Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
what did the Cuban blockade to do?
Allowed Kennedy to buy time and focus on a solution to the crisis
what would a naval blockade to do?
It would stop the flow of missiles entering Cuba
what was ExCom’s main role? ?
Consider policy options and their consequences
Where did the U-2 spy plane find evidence of an R-12 missile site?
San Cristobal
Who was the US ambassador to the UN?
Adlai Stevenson
when did the first Soviet ships reach the quarantine?
24th October 1961
what did the Soviet ships do once they reached the quarantine?
Start dead in the water or turned around
what was brinkmanship?
High-risk strategy in international relations that could only be successful if both sides recognised that nuclear war would not be a desirable outcome
What was Khrushchev’s aim in the crisis?
to protect Castro regime from US aggression by deploying nuclear missiles
what did Khrushchev propose in his telegram to Kennedy?
if US made a non-invasion pledge, the Soviet union would remove its military force from Cuba
what happened on October 26th?
Castro ordered Cuban anti-aircraft forces to start firing on low level reconnaissance planes
how many telegrams did Khrushchev send and how many did Kennedy reply to?
Khrushchev sent two, Kennedy replied only to the first telegram 
When did Khrushchev remove missiles from Cuba?
28th October
what impact did the crisis make to Khrushchev and the USSR?
Humiliated Khrushchev because he was seen as a coward by the Russians
what impact did the crisis make to Castro and Cuba?
Castro saw Khrushchev’s actions as a betrayal
what impact did the crisis make to Kennedy and the USA?
Kennedy was the ‘winner’
how did the crisis affect international relations?
It showed that they cannot be conducted through crisis management methods
when was the hotline created?
1963
what did the hotline do?
It connected the Kremlin and the White House
when was the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
1963
which countries did not sign up to the Moscow Test Ban Treaty?
China and France
what does the détente mean?
the easing of hostility or strained relations between countries
how did the USSR react to their defeat?
They emerged with determination to restore its international status
did Cuba remain communist?
Yes
Which two things did the crisis ensure the survival of?
Cuba’s Communist regime and West Berlin as an outpost of western capitalist democracy in the Communist Eastern Europe
what was Operation Anadyr?
The Soviet decision to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba
why did Khrushchev deploy missiles in Cuba?
Soviets only had short/ medium-range missiles which would reach almost every major American city from Cuba
in what country has the USA deployed missiles to?
Turkey
what was Castro’s aim for Cuba?
Independence from American control
what political side did Castro appear to be on?
nationalist-liberal rather than Communist
what did Castro do to gain independence for Cuba?
He nationalised American owned property and companies in Cuba
when was the missile crisis?
1962
why did Castro appeal for Soviet support?
After various US threats, e.g. Operation Mongoose
When did Kennedy announce a quarantine zone?
October 1962
What was Cuba’s main export?
sugar that was sold to the USA, and primarily grown on American owned plantations 
Who ruled Cuba before Castro?
Right-wing military dictator, Batista
When did Castro take power?
1959
what nickname was given to Castro and his followers?
Los Barbudos, the bearded ones
what were Castro’s is aims in response to reducing the USA power in Cuba?
To maintain his authority and to avoid alienating powerful allies
What was the agrarian reform?
American owned property being seized by the state of Cuba
What event tied Cuba into an economic and political relationship with the Soviets?
Soviet First Deputy Premier arranged $100 million in credit to Castro
when was the first shipment of USSR crude oil?
April, 1960
what percentage did the USA reduce their imports of Cuban sugar by?
95%
when and what was the Bay of pigs?
A military coup to remove Castro in 1961 by America
did the Bay of pigs succeed?
No
when and what was Operation Mongoose?
The aim to overthrow Castro and his regime through the use of covert operations within Cuba in 1961
why did Kennedy use covert operations within Cuba?
To destabilise the regime and create an anti-Castro revolt
when did Khrushchev deploy Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba?
1962
