The planned 1952 election is cancelled

Batista seizes power in a military coup

10 March 1952

Fulgencio Batista overthrew President Carlos Prío Socarrás, cancelled elections and suspended constitutional government. The coup created the dictatorship against which the revolutionary movement...

👉 The planned 1952 election is cancelled Current

10 March 1952

Batista’s coup prevented an election in which reformist and opposition parties expected to compete, closing an important legal path for political change.

Rebels assemble for the Moncada operation

26 July 1953

Young opponents of Fulgencio Batista gathered before dawn for coordinated attacks in Oriente. The action challenged a dictatorship created by the 1952 military coup.

Attack on the Moncada Barracks begins

26 July 1953

A force led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. The failed assault later gave its date and symbolism to the July 26 Movement.

Rebels occupy the civilian hospital

26 July 1953

A group led by Abel Santamaría took the Saturnino Lora Civil Hospital as part of the Moncada plan. Many participants were captured after the assault failed.

Raúl Castro’s group occupies the Palace of Justice

26 July 1953

Raúl Castro commanded a detachment assigned to the Palace of Justice overlooking the Moncada complex.

Simultaneous attack at Bayamo

26 July 1953

Revolutionaries attacked the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks in Bayamo to hinder reinforcements from reaching Santiago.

The planned 1952 election is cancelled

People in this event

Fulgencio Batista

Fidel Castro

Organizations in this Event

Orthodox Party

Cuban Constitutional Army

Related Events

Why did the cancelled election matter to Batista’s opponents?

Batista allowed the planned 1952 election to proceed after his coup.