Cold war transformation Flashcards
Why did Cuba become a source of tension between the USA and USSR
Jan 1959 Fidel Castro took over Cuba, however he was Communist
This was a problem for the USA as Cuba was just 100 miles off the coast of the USA, the USA would have Communism right on their doorstep
Bay of Pigs
In April 1961 the CIA supported an attempted invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs; it failed miserably, greatly embarrassing Kennedy.
Castro believed he needed more protection from USA attack.
He asked Russia for weapons to defend Cuba against America.
On 14 October 1962 an American U2 spy-plane took pictures of a nuclear missile base being built on Cuba. This meant that all US missile defence systems were now useless.
Why was Berlin a long term problem
The USA refused to recognise East Germany and USSR refused to recognise West Germany.
Berlin was a major problem as it was located in the East, but half of it (the West) was under American control. USSR hated having capitalist influence in their ‘sphere’
Causes of problems with berlin / the wall
East Germany was very unpopular and many citizens fled to the West. 2.7 million between 1949-1961. On average the number of defections ranged between 20-25,000 each month.
Most of these refugees were skilled workers, who left for jobs and better pay, which further undermined the economy of the East.
This was also very bad propaganda for the USSR as it made them look weak and made capitalism look a more popular and successful system.
Why did Khrushchev order the building of the Berlin Wall?
And when
August 1961
In August 1961 Khrushchev believed that he could get away with building the Wall because John F Kennedy, the US president had been made to look foolish over the Bay of Pigs invasion
The USSR could not afford a war. The USA were x20 more powerful than they were with nuclear
weapons.
But the USSR had to do something to stop the refugee problem
During the 1950s travel was relatively easy between the Eastern and Western sectors of Berlin. People living under communism in the Eastern sector could visit the West and see what capitalism offered. There was better housing, shops full of goods and relative freedom: all provided by the Western Allies.
How did the USA react to Khrushchev building the wall
JFK ordered three increases in the US defence budget in the next two years. He would have to stand up to Khrushchev the next time
He went to Berlin and made a speech to hundreds of thousands of West Berliners. In it he said, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’. This was meant to show that he was sharing their difficulties, but it actually meant ‘I am a doughnut’. ‘Berliner’ was a slang term for a doughnut
Impact of the Berlin wall
It stopped East Germans escaping to the West and ended the refugee crisis
Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war with USA and still appear strong
Became a powerful symbol of division in Europe and between the different ideologies
The Wall remained in place until 1990 and more than 300 people were killed trying to cross it
What was Castro’s revolution
In 1959 Batista was overthrown in a revolution led by Fidel Castro.
One of Castro’s first moves was to go to the USA to secure support for his new state, but President Eisenhower refused to speak with him.
At the United Nations office in New York, Castro talked with representatives of the Soviet Union, and they offered their support for his new government.
Most important:
Castro had not been a communist before 1960, but was drawn to communism by the friendship and support offered by Khrushchev and his government.
Castro nationalised all American-owned companies in Cuba, and refused to pay compensation. The USA then had a communist state ‘in its own backyard’.
What was the US response to Castro’s revolution
The US imposed a trade embargo on Cuban goods, depriving Cubans of a market for their sugar and tobacco and the income to import oil and other essential goods. ( This backfired badly on the Americans as it meant the Cubans then looked to the USSR for a market for their sugar. The Soviets were only too happy to oblige and were soon supplying Cuba with oil and weapons.)
America decreased their sugar purchases by 95%, crippling the Cuban economy.
The Bay of Pigs: In April 1961, just after he was installed as President of the USA, John F Kennedy approved a plan to invade Cuba and overthrow communism.
What was the Bay of Pigs
In April 1961, just after he was installed as President of the USA, JFK approved a plan to invade Cuba and overthrow communism.
The CIA landed 1,400 Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba with the aim of provoking an anti-communist uprising. Almost at the last minute, Kennedy cancelled an order that had promised the Cuban resistance US Air Force support for their coup d’etat. The lack of air support meant the rebels were easily defeated when they were met by 20,000 heavily armed Cuban troops. All were captured or killed.
Kennedy now looked weak and aggressive at the same time.
It failed miserably, greatly embarrassing Kennedy.
Outcomes of the Bay of Pigs
Castro believed he needed more protection from USA attack.
He asked Russia for weapons to defend Cuba against America.
On 14 October 1962 an American U2 spy-plane took pictures of a nuclear missile base being built on Cuba. This meant that all US missile defence systems were now useless.
Differences in living in East and West Germany
Better living conditions in West Berlin
Wages in West Berlin were higher than wages in East Berlin.
The Hans Böckler Foundation has found that wages in areas that were in West Germany were still 17% higher than in East Germany in 2018.
