8. Cuban Revolution (1953-1959)
The Cuban Revolution saw Fidel Castro and his guerrilla fighters overthrow Fulgencio Batista’s authoritarian regime after years of armed struggle. The revolution’s triumph in 1959 transformed Cuba into a communist state just 90 miles from the United States, profoundly challenging American influence in the region. Cuba’s new government inspired leftist movements across Latin America and became a flashpoint in Cold War politics, reshaping the island’s identity and its role on the world stage.
