On March 10, Fulgencio Batista and his troops executed a swift and efficient coup d'état against the Cuban government, which was led by President Carlos Prío Socarrás. Batistas' dissatisfaction with the political climate, particularly the perceived corruption and inefficiency of the current administration, motivated his desire to regain control. Seizing the early morning hours, Batista's well-coordinated military operation allowed him to take over critical government buildings in Havana without facing significant resistance. His forces quickly captured the president's palace, and within hours, Batista had declared himself the leader of Cuba.

Batista's coup was significant in shaping the future of Cuba. He reinstated martial law and dissolved the congress, leading to a regime that suspended constitutional rights and curtailed civil liberties. Batista sought to stabilize the nation through repression and fostered close ties with the United States, primarily due to American interests in the lucrative sugar industry. His regime, characterized by authoritarianism, corruption, and police brutality, would later sow the seeds for unrest that ultimately led to the Cuban Revolution.

Despite initial support in restoring order, Batista's increasingly oppressive rule created widespread dissent, giving rise to revolutionary figures like Fidel Castro, who opposed Batista's regime. Castro, among others, would eventually galvanize a movement that sought to restore democracy and promote social justice in Cuba. The shift from Batista's regime would change the trajectory of Cuba profoundly, culminating in a longstanding and tumultuous revolutionary struggle that reshaped the nation’s future.