Che Guevara

Aiden, Carson, Hannah, Henry, Jason,

Mia, Nåah, Ocean & Sebastian.
Key Events and Experiences
(Timeline) - Aiden & Nåah
Karl Marx
German political theorist, philosopher,
revolutionary socialist, economist,
journalist, and historian.

During most of Ernesto Che’s political life,

he followed closely to the Ideology of
Marxism-Leninism
Fidel Castro

Communist Revolutionary; Friend and mentor to Che;

Political leader of Cuba from 1959-2008.

1955 - Castro and Che first meet. "I talked all night with
Fidel. And in the morning I had become the doctor of his
new expedition... I was particularly impressed with Fidel. I
shared his optimism. We needed to act, to struggle, to
materialise our beliefs. Stop whining and fight."
Fidel Castro
1956: Castro postpones revolution to get Che out of prison in Mexico and solidifies their
friendship. "Fidel's answer was irrevocable and I can still hear him say: 'I will not leave you.' This
was his decision and he never departed from it. This attitude of Fidel's for the ones he cared
about is key to the fanaticism that surrounds him. If you adhere to his principles, you adhere to
his whole personality and that's what makes this rebel army an indivisible block." - Che Guevara

1957: Castro appoints Che as first commander in rebel army. Che feels like the, “The proudest
man in the world that day.” This further evidences the value Che places on Castro’s friendship
and the honor and commitment he feels to Castro.
 What actions has Che taken to affect change -
Medical
● Growing up, from his many interests and passions, Che chose to
study medicine as his discipline, administering aid to people who
represented his ideals
● He ultimately decided the medicine alone would not be enough

“There, at my feet, was a backpack of medicine and a

box of ammunition. They were too heavy to carry both. I
picked up the ammunition, leaving the medicine, and
started to cross the clearing…” ~Che Cuba diaries
 What actions has Che taken to affect change -
Speaking and writing
● Addressed the UN assembly
● Gave speeches concerning the solidarity of
identitarian movements in Asia and Africa.
● Wrote letters and essays criticizing and praising
different governmental models around the
world
“Western civilization disguises behind its showy facade a picture of hyenas and jackals. That is the only
name that can be applied to those who have gone to fulfill such ‘humanitarian’ tasks in the Congo. A
carnivorous animal that feeds on unarmed people.” ~Che, address to the UN
 We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are
willing to die for it ~Che

What actions has Che taken to affect change -

Revolutionary tactics
● Che has assisted numerous guerilla
warfare revolutionary groups as a fighter,
namely in Cuba, Bolivia, and Congo.
● Renowned for his leadership style and
stoic, Che was his best as a combat
medic and guerrilla fighter
● Che’s commitment to his guerilla
movements, ultimately lead to his death.
Greatest Triumphs
● Overthrew the Batista
government in Cuba and
installed a communist state
● Became president of the
Cuban National Bank and
favored trade with the Soviet
Union.
Inspiring many to this day.

● Still inspires people to stand up

for what they believe in.
● Served as both an example of
how to, and how not to start
revolutions
 What Does Che Believe?
“There are people who carry inside them the dignity of the
world, and one of those is Che.” - Fidel Castro

“Wherever I am, I will feel the responsibility of being a

Cuban revolutionary, and I shall behave as such.” (165) - Che
Guevara

“If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you

are a comrade of mine” (182) - Che Guevara

“[Che was] not only an intellectual but also the most

complete human being of our age.” - Jean-Paul Sartre Guevara meeting with French existentialist
philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de
Beauvoir at his office in Havana, March 1960.
What Does Che Believe?
“We began to feel in our bones the need for a definitive change in the lives of
these people. The idea of agrarian reform became clear, and communication
with the people ceased being theory and became a fundamental part of our
being” (53). - Che Guevara

“We are now the hope of the unredeemed Americas. All eyes - those of the
great oppressors and those of the hopeful - are firmly on us.” (92) - Che Guevara

“‘End the philosophy of plunder and the philosophy of war will be ended as
well.’” (104) - Che Guevara
Guevarism & Marxism-Leninism
Guevarism - Ideology promoting the exportation of revolution to any
country whose leader is supported by the empire (United States) and has
fallen out of favor with its citizens.

