Cold War Crises 1958-70 Flashcards
Why was tension created between Cuba and the USA in 1959?
Fidel Castro, the new leader of Cuba was a nationalist and did not want his country ro be under American control
Why did tension escalate between Cuba and the USA after Fidel Castro become leader?
US refused to provide economic aid unless Cuba followed guidelines
Cuban government took control over all land owned by foreign nationals
Castro appointed a communist government
Eisenhower reduced the amount of sugar the USA would buy from Cuba.
Why was this so significant
Sugar was Cuba’s main export and the USA was an important investor
Which President of America replaced Eisenhower?
President John F Kennedy
What did JF Kennedy and the CIA plan to otherthrow Cuba?
To train Cuban exiles so they can otherthrow Cuba
Why did JF Kennedy and the CIA want to use cuban exiles to overthrow Cuba?
The USA could claim they were’nt involved and it was a counter revolution
What was the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident?
When John F Kennedy and the CIA trained cuban exiles to otherthrow Castro
Why was the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident a complete failure?
The cuban exiles had little military experience
US could not send any support
Castro’s government found out about the invasion plan
What did Castro do to humilate the USA after the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident?
He showed wrecked aeroplanes and evidience of Cuban victory to journalists around the world
What the result of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ for the USA?
A humiliating and embarrassing failure
How did the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident effect the relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union?
Relations became stronger
After Castro defeated the USA’s failed invasion, what did he ask Krushchev to do?
Help him defend Cuba against any future attack from the USA
When Cuba asked krushchev for help of safety after the USA’s failed invasion, How did Krushchev respond?
Krushchev publicly announced that he would provide arms to Cuba
Why was Kennedy extremely concerned that Krushchev would provide arms to Cuba?
Cuba would now have modern military equipment and training, meaning the USA wouod be under direct threat
Krushchev told the USA that he would not send nuclear weapons to Cuba
How did America find out he was lying?
An american spy plane caught soviet ships sailing to Cuba, carrying missiles