Cuban Revolution Che Guevara Significance

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Explain the significance of Che Guevara

Che Guevara, is known to many as a prominent figurehead within the Cuban Revolution and recognized as one of the most influential revolutionaries of the 20th century. Guevara has had a profound effect on today’s society, especially Latin America where he played a key role in the Cuban Revolution. Guevara’s significance can be condensed into three main points. Guevara’s legacy and the effect that his image and ideals have had on Cubans, Guevara’s Ideology and lastly, his role in the Cuban Revolution and as Minister of Industry in Cuba. Upon examination of these points, the significance of one of the most recognisable revolutionaries of all time becomes even clearer.

Guevara’s legacy has drawn great …show more content…

During the revolution, Guevara served as his second lieutenant, coordinating the tactics of the revolutionaries. His Guerrilla warfare tactics would prove to be very successful, as it enabled a much smaller force (Numbered In the hundreds) to defeat Batista’s army. As a result of the key role that Guevara played during the revolution, Castro appointed Guevara as his Minister of Industry, where he implemented many reforms that greatly improved Cuba’s Schooling system. At the time of Castro’s rise to power, the literacy rate in Cuba’s was between 60-70%, which was greatly attributed to the general lack of resources in remote areas. The campaign focused on teaching the lower-class citizens how to read and write by constructing new schools and training teachers. At the conclusion of the campaign in 1961, the literacy rate improved massively to 96%, a figure that was not far off first world countries. Despite the success of his other reforms, Guevara had an adverse effect on the Cuban Economy. He strongly believed in the formation of a mostly state-owned economy, and he did just that in 1961. As part of his plan of rapid industrialisation, Guevara believed that a diversification of Cuba’s agricultural production and increased investment in industrialisation was necessary to end Cuba’s reliance on Sugar. By late 1963, Guevara realised his mistake and diverted resources from Industrialisation to sugar production, but his efforts proved to be futile, and the Cuban economy was situated at its lowest point since Castro’s rise to power.

In summary, Guevara’s significance and lasting effect cannot be understated. From his Legacy as a martyred hero who stood up for the oppressed, to the significance of his ideology and teachings in Latin America, and the key role he played within the Cuban