The difference was even greater in the 1950s.
Why was there an arms race SCD
S - Strategic superiority (wanted an advantage over each other) by developing new and more powerful weapons and having more weapons than the enemy.
C - Costs - Both sides need to cut arms costs and given the destruction they cause, nuclear weapons were cheaper to produce than conventional weapons.
D - Deterrence - The aim was not to launch them at each other, but deter the other side from doing so. Each wanted enough nuclear weapons to survive a first strike, so the enemy would not dare strike first in fear of retaliation.
What was MAD
Mutually Assured Destruction.
This meant that if Russia attacked the west, the west would make sure that they would suitably retaliate (fight back). Both sides knew they would wipe each other out, so they wouldn’t attack
1st reason for Cuban missile crisis
Castro Sugar
1959 Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba. Until then Cuba had been under US influence and many companies had invested heavily in the country. Castro vowed to become more independent of America.
Cuba’s main export was sugar. The economy relied on this export to survive. In response to Castro becoming leader and nationalising American businesses, America decreased their sugar purchases by 95%, crippling the Cuban economy.
The USSR was keen to extend its sphere of influence into the Western hemisphere and promised to buy 1 million tonnes of sugar per year from Cuba. This tied the two countries closely together.
2nd reason for Cuban missile crisis
Arms
America was much stronger in terms of nuclear weapons than the USSR, having over 20 times more. The USSR still did not have ‘inter-continent’ capabilities (ICBM missiles). Without these they could not attach the US mainland.
The USSR hoped that by putting missiles onto Cuba that they would hold the ‘trump card’ and be able to force America into
decisions, for example over Berlin
The USA had missile bases in Turkey which gave them a strategic superiority in terms of launching attacks. The USSR wanted to even this up!
3rd reason for Cuban missile crisis
Pigs
In April 1961 the CIA supported an attempted invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs; it failed miserably, greatly embarrassing Kennedy.
Castro believed he needed more protection from USA attack.
He asked Russia for weapons to defend Cuba against America. On 14 October 1962 an American U2 spy-plane took pictures of a nuclear missile base being built on Cuba. This meant that all US missile defence systems were now useless.
Account of the Cuban missile crisis 1962
22 October - Kennedy imposes a naval blockade around Cuba, to stop the Soviet ships suspected of carrying nuclear missiles from reaching Cuba.
23 October - Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviet ships will not stop at the blockade, but will force their way through.
24 October Despite Khrushchev’s ‘tough talk’, the twenty ships approaching the blockade turn back
26 October Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev promising to remove the launch sites if the USA agrees to lift the blockade and promises not to invade Cuba.
27 October A second letter from Khrushchev says the launch sites will only be removed if the US removes its missiles in Turkey. Kennedy opts to answer only the first telegram while privately offering to consider the removal of missiles from Turkey.
28 October In a public message to President Kennedy broadcast on Moscow radio, Khrushchev agrees to the removal of all missiles on Cuba and their return to the Soviet Union
Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis
Propaganda
The Turkey agreement was not very public, so it looked to the World that the USSR had backed down. JFK had won an important propaganda victory.
In 1964 Khrushchev was forced to resign and was replaced by Brezhnev. Many historians believe that he had lost a lot of prestige because he had appeared to lose against JFK.
Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis
Better communication
In 1963 the Hot-Line was set up. This was a direct tele-printer between the Kremlin and the White House. This made communication between the two leaders much easier and it would hopefully lead to speedy decisions if there were any future crises.
Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis
Détente
Kennedy realised that he had to make a stand. Khrushchev realised that he had gone too far. Neither of them were prepared for nuclear war. The crisis focused the minds of the leaders of the Superpowers on their responsibilities.
In August 1963, the Superpowers signed the Test Ban Treaty. This banned all nuclear tests except underground ones and it was to stay in force without time limit.
Why was having soviet missiles in Cuba be a problem
It would give the USSR first strike capacity
Cuba was only 90 miles from the coast of Florida meaning that the USA, including many of its biggest cities like Washington DC and New York, would be well within range of these missiles. The lives of 80 million Americans were at stake.
What did Kennedy do because of the Cuban missile crisis, why, and the disadvantages
Blockade Cuba - Use US warships to stop and search any vessels going to Cuba and prevent missiles being delivered or resupplied
Limited pressure which could then be increased if necessary
The USSR would be required to fire the first shot
Those missiles and sites in Cuba already would not be affected
A direct challenge to the USSR rather than Cuba
The USSR could retaliate with a new blockade of West Berlin
What did Khrushchev do because of the Cuban Missile crisis
Ordered the Soviet ships to turn back
Avoids War
Looks like the more reasonable of the two
Buys time for a decision
Makes him look very weak
