Chapter 3: Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
Historically, Cuba held strategic importance to USA based on these 2 policies. Describe what the 2 policies are.
Roosevelt Corollary (1904): When neighbours of US got into disputes with foreign nations, US had the right to exercise international police power to restore order. It gave USA the right to intervene militarily in Latin America.
Monroe Doctrine (1823): Proclaimed Latin America as US’s sphere of influence. Seen as American aggression
Cuba was largely under the influence of USA since the 1900s. Describe 3 ways that USA had influence over Cuba.
Military - US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay
Economically - American investment and dominance in Cuban sugar and tobacco industries
Politically - Installing Batista, a pro-US leader in Cuba
Describe 3 events that improved Soviet-Cuban relations after Castro took control of Cuba.
- Soviet Cuban Pact - Cuba agreed to barter Cuban sugar for Soviet oil (Cuba would sell 425,000 tons of sugar to USSR in 1960 and subsequently 1 million tons annually in exchange for 6 million barrels of oil)
- Cuba established diplomatic relations with USSR
- USSR stepping in to buy Cuban sugar after Cuba’s sugar quota was cut by USA
- Castro declaring himself a Marxist-Leninist and established a new Communist Party in Cuba
Describe 3 events that worsened USA-Cuban relations after Castro took control of Cuba.
- Castro’s Land Reform Law (May 1959) - Castro wanted to break up the largest private estates in Cuba owned by Americans to redistribute them to the poorer farmers
- Soviet Cuban Pact - Cuba agreed to barter Cuban sugar for Soviet oil (Cuba would sell 425,000 tons of sugar to USSR in 1960 and subsequently 1 million tons annually in exchange for 6 million barrels of oil) - USA economic interests were threatened
- Cuba’s nationalization of foreign oil refineries resulting in USA cutting Cuba’s sugar quota
4.Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961 - US sent the Cuban exile forces to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs - Operation Mongoose (1961 - 1980s) - US led intelligence operations to sabotage important Cuban industries, assassinate attempts on key Cuban political leaders
Describe 3 events that motivated Soviet Union to place missiles in USA.
- Bay of Pigs invasion - the need to protect Cuba and provide support for a Communist ally
- USA’s military advantage of missiles in Turkey - to close the missile gap with USA
- Berlin Crisis of 1958 to 1961 - Economic and military strength of USA and USA’s increasingly attractive ideology hence USSR had to take a strong stance against USA as part of the Soviet domestic policy
Upon discovery of the installation of missiles in Cuba, what was Kennedy’s response? Why?
Imposing a naval blockade of Cuba to stop the import and deployment of missiles in Cuba
Could not do nothing (Seen as a sign of weakness especially after BOP)
Could not invade Cuba (Fear of missiles in Cuba that could be used on US)
Had to be seen as a world policeman for credibility
Had to be answerable to NATO
Gave them time to think of their next course of action while no more missiles could enter Cuba
Define ‘brinkmanship’.
Pushing dangerous situations to the brink with the intention of making the other back down in order to obtain concessions
Provide the DD/MM/YY of the following events.
1. US imposing the Naval Blockade
2. Khrushchev’s first appeal for peace
3. Khrushchev’s second appeal for peace
4. U2 spy plane incident
5. Khrushchev accepts Kennedy’s deal
- US imposing the Naval Blockade - 24 October 1962
- Khrushchev’s first appeal for peace - 26 October 1962
- Khrushchev’s second appeal for peace - 27 October 1962
- U2 spy plane incident - 27 October 1962
- Khrushchev accepts Kennedy’s deal - 28 October 1962
What was the difference between Khrushchev’s first and second appeal for peace to Kennedy?
First appeal for peace - Khrushchev will remove missiles in Cuba if USA agrees to lift blockade
Second appeal for peace - Khrushchev will remove missiles in Cuba if USA removes missiles in Turkey
State 2 reasons that Castro supported Soviet aggression towards USA in the CMC.
- Fear of own sovereignty - close proximity to USA
- Had to defend themselves against USA’s aggression (especially after BOP)
After the U2 spy plane incident, why were both superpowers keen on resolving the crisis?
- Fear of an escalation of conflict into nuclear war
- Had no control over their military commanders
Define ‘mutually assured destruction’.
Building a large enough nuclear arsenal so that in the event of a first strike by the enemy, the country would be able to respond so massively that the enemy will suffer ‘assured destruction’ leading to a full-scale nuclear war hence mutually assured destruction
What were the actions of both USA and USSR that led to the resolution of the Cuban Missiles Crisis?
USA: Promise not to invade Cuba and remove Jupiter missiles in Turkey
USSR: Agreed to remove missiles in Cuba