Marxism - A system of socialism of which the dominant feature is public

ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.

Marxism-Leninism - A modification of Marxism by Lenin that stressed

imperialism as the highest form of capitalism; shifts struggle from
developed to undeveloped countries
1964 Che Guevara UN Speech [5:07]
¨All this, distinguished delegates, this new
will of a whole continent, of Latin America, is
made manifest in the cry proclaimed daily
by our masses as the irrefutable expression
of their decision to fight and to paralyze the
armed hand of the invader. It is a cry that has
the understanding and support of all the
peoples of the world and especially of the
socialist camp, headed by the Soviet Union.

That cry is: Patria o muerte! [Homeland or

death]¨
 Che’s Greatest Struggles - Jason and Ocean
Part 1
Che went through many physical challenges in his battle
against imperialism and oppression. His most famous
battles include:
- Cuban Revolution (July 26, 1953 – Jan 1, 1959)
- Bay of Pigs Invasion (Apr 17, 1961 – Apr 19, 1961)
- Battle of Santa Clara (December 28th, 1958)
- Operation Verano (June 28, 1958 – Aug 8, 1958)
- Battle of Las mercedes (Jul 29, 1958 – Aug 8, 1958)
Days After the Battle of Santa Clara
January 1, 1959
 Che’s Greatest Struggles - Jason and Ocean
Part 2
Che went through a lot of hardships throughout his life, yet his
most challenging one would undoubtedly be the revolution of
Cuba. This took place over the course of six years, starting in July
26th 1953 (Where the revolutionists pulled their name from) until
January 1st 1959. During this time period, they were shot at,
starved, and forced to hold out in the swamp and jungle areas of
the country. During this effort, their opposition was composed of
the entirety of Batista’s (the dictator at the time) military, as well
as the disapproval of the United States. Batista in 1939
 Che’s Greatest Struggles - Jason and Ocean
Part 3
While Che had his fair share of battles and physical
challenges, he also had many metaphysical challenges.
These include the mental scarring of seeing his fellow
soldiers killed and/or maimed. Another vivid memory
that seemed to haunt him was when he and his
comrades were ordered to strangle a puppy that had
been following them and barking, endangering their
position. Che Guevara (centre) lead a memorial march
in Havana on 5 May 1960, for the victims of
the La Coubre freight ship explosion
Che’s Impact on the World and Legacy Part 1-
Mia
“Che is the last unplundered icon of the ’60’s in
popular culture, and now can be looted for
commercial use in our entertainment culture.”
- Jon Lee Anderson, author of Che Guevara: A
Revolutionary Life
Che’s Impact on the World and Legacy Part 2-
Mia
- Greatest accomplishment: overthrowing
the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in
1959.
- Che became a symbol of revolution,
anti-imperialism, and leftist radicalism.
- His image has been used in guerilla
anti-imperialist movements in countries
across the world, including: Asia, Latin
America and Africa.
Che’s Impact on the World and Legacy Part 3-
Mia
- Che’s image has also been the
victim of imperialism.
- Che’s face has been used in the
logos of beer brands to athletic
gear.
- The image used
A metal sculpture of Che in Che Guevara graffiti in Fidel Castro and Che Guevara Graffiti.
Revolution Square, Havana Nazareth, Israel.
The End
Works Cited
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“Batista Forced out by Castro-Led Revolution.” History.com, A&E Television Networks
Jazeera, Al. “Che Guevara and Fidel Castro: Revolutionary Friends.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 7
Aug. 2017.
“The Legacy of Ernesto Che Guevara.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 20 Nov. 1997.
“Marxism-Leninism - Dictionary Definition.” Vocabulary.com
CastaÑeda, Jorge G. “What Is Che Guevara's Legacy 50 Years After His Death?” The New
York Times, The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2017.
“Legacy of Che Guevara.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Apr. 2018.
“History - Che Guevara.” BBC, BBC.