9. Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
1
Q
Cause of the crisis (6)
A
- Castro, who led Cuba since 1959 was a nationalist who wished to ensure Cuba’s independence from the influence of other countries. - He began to nationalise industries, many of which were owned by US businesses
- This upset the Americans and hostility grew
- Trade between the two nations declined
- Castro turned to USSR in 1960 to trade
- USSR became Cuba’s main trading partner
- 1961 Castro announced that he had become a communist
2
Q
Describe the Bay of Pigs (5)
A
- CIA informed JFK that it was planning an invasion of Cuba with assistance from anti-Castro Cuban exiles
- Kennedy approved the invasion
- There were 1,500 invaders
- Main issue was the bad military intelligence available to the invaders
- They hugely overestimated the amount of support they would receive from Cubans when they invaded
3
Q
Result of Bay of Pigs
A
The invasion made Kennedy look inexperienced and turned Castro into a hero in Cuba
4
Q
Castro and USSR reactions to Bay of Pigs (3)
A
- Castro was deeply concerned by the American attempts to overthrow him and turned to the USSR for assistance
- This resulted, in August 1962, in the arrival of equipment required to establish nuclear missile bases in Cuba
- missiles in Cuba would be able to reach most US cities and provide a match for the American missiles that had been installed in countries such as Turkey (because of their proximity with USSR)
5
Q
USA options in Cuba (6)
A
- Throughout The crisis, ExComm advised Kennedy and one of the key members was Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the presidents brother. ExComm considered a range of options available to the US:
- Naval Blockade of Cuba
- Invasion of Cuba
- Air attacks on the missile bases
- Nuclear attack on Cuba
- Allowing missile bases to be erected
5
Q
Kennedy reaction to these missile bases being erected (3)
A
- US intelligence services obtained convincing proof of the missile bases by 14th October 1962
- Soviet ships were also en route to Cuba with further supplies
- Kennedy was determined not to look foolish again and stand firm against the threat posed by the USSR
6
Q
What happened 22nd October
A
Kennedy decided on a naval blockade of Cuba
7
Q
23rd October
A
USSR condemned USA’s actions as piracy and argued it was only helping Cuba to improve its defences
8
Q
24th October (4)
A
- Beginning of US naval blockade
- Plans for an American invasion of Cuba are drawn up
- US Air Force Planes began to fly over Cuba
- On reaching the naval blockade the Soviet shines were stopped
9
Q
26th October (2)
A
- Kennedy receives a telegram from Khrushchev
- It states that USSR would remove missiles if the USA agreed to end the blockade and undertook not to invade Cuba
10
Q
27th October (7)
A
- Second telegram arrived from Khrushchev
- Conflicting
- USSR would only remove its missiles from Cuba if the USA removed its missiles from Turkey
- Kennedy took his brother’s advice and ignored the second telegram since he wasn’t prepared to bargain with the USSR
- Sent a reply to first telegram
- Agreed to remove the blockade and not invade the island in return for the removal of soviet missiles
- If He didn’t receive a reply by 29th October, an invasion of Cuba would begin
11
Q
28th October
A
Khrushchev agreed to Kennedy’s offer and the removal of the missiles began
12
Q
Consequences of the crisis and impact on relations (8)
A
- After 13 days of brinkmanship, nuclear war had been avoided
- In public it looked like a great victory for Kennedy
- However On 27th October he secretly agreed to remove missiles from turkey
- Shortly after the crisis the USA began to dismantle some of its missiles from various bases in Europe, including turkey
- Castro remained in power
- Both sides agreed that such a confrontation should be avoided in the future
- A telephone hotline between Washington and Moscow was set up
- Also agreed to begin talks designed to reduce the number of nuclear weapons each side had (Partial Test Ban Treaty signed 1963)
