The prominent leader behind the Cuban Revolution, establishing communism in Cuba, was Fidel Castro. Castro led the revolutionary movement against the dictator Fulgencio Batista during the late 1950s. After successfully ousting Batista in 1959, Castro implemented socialist reforms and aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union, which led to strained relations with the United States. His leadership marked a significant shift in Cuban society, influencing other revolutionary movements across Latin America. Plans for agrarian reform aimed to redistribute land, but ultimately led to economic challenges and international tensions.