CH5: Cuban Missile Crisis / Bay of Pigs Flashcards
Who ruled Cuba before Castro, and when did his rule begin?
Fulgencio Batista, since 1933.
How much of Cuba’s economy was controlled by the U.S. before Castro?
40% of the sugar industry and 80% of all Cuban industry.
Where did the U.S. have a naval base in Cuba?
Guantanamo Bay.
When did Fidel Castro overthrow Batista?
1959.
How many guerrilla fighters did Castro have in his revolution?
800 fighters.
What was Castro’s main goal?
To free Cuba from U.S. economic control and improve conditions for the people.
How did Castro challenge U.S. economic control?
He confiscated U.S.-owned property and redistributed land to the poor.
Why did the U.S. suspect Castro of being a Communist?
Because he seized American property and allied with the USSR.
How did the U.S. respond to Castro’s reforms in 1960?
- July 1960: The U.S. banned sugar imports from Cuba.
- October 1960: The U.S. cut all trade with Cuba.
Which country started buying Cuban sugar and supplying weapons after the U.S. embargo?
The Soviet Union (USSR).
When did President Eisenhower approve a CIA plan to train Cuban exiles to invade?
Spring 1960.
When did the Bay of Pigs invasion take place?
17 April 1961.
How many anti-Castro Cubans were trained for the invasion?
1,500.
What mistakes led to the failure of the invasion?
- CIA misread reconnaissance photos and thought reefs were seaweed, damaging landing craft.
- Castro had 20,000 troops ready with tanks and modern weapons.
- The Cuban people did not support the invasion.
What happened to the anti-Castro invaders?
They were either killed or captured.
How did the Bay of Pigs failure affect Kennedy?
He was humiliated, and Khrushchev saw him as weak.
What was built in August 1961 as a result of Kennedy’s perceived weakness?
The Berlin Wall.
What political statement did Castro make in December 1961?
He publicly declared himself a Marxist.
When did the USSR publicly announce arms shipments to Cuba?
May 1962.
By September 1962, what military resources did Cuba have from the USSR?
- Missiles
- Jet fighters
- Tanks
- 5,000 Soviet technicians
When did Kennedy warn the USSR about turning Cuba into a military base?
11 September 1962.
What did a U2 spy plane discover on 14 October 1962?
Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.
How far could the Soviet missiles in Cuba reach?
2,500 miles, covering most of the U.S.
What event began the ‘Thirteen Days’ crisis?
16 October 1962 – Kennedy was shown spy photos of nuclear missiles in Cuba.
Why did Khrushchev place nuclear missiles in Cuba?
- To counter U.S. missiles in Turkey.
- To challenge Kennedy’s strength.
Where did the U.S. have nuclear missiles threatening the USSR?
NATO countries, especially Turkey.
What action did Kennedy take on 22 October 1962?
He announced a 500-mile naval quarantine (blockade) around Cuba.
What happened on 24 October when Soviet ships approached the blockade?
They turned back at the last minute.
What did Khrushchev offer on 26 October 1962?
To remove missiles if the U.S. lifted the blockade and promised not to invade Cuba.
What was Khrushchev’s second demand on 27 October?
That the U.S. remove its missiles from Turkey.
How did Kennedy respond to Khrushchev’s demands?
He ignored the second letter and accepted the first offer.
What secret deal did Robert Kennedy make with the Soviet ambassador?
The U.S. would remove missiles from Turkey later, but it had to remain secret.
When did Khrushchev announce the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba?
28 October 1962.
What did the U.S. secretly agree to do in return?
Remove its missiles from Turkey within six months.
What nearly caused nuclear war during the crisis?
- A Soviet submarine captain almost launched a nuclear torpedo.
- A bear triggered an intruder alarm at a U.S. airbase, nearly leading to a nuclear strike.
What major peace initiatives followed the crisis?
- June 1963: A hotline was set up between Washington and Moscow.
- August 1963: A Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow.
How did the crisis affect Kennedy’s reputation?
His prestige increased as he was seen as a strong leader.
How did the crisis affect Khrushchev’s position?
His prestige declined, and he was dismissed in 1964.
How did the crisis affect U.S.-European relations?
France left NATO due to feeling ignored by the U.S. during the crisis.
