1933
The Revolt of the Sergeants brings down the Machado government.

1940
Cuba adopts a new constitution that incorporates a number of liberal reforms in politics and economics.

1952
Fulgencio Batista takes control of the government and suspends the 1940 constitution.

1953

Fidel Castro leads an attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba.

1955

Castro is released from prison and exiled to Mexico.

1956
Castro and a band of rebel followers land in Oriente Province and go underground in the Sierra Maestra.

1957

Castro's forces win the first of many victories over Batista's army.

1959
Batista flees Cuba; Castro takes command of the government; the Agrarian Reform Law goes into effect.

1960

The Urban Reform Law goes into effect; upper- and middleclass Cubans begin emigrating; Cuba signs a major trade agreement with the Soviet Union; Cuba nationalizes American holdings on the island; the United States declares a trade embargo against Castro's Cuba...