(12) The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
What was the Bay of Pig’s invasion and when did it happen?
✩ President Kennedy, sponsored an anti-communist invasion at the Bay of Pigs to overthrow Castro, using the CIA and 1,300 Cuban exiles. The invasion was a humiliating failure
1961
What was the Operation Mongoose and when did it happen?
✩ A CIA operation in conjunction with 1,500 Cuban exiles, blew up railways and poisoned sugar crops in an attempt to destabilise Castro’s regime.
1961
What was the secret agreement and when was it made?
✩ Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev reached a secret agreement with Cuban premier Fidel Castro to place Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter any future invasion attempt
1962
What did the US Spy Planes find out and when?
How did this fuel tensions?
✩ US spy planes spotted the construction of missile bases in Cuba due to house Soviet medium range ballistic missiles
✩ This was located just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, making it effectively in the “backyard” of the United States, giving the USSR nuclear parity.
✩ Strong action taken in Cuba could prevent the spread of communism in South and Central America endangering US economic interests
1962
When was the naval quarantine ordered and what was the Soviet response?
✩ On October 22nd ordered a naval quarantine of Cuba and US forces were placed on high alert. It was described by Khrushchev as an act of aggression
1962
What agreements were made?
✩ However, Soviet ships turned around and Khrushchev issued two letters.
✩ The first agreed to withdraw the missiles on the condition that the US promise not to invade Cuba.
✩ The second demanded the withdrawal of missiles from Turkey. Kennedy publicly accepted the first letter and Bobby Kennedy secretly conveyed that the missiles would be withdrawn from Turkey.
What did the crisis improve, and what did this implicate?
✩ The crisis improved relations between the USA and USSR; this is often referred to as detente
✩ Led to implications of Co-operation (further info in Chapter 15)
What letter was sent to the Soviets?
✩ Sent a letter demanding that the Soviets dismantle the missile bases and return all offensive weapons to the USSR
Why had the USA been concerned over Castro, and what did they attempt?
How have tensions risen as a result?
✩ The new Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, nationalised American companies in Cuba.
✩ In response, Eisenhower cut aid to Cuba, and imports of sugar to the USA, thus damaging the Cuban economy.
✩ Castro and the USSR then signed a trade agreement in 1960 that concerned the Americans.
What was the Background to US relations with Cuba?
✩ Cuba was ruled by a right-wing military dictator, Batista, with the aid of American funding and weapons. Cuba’s main export, sugar, which was grown on American-owned plantations, was primarily sold to the USA.
✩ Despite American money, there was a yawning gap between the rich and poor because Batista and his cronies were corrupt.
How did hostility emerge between the USA and Cuba?
✩ When Castro took power in 1959, the US had little involvement. Castro had broad support in Cuba because he appeared to be a nationalist-liberal rather than a communist, at least until 1961
✩ However, Castro wanted independence from American control, and he nationalised and seized American-owned property and companies in Cuba. Eisenhower and Kennedy’s responses pushed Cuba closer to the USSR.
What were the Results of the Missile Crisis for the USA and Kennedy?
✩ The Missile Crisis provided Kennedy with a foreign policy success and his personal prestige increased.
✩ However, the crisis highlighted the fragility of US security and focused America on building its military strength.
✩ Despite the US commitment to containment, Cuba became and remained a nuclear country in the ‘backyard’ of the USA. This made Kennedy more determined to secure a ‘win’ in Vietnam.
✩ The Americans realised the danger of nuclear war and were inclined to negotiate after the crisis.
What were the Results of the Missile Crisis for the USSR and Khrushchev?
✩ Khrushchev claimed victory as he secured assurances that the US would not invade Cuba and that missiles in Turkey would be removed.
✩ However, Khrushchev was seen as having backed down to US pressure and the event contributed to his dismissal in 1964.
✩ The crisis worsened relations with the Chinese, who took a dim view of the Soviet unwillingness to challenge the USA.
✩ The leaders of the USSR realised danger of nuclear war and were inclined to engage in negotiation
