C: Foreign Relations

Question 1

Partial trade embargo placed on Cuba by the US

Answer 1

1960: restricting trade, used as a threat.

Question 2

Full trade embargo

Answer 2

1962: American-Cuban relations had fully deteriorated, after the humiliating fiasco at the BoP

Question 3

Why was US wary of Cuba?

Answer 3

• Their favourite politician was defeated by a revolution.
• Ensuing communist influence within Cuba

So Cuba became closer with the USSR, 1960 Castro would declare himself communist.

Feb 1961: USSR supplies weapons to Cuba

Question 4

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Details and course

Answer 4

16 April 1961: 1,500 Cuban exiles launched an invasion in the Bay of Pigs. They intended to spark revolt with the support of the locals.

However Castro personally saw to its defense, and within three days the battle was loss. 1,200 were taken prisoner, 100 died (invaders). The people did not turn on Castro, suprisingly…

Question 5

Bay of Pigs

Outcomes for Cuba

Answer 5

U.S. underestimated Castro’s popular support and military capability.

This helpd consolidate Castro’s revolutionary government, and Cuban national pride increased.

Quietened dissatisfaction from economic problems of being a Marxist-Leninist state.

Question 6

Bay of Pigs

Outcome for Kennedy administration

Answer 6

Faced internation ridicule.
Total blockade was imposed.

Question 7

Cuban Missile Crisis

Background

Answer 7

America placed long and short range missiles placed in Turkey, which could pose a threat.

So in response the USSR placed Soviet missiles in Cuba, with similar proximity to the US.

Question 8

Cuban Missile Crisis

Administration’s response

Answer 8

This caused crisis and exacerbated the Red Fear in Cold War tensions

Kennedy set up a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further missiles entering.

Question 9

Cuban Missile crisis - outcomes

The three leaders

Answer 9

Kennedy: revered as a symbol of strength at a time of crisis (recovered from BoP)
Khrushchev: seen as weak for failing to stand up against Kennedy. Catalyst for his political demise in October 1964
Castro: no loss of popularity, but realisation of involvement in international power politics