CMC: Part 1

Question 1

International Context (3)

Answer 1

• The US didn’t want communism in Americas –> POC
• 1947 Rio Pact in Central and South America (NATO equivalent)
• 1948 OAS established - rooted hegemonic power of USA

Question 2

Kennedy FP (3)

Answer 2

• Continued the POC and was expected to be hard on communism
• Believed in reaching diplomatic solutions before using strong-arm tactics (dove)
• Considered weak by political opponents

Question 3

Khrushchev FP (3)

Answer 3

• Policy of Peaceful Co-existence and detente with the West (taken as weakness by Mao)
• U2 spy plane incident heightened tensions
• Accelerated the arms race while trying to do the opposite and his rhetoric and behaviour was often unpredictable

Question 4

Cuban Context (6)

Answer 4

• Fulgencio Batista was an oppressive dictator supplied by the USA - silenced opposition and was supported by the wealthy.
• Anti-communist
• Supported US business in Cuba. Cuban economy was dependent on sugar exports and the US bought the bulk of this.
• Allowed wealthy Americans to Vacation in Cuba
• Was despised by the poor Cubans (who were the majority of the population)
• US had naval base (Guantanamo Bay)

Question 5

Cuban Revolution (5)

Answer 5

• First rebellion by Fidel Castro and brother Raul failed in 1953 led to jailing
• Freed in 1954 and created socialist manifestos in Mexico while in exile
• Managed to gain a following from the middle-class Cubans
• US distances themselves from Batista and refuses to ship arms
• Guerilla warfare ensues

Question 6

Overthrow of Batista (5)

Answer 6

• Castro garnered support from poor majority by promising healthcare and education (like Mao)
• Batista easily overthrown due to widespread support for the rebels in Cuba + lack of US support
• Castro nationalised US companies and took wealth to be reinvested into health and education
• Cuban exiles flee to US, specifically Florida
• Revolution began in 1953 and ended in January 1959

Question 7

Foreign Response to Revolution (3)

Answer 7

• US uses the press to create public outcry from angry Americans
• US refuses to trade with Cuba because Castro nationalised US oil companies that refused to refine Soviet crude oil. Ignores sugar trade which hurts the Cuban economy
• USSR decides to step in and buy the sugar - brings the two countries closer (political discussions).

Question 8

US Actions Against Cuba Post-Revolution (5)

Answer 8

• USA implements economic blockade of Cuba
• Castro develops trade relations with other communist countries (USSR, North Vietnam, China)
• Threat to the POC
• 1961 - Bay of Pigs invasion by the CIA fails and leads to international criticism.
  The troops were poorly trained and the invasion was seen as American imperialism
• This enraged Castro who begins to agree with the USSR to construct missile bases. Now politically closer

Question 9

14-15 October 1962 (6)

Answer 9

• American spy planes see bases being built with aerial photography. Notices that they are almost fully operational
• Assessed to have a 2000 mile range which put 80 million Americans in danger
• Soviet ships headed for Cuba carrying missiles openly
• Khrushchev claimed the bases were there for the protection of Cuba and were not offensive weapons.
• The bases could fire on several major US cities.
• The US had placed Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Italy which led the USSR to accuse them of encircling them.
  Therefore the missiles in Cuba were seen as a rebalancing of power in the CW

Question 10

Choices for JFK (5)

Answer 10

1. Ignore the missiles
   - This would be seen as political suicide as the Russians would take this for weakness and take advantage of him
2. Invade Cuba
   - Heavy US casualties and political damage. Would also include Soviet casualties that would raise tensions
   - American COS were not convinced that an invasion could be pulled off due to remoteness of missile bases
3. Airstrike
   - Again could cause Soviet casualties + Air Force wasn’t sure that they could target the bases effectively
4. Diplomacy
   - Call on Russians to remove missiles and explain the damage they were doing to international relations
   - Russians were unlikely to accept the offer and refused to acknowledge the existence of the missiles at the UN
5. Naval Blockade
   - Station Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and not allow Russian ships to enter Cuba
   - Showed the public that the US was doing something while negotiations went on in the background
   - A blockade is an act of war thus it was termed a quarantine.

Question 11

22-25 October (3)

Answer 11

• Decide on blockade and troop invasion (later called off)
• 24th: 18 Soviet ships turned back
• 25th: US plans airstrike and Castro urges Khrushchev to strike first.