The
Cuban Revolution (1953–1959) was an armed revolt conducted by
Fidel Castro's
26th of July Movement and its allies against the U.S.-backed authoritarian government of Cuban
President Fulgencio Batista. The revolution began in July 1953, and continued sporadically until the rebels finally ousted Batista on 1 January 1959, replacing his government with a revolutionary
socialist state. The 26th of July Movement later reformed along
communist lines, becoming the
Communist Party in October 1965. The Communist Party, now headed by Castro's brother
Raúl, continues to govern Cuba today.