Cuba Flashcards
Why was Batista unpopular?
He allowed US companies to control Cuban business and production
Why did the USA become concerned about Castro’s political actions?
He began appointing communists to his government and signed a trade agreement with the USSR, sugar would be swapped for oil and guns
How did the USA react to the Cuban trade agreement?
At first they stopped buying Cuban sugar and then banned all trade with Cuba.
By Jan 1961, all diplomatic relations stopped
Who took part in the Bay of Pigs Invasion?
Cuban exiles supported by JFK who had given them training, weapons and transport from the CIA
How many Cuban exiles were there?
1400 exiles landed in Cuba
How many Cuban troops met the exiles upon their arrival?
Over 20,000 Cuban with superior weaponary
Why was the Bay of Pigs Invasion a failure for the USA as well as the exiles?
Both Castro and Khrushchev knew that the invasion had been planned by the CIA and so JFK was humiliated
What were the consequences of the invasion?
Castro was convinced he needed more USSR support against the USA.
In September 1961 Khrushchev openly announced he would provide Cuba with weaponary and by 1962 Castro had a well equipped army
What did a U2 spy plane discover on October 14th 1962?
Missile sites being built, some appeared near completion
What news did JFK receive shortly after finding out about the missile sites?
That there was a fleet of Soviet ships sailing to Cuba, it was presumed they were carrying the missiles for these sites
What options did JFK then have after finding out about the ships on their way?
- Launch an air strike on the missile strikes
- Launch an invasion of Cuba
- Use diplomacy and negotiate through the UN
- Set up a naval blockade around Cuba
What did JFK decide to do about the fleet of Soviet ships?
He decided to place a naval blockade, whilst preparing troops for an invasion of Cuba and asking the USSR to remove the missiles
When did JFK decide to use a naval blockade?
22 October 1962
How did Khrushchev respond to the naval blockade?
He claimed there were no Soviet missiles and that his ships would ignore the blockade
When did Soviet ships reach the blockade?
24th of October 1962
What happened when the Soviet ships reached the blockade?
They turned back and didn’t attempt to break the blockade
What was the first offer made by Khrushchev?
The USSR would remove their nuclear weapons if the USA lifted the blockade and promised not to invade Cuba
When was the first offer made by Khrushchev?
October 26th
What was the second offer made by Khrushchev?
The USSR would remove their missiles from Cuba if the USA removed their’s in Turkey
When did Khrushchev make the second offer?
October 27th
How did JFK react to Khrushchev’s multiple offers?
JFK ignored the second offer and said he agreed to the terms of the first letter.
However the President’s brother told the Soviet ambassador in Washington that the missiles in Turkey would be removed
What did the USA gain and lose from the Crisis?
JFK was no longer seen as weak and inexperienced.
However they lost their missiles in Turkey which were actually NATO missiles so NATO was not happy
What did the USSR gain and lose from the crisis?
Cuba remained a communist country only 90 miles from the USA.
However they were seen as weak and to have backed down
What did the world gain from the Crisis?
A direct hot line phone link between Washington and Moscow was set up.
A Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was set up in 1963
Who rules Cuba before Castro and how did he gain power?
Batista, an army officer who had seized power with the help of the USA
