Containment and brinkmanship: The Cuban Missile Crisis (8) Flashcards
Where else did the tension stretch beyond? (5)
Europe Asia Africa Middle East Latin America
What crisis made a war between superpowers imminent?
The crisis which came closer than any other to a war between the superpowers happened in Latin America.: the Cuban Missile Crisis.
When sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis?
It developed after a communist revolution in Cuba gave the USSR an ally uncomfortably close to the USA. This was a direct challenge to the determination of the USA to contain the spread of communism.
What was brinkmanship?
A feature of the Cold War was the tactic of ‘brinkmanship’. Each side tried to see just how much it could get away with before the opposing side would react, pushing the other to the edge (the brink); that is, to the point of declaring open warfare.
How far is Cuba and who had dominated it?
Cuba lies 160 kilometres off the coast of the United States.
The USA maintained a large naval base on the island, at _____ bay. American companies controlled much of the economy wealth of the country, which included ___ refineries, mines, cattle ranches, ___ and railways. In addition, the USA bought the bulk of Cuba’s main export crop ____.
Guantanamo
Oil
Hotels
Sugar
Was Cuba a wealthy country?
No, it was an extremely poor country. Most Cubans lived in poverty. By the 1950s about of 40% of Cuba’s six million people were illiterate, and there was an acute shortage of teachers, schools, doctors and hospitals. In contrast about 2% of the population was wealthy and powerful and owned over 50% of the land.
Who came into power in Cuba in 1952?
A dictator named Bautista came into power and abolished the constitution, closed parliament and brutally suppressed all opposition.
Who supported Bautista’s government? (5)
- Army
- Large landowners
- Wealthy industrialists
- Bankers
- The USA because Bautista was anti-Communist.
Who overthrew Bautista?
A group of revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro, built up enough support to overthrow the government of Bautista, who fled into exile. When Castro and his forces marched into the capital of Havana in January 1959, they were welcomed by huge demonstrations.
Why were the US government suspicious of the new Cuban government? (3)
Because Castro started introducing socialist reforms:
- Redistribution of land
- Collectivisation of agriculture
- Nationalisation of transport and some industries
Who did Castro’s policies affect?
American foreign investors.
How did the US respond to Castro’s polices?
The USA responded by banning Cuban sugar imports to America, and breaking off diplomatic relations with Cuba. It hoped in this way to force the Cuban government to change its policies.
The USA became even more ____ when Castro started trade negotiations with the ____.
Hostile
Cuba
Why were the USA convinced the Castro Regime was communist?
Thousands of Soviet technicians and advisors started arriving in Cuba.
Why were USA so worried about Cuba? (2)
- They did not want a communist country so close them
- They also feared that the Soviet Union would use Cuba to spread communist ideology through Central and South American.
True or False
The Americans therefore secretly started planning to invade Cuba and to overthrow Castro
True
Define Diplomatic Relations.
Peaceful dealings between governments through consultations between politicians and diplomats.
What happened to the middle class Cubans when Castro came into power?
They fled to the USA.
What happened at the Bay of Pigs?
With the backing of the CIA, an armed force of exiles invaded Cuba. They landed at the Bay of pigs in Cuba in April 1961. But their attempt to overthrow Castro’s government was a total failure. Castro’s forces easily defeated them and all of them were either killed or taken prisoner.
Why was the incident at the Bay of Pigs embarrassing for the USA?
The Bay of Pigs affair was deeply embarrassing to the USA, both because their involvement had been publicly exposed, and also because the whole affair was poorly planned and carried out.
What did Castro do after the Bay of Pigs?
After this, Castro announced that he was a communist and turned increasingly to the USSR for economic and diplomatic support.
What do people argue that pushed Castro into a firm alliance with the USSR?
It was the US support for the Bay of Pigs.
