Cuba Missile Crisis

Question 1

When did Fidel Castro overthrow Batista?

Answer 1

1959

Question 2

What is Fidel Castro like?

Answer 2

Charming clever and ruthless
Exiled killed or arrested all his political opponents
Popular - won over most of Cuba

Question 3

What is the USA’s response to Castro ruling Cuba?

Answer 3

Relations grow worse quickly
American businesses refuse to cooperate with Cuban ones that use USSR exports
American media broadcasts relentless stream of anti Castro messages
CIA provide support and funds to Cuban exiles

Question 4

When did president Eisenhower authorise the CIA to investigate ways of overthrowing Castro?

Answer 4

June 1960

Question 5

Why did Cuba to America relations grow worse when Castro took power?

Answer 5

Thousands of Cuban exiles in USA form anti Castro pressure groups
Castro took over American owned businesses

Question 6

What was Castries response to the Americas response?

Answer 6

Assured Americans in Cuba they were safe and let them keep their naval base
Allied with the Soviet Union and received $100 million aid

Question 7

When did Castro ally with the Soviet Union?

Answer 7

Summer of 1960

Question 8

When did Kennedy become president?

Answer 8

1961

Question 9

Why did Kennedy break off relations with cuba in January 1961?

Answer 9

Was no longer prepared to tolerate a soviet satellite in the USA’s sphere of influence

Question 10

What happened in the bay of pigs?

Answer 10

JFK broke of Cuban relations
Arms, equipment and transport supplies to 1400 anti Castro exiles by Kennedy to invade Cuba
Wants to keep American involvement a secret
Met by 20 000 Cuban troops
Failed disastrously
All exiles killed or captured within days

Question 11

When was the bay of pigs?

Answer 11

January 1961

Question 12

Why did Kruschev put missiles on Cuba?

Answer 12

USA have missiles in Western Europe and Turkey- restore nuclear balance
Medium range missiles are easier and less expensive to develop
Defend Cuba - only communist state in Western Hemisphere, willingly became communist and threatened (bay of pigs)
Strengthen his own position in USSR
Makes very good soviet propaganda and Cuba would be a good base to support communist movements in South America

Question 13

When is the Cuba missile crisis?

Answer 13

October 1962

Question 14

Name the 8 events that were the Cuba missile crisis

Answer 14

16th spy plane takes pictures of the missile site on Cuba
20th a quarantine is decided as the course of action - announced 22nd
23rd Kruschev sends letter refusing to observe the quarantine
24th quarantine begins - 20 ships turn round 6 don’t
25th planes shot at over Cuba ordered not to report it as that would mean war
26th Kruschev sends letter that is Americans don’t invade missiles will be removed
27th Kruschev revokes previous letter
If Americans don’t withdraw missiles from Turkey then missiles stay on Cuba
Under the table offer of Turkey missiles
28th missiles removed from Cuba

Question 15

What was the condition of the removal of the missiles from Turkey?

Answer 15

Only removed after 6 months so it appears unrelated and America seems strong

Question 16

What are Kennedys options over the Cuba missile crisis?

Answer 16

Air strike (advised strongly)
Blockade (act of war)
Trade Turkey for Cuba (weak)
Quarantine

Question 17

What are the consequences of the Cuba missile crisis for USA?

Answer 17

Had to remove missiles from Turkey - NATO allies unhappy
Stood up to the critics in his government
Improved his reputation in his own country and in the west
Accept that Cuba would remain communist

Question 18

What were the consequences of the Cuba missile crisis for USSR?

Answer 18

Soviet military upset at the withdrawal saw it as a humiliation
Kruschev seen as a man willing to compromise
Cuba still an ally
Missiles removed from Turkey
In 1964 Kruschev removed from power by enemies inside the USSR
Exposed USA to criticism
Missile gap lengthened

Question 19

What were the consequences of the Cuba missile crisis for Castros Cuba?

Answer 19

Castro upset at the deal
Stayed a communist base
Kept control of American countries nationalised during the revolution

Question 20

What were the consequences of the Cuba missile crisis for the Cold War?

Answer 20

Soviet arsenal see as a threat
Thawed relations
More prepared to prevent a war

Question 21

Was the Cuba missile crisis a turning point?

Answer 21

Thawed relations - more prepared to prevent war
1963 both sides signed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty limiting the testing of nuclear weapons
USSR gained USA respect

Question 22

What is the Batista regime?

Answer 22

Cuba has been a long American ally
- own most of their businesses
- massive naval base
Americans provided Batista as ruler because he was anti communist
His rule was corrupt and unpopular