then the temper of the throne changed and an ugly mob reigned the streets

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prime targets the symbols of the overthrowing regime

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gambling casino parking meters

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the homes and businesses of batista

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six years of surface prosperity and government corruption

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of repression and police brutality

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red explosive discontent

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now batista has fled

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a new leader is on the scene

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fidel castro

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in many ways an unknown quantity in his politics and policies

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but certainly dominant in cuba's new era

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just because