Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
Where is Cuba?
Island state in the Caribbean Sea – 150 km south of USA
America do for the Cubans in 1898?
Gain independence from Spain
How did America continue to exert influence in Cuban affairs?
- American companies had large shares in Cuban companies – agriculture
- The American companies held monopoly of the Cuban sugar plantation and exports – 1950s
When did Americans help the Cuban military officer Batista to come to power?
1934
What happened in 1934>?
America helped Batista to come to power
What was the Batista’s government like?
Corrupt and ruthlessly repressive
What was Batista’s regime seen as?
Symbol of American power
Who is Fidel Castro?
Lawyer and communist
When did Fidel lead a successful revolt?
1959
What was Castro’s revolt against?
Batista’s government
When did Castro become prime mister?
16 February 1959
What type of state did Cuba become under Castro’s control?
One-party state
What was the only party allowed in Cuba?
Communist Party of Cuba
Castro was pro-poor socialist. What does this mean?
Promised to transform Cuba to an equal society
How did Castro make Cuba more equal?
Massive redistribution of farming land
Nationalising private property and private companies
How was USA cut off from investments in Cuba?
Nationalising private property and companies that were American
What was the response of the loss of American companies? 1960
USA imposed trade embargo on Cuba
What is a trade embargo?
Restriction on trading certain products, goods, and services
What did the trade embargo cause?
Economic crisis
What did Castro do in terms of the trade embargo?
Ask the USSR for help
How did the USSR provide Cuba support?
Buying sugar from
Selling Cuban fuel
Provided weapons
What did the USA not want near its borders?
Soviet-backed country
What did President Eisenhower do in 1960?
Approved a budget of over $13 million
What was the budget needed for?
To overthrow Castro
Who had fled for the USA?
300 000 pro-Batista Cubans
When did the Cubans flee?
1961
How did USA help exiles plan an invasion of Cuba?
Through the CIA
What happened on 17 April 1961?
Cuban exiles launched Bay of Pigs invasion
When were the Cuban exiles defeated?
In three days - Castro’s forces
What did the USA think of the defeat?
Major harassment and international relations disaster
Why was the USA embarrassed about the defeat?
Their involvement = secret
What did the Cubans have evidence of after the invasion?
USA will use force to re-impose control