Cuban Misile Crisis Flashcards
What was the Cuban Revolution?
Fidel Castro led an armed uprising to bring down the dictatorship of the Cuban president, Fulgencio Batista.
When was the Cuban Revolution?
The Cuban Revolution started in July 1953. Batista was removed from power on 31st December, 1958.
Who started the Cuban Revolution?
Fidel Castro started the Cuban Revolution.
How did the Cuban Revolution affect Cuba’s relationship with the USA?
Before 1959, the USA supported Batista and there was co-operation between the two countries. This ended when diplomatic relations were broken off in January 1961.
What was the USA’s reaction to the Cuban Revolution?
The USA reacted in 7 key ways:
It wanted Cuba back inside America’s sphere of influence.
In 1959, it refused to accept compensation offered by Cuba for American-owned property and land taken in the revolution.
Although America did recognise Castro’s government, when he requested economic aid in 1960 this was denied. Instead, President Eisenhower reduced US imports of Cuban sugar by 95%.
It supported Cuban exiles to undermine the new government.
It refused to buy Cuban sugar, which provided a significant part of the national income, and eventually ended all trade with Cuba in October 1960.
The CIA tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Castro.
The CIA convinced President Kennedy that the USA needed to invade Cuba.
What became of Cuba’s relationship with the USSR after the Cuban Revolution?
There were 3 important developments in Cuba’s relationship with the Soviet Union:
Cuba began to build economic links with the Soviet Union instead of the USA.
In February 1960, it began to trade Cuban sugar for Soviet oil.
Cuba wanted the Soviets’ military defence and support.
What happened at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba?
What happened at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba?
When was the attack at the Bay of Pigs?
The invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs took place on 17th April, 1961.
Who led the attack at the Bay of Pigs?
Cuban exiles, trained and supported by America, invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
What happened during the invasion of the Bay of Pigs?
There were 4 key events during the invasion of the Bay of Pigs:
Castro learned about the invasion in advance because the planes were recognised as American from photographs.
The 1,400 US-backed Cuban exiles were met by an army of 20,000 Cubans.
The US-backed Cuban exiles surrendered.
Almost all of those in the Cuban exile army were jailed or shot.
What were the consequences of the attack at the Bay of Pigs?
There were 5 important consequences of the attack at the Bay of Pigs:
The incident meant USA-Cuban relations deteriorated while Soviet-Cuban relations improved.
Fidel Castro stayed in power.
The USA was totally discredited because it had supported illegal acts. President Kennedy was embarrassed and his position was weakened.
In December 1961, Castro stated he and his government were communist.
Castro asked Khrushchev for military support in case of future attacks by the USA.
Why did the invasion at the Bay of Pigs fail?
The CIA underestimated the strength of the Cubans, who had 20,000 troops and modern tanks and weapons.
They also failed to gain the support of the Cuban people, which they assumed they would get.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
The Cuban Missile Crisis, between the USSR and the USA, was one of the most serious Cold War crises. It happened because the USSR placed missiles in Cuba and was the closest the world had been to a possible nuclear war.
When did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?
The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted for 13 days, from 14th to 28th October, 1962.
Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?
6 important causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis were:
The long-term deterioration of the relationship between the USA and Cuba, accelerated by the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and the Bay of Pigs incident in 1961.
This pushed Cuba closer to the USSR, which bought Cuban sugar. In return, the Cubans bought oil from the Soviets.
Castro had declared himself a Marxist in December 1961.
Khrushchev was concerned about the missile gap and the fact the USA had nuclear missiles based in Turkey which could easily reach the USSR.
The immediate cause was the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles to Cuba for protection against possible attack by the USA.
Cuba is only 160km south of the US state of Florida, which meant the mainland was within range of any missiles placed on Cuba. The USA therefore felt threatened.
