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Fidel Castro was a young Cuban lawyer when he decided to begin
an armed struggle against dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1953. He
failed at the time and was nearly killed, but lived to lead a
second and successful rebellion. Those who hoped that Castro
would become a democratic reformer, however, were disappointed
when he instead became the hemisphere's longest-serving
dictator. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13,
1926, near Mayari, Cuba. His parents owned a sugarcane
plantation and the family lived moderately prosperous lives. He
attended Catholic schools and enrolled in the University of
Havana in 1945, where he studied law. At the university, Castro
joined groups opposed to the government. He received his law
degree in 1950 and planned to run for a seat in the legislature,
but his plans were frustrated when Batista overthrew the
government and stopped the elections. Castro charged Batista
with violating the constitution, but his ca