Cold War Issue 3 Flashcards
Background
Cuba is a small island, 160km off of the coast of America which had a revolution in 1959 where communist leader, Fidel Castro, overthrew Batista who was a US backed dictator
LOA
…..to this led to the cause of the Cuban Missile Crisis to a large extent.
Factors
American Policy, Nuclear Arms Race, Miscalculation of Kennedy and Foreign and Domestic Pressures on Khrushchev
American Policy (KU and A)
KU- Cuba was only 160km away from America and was communist
A- US was sensitive about the presence of Communism which made them more paranoid
KU- American officials aimed to destabilised Cuba through an attempted invasion at the bay of pigs 1961.
A- Forced Cuba to defend itself against US which destroyed metal trust
KU- Eisenhower led an economic blockade of Cuba and stopped all trade with the island
A- Drew Castro to the Soviet Union and resulted Cuba relying on the Soviet Union for military aid
American Policy (A+ and E)
A+- Because if it hadn’t of been for the Nuclear Arms Race, America wouldn’t have been as threatened which caused them to attempt an invasion.
E- + Destroyed democratic relations between US and Cuba and created communist relations.
Nuclear Arms Race (KU and A)
KU- America had long-range missiles in Turkey, which is close to Russia
A- Led to the Soviet Union wanting to balance Nuclear Missiles with America, so the Soviet Union brought some to Cuba
KU- By 1962 USSR had fallen behind in the Nuclear Arms Race and only had medium range missiles, unable to reach USA whereas the US had long range missiles, able to reach Russia.
A- Cuba was close enough for USSR’s missiles to reach USA
KU- Khrushchev boasted about producing thousands of nuclear weapons
A- US spies called off his bluff which caused SU to retaliate
Nuclear Arms Race (A+ and E)
A+- Argued that if USSR had long range missiles it would not have needed to place them on Cuba, therefore causing the Cuban Missile Crisis, which shows that the arms race might have not been as important after all.
E- Arms Race had gone on for many years without any deadly threats until Cuba.
Miscalculation of Kennedy (KU and A)
KU- After the bay of pigs invasion Khrushchev thought that Kennedy was a weak leader with little power and support.
A- Caused Khrushchev to not consult his intelligence and therefore miss out on key information.
KU- Kennedy had promised to be hard on the Soviet Union.
A- Khrushchev was not prepared for Kennedy’s naval fight against USSR, when attempting to take over nuclear missiles to Cuba
Miscalculation of Kennedy (A+)
A+- Both Kennedy and Khrushchev underestimated each other, therefore it can be said that it wasn’t an important factor
Domestic and Foreign Pressures on Khrushchev (KU and A)
KU- Khrushchev introduced and agricultural reform in Russia which was not successful.
A- It led to him putting everything into his foreign policy which was to protect Cuba
KU- China began gaining influence in Cuba, after Krushchev’s policies of de-stalinisation.
A- caused Khrushchev to be alarmed and increase soviet control in Cuba
