Cold War | Pt.2 (Cuba) Flashcards
How far is Cuba from the US coast
90 miles.
Who was the leader before Castro?
Batista
True or False:
Batista was a capitalist, he was corrupt but the USA didn’t really care
True
Cuba’s main trade
Sugar and tobacco
True or False:
US didn’t dominate or own Cuban industries
False
Where did the USA have a naval base in Cuba?
Guantanamo
What did Castro do from 1956-1959
Led a guerrilla warfare campaign against Batista and overthrew him.
Castors actions
Exiled and killed opponents
Took over US owned businesses
Forges links with Krushchev who sent military, equipment and advisors
Took over land and gave it to average farmers
What did Krushchev and Castro agree about on trade?
Krushchev agreed to buy a million tonnes of Cuban sugar yearly.
What happened at the bay of pigs?
1961
USA is not having it with Castros link to USSR
Supply 1400 Cuban exiles with weapons and sent them to the bay of pigs
They met 20,000 Cuban soldiers there
They were either imprisoned or just killed
JFK takes the L and Cubans in the USA hate him
What did the soviets lie about and when?
No intentions of placing nuclear weapons in Cuba in 1962.
Why did Krushchev put missiles in Cuba?
Close missile gap Missile balance (US missiles in Turkey) USSR had cheap medium range missiles Cuba's the only western commy country Strenghtens his role in the USSR
Kennedys options
Do nothing Surgical airstrike Invasion Diplomatic pressure Naval blockade
Why didnt JFK go with violent methods and listen to his military advisors?
The US was still seen as powerful either way
Using warfare may look aggressive against a small Island
An airstrike wouldn’t guarantee success
Krushchev would respond if soviets were killed and might do something in Berlin
Could be seen as an act of war
Why was a naval blockade chosen?
Stops imports, the USA would be seen to have taken firm action without immediate force and it gave Krushchev time to make a next move. However, it didn’t rule out Soviet retaliation elsewhere (like Berlin).
