Cuban Crisis

Question 1

When was the Cuban revolution?

Answer 1

1959

Question 2

Main features of the Cuban revolution:

Answer 2

• Castro overthrew American government in Cuba.
• America refused to accept payment and acknowledge Castros government as legit.
• America banned the import of sugar in 1960, which threatened to bankrupt Cuban economy.
• Cuba turned to soviets for help, they agreed to give economic aid to Cuba.

Question 3

The bay of pigs fiasco

Answer 3

• 1500 Cuban exiles trained by CIA attacked on the bay of pigs.
• Castro was very popular
• The Cuban army was more powerful.
• The American bombings weren’t carried out on the second day, meaning Cuba still had a large Air Force.

Question 4

Military build up in Cuba

Answer 4

1962

• Missiles were being installed in Cuba. It was for “protection”, to counter USA missiles in turkey.
• USA Spy plane took photos of soviet missiles - the Cuban missile crisis begins.

Question 5

Motives for Khrushchev to build military in Cuba.

Answer 5

• He was unable to push the west out of Berliner.
• He couldn’t win the arms race in inter continental missiles.
• He was being criticised as weak.
• He had to look away from Europe to gain strategic power.

Question 6

Why was Cuba so significant?

Answer 6

• 90 miles from USA, within firing range of nuclear missiles.
• Cuba was in economic depression, Khrushchev could use this to negotiate.

Question 7

Who’s fault mainly was it?

Answer 7

Kennedys

• He caused Cuba to enter economic depression from banning sugar import.
• He stopped the second bombing of the Cuban airforce, leading to defeat at the bay of pigs.

Question 8

When was the blockade of Cuba?

Answer 8

1962

Question 9

What was the blockade of Cuba?

Answer 9

-Kennedy used the navy to block of soviet supplies reaching Cuba.

Question 10

Positive consequences from the Cuban missile crisis on superpower relations.

Answer 10

• The hotline link was established.
• Limited test ban treaty, stopped testing nuclear weapons above ground.
• USA sells grain to the soviets.

Question 11

Negative consequences from the Cuban missile crisis on superpower relations.

Answer 11

• Khrushchev looked weak for avoiding war and China criticised him, increases rivalry.
• Soviets increased arms to become level with America (MAD), military rivalry.
• Khrushchev replaces for a tougher leader, Brezhnev.

Question 12

Positive Effects for the world.

Answer 12

• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty stopped other countries making nukes.
• Means less chance of nuclear war.

Question 13

Negative effects for the world.

Answer 13

• France leave NATO to start their own nuclear programme.
• Many western countries are angry with JFK for not confiding with them
• China angry with soviets for backing down.

Question 14

Effects for Cuba

Answer 14

• Remained communist
• Missiles taken out of Cuba.
• They now rely on the Soviet Union
• USA view them as enemies.