Who Was Fidel Castro? [Paperback]

USWho Was Fidel Castro?
 
 
“Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!” Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the city of Havana, the capital of Cuba, were shouting for Fidel Castro. It was the evening of January 8, 1959. A week earlier, Fidel and his forces had overthrown President Batista and the government of Cuba. The crowds in Havana were waiting for their new leader to speak about his plans for the country. Cubans were ready for the freedom and changes that Fidel had promised them. The Cuban people were ready for a new leader.
 
Spotlights shone on the stage where Fidel was to speak. Fidel finally stepped up to the microphone. He had a big, bushy beard and was dressed in an army cap and olive-green army fatigues. The crowds cheered even louder when they saw Fidel.
 
Fidel spoke for two hours. He told everyone listening in Havana, across Cuba, and around the world that he was the new leader of the country. He would bring change to his beloved homeland.
 
As Fidel ended his speech, several white doves were released. One of the doves landed on Fidel’s shoulder.The crowd went silent. White doves were seen as a sign of peace. Many believed it was a sign from God. They believed that Fidel, who was only thirty-two years old at the time, had been specially chosen to lead Cuba.
 

Chapter 1: A Privileged Childhood
 
 
Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926. His father was named Angel. He was the owner of a sugar cane plantation. (A plantation is a very large farm that usually grows only one crop.) He had immigrated to Cuba from Spain in 1905. Fidel’s mother, Lina, was a housekeeper at the plantation. Fidel was Angel and Lina’s third child. After Fidel was born, the couple had four more children. Angel and Lina did not get married until Fidel was a teenager. 
 
The sugar cane plantation where Fidel grew up was called Las ManacaslĂB