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
When were nuclear missiles stored in Turkey?
USA - 1959
What was Turkey’s involvement?
Member of NATO
Shared border with USSR
What did the USA believe the nuclear missiles would do?
Discourage Soviet expansion
Contain spread of communism in Europe
What did Khrushchev want to install?
Nuclear missiles on USA border
What did Castro publicly request after Bay of Pigs?
Requested military aid from Soviets
How did Soviets establish a balance of nuclear power?
Installation of nuclear bases in Cuba in 1962
What happened on the 14th of October 1962?
It’s five plane took pictures of the missile bases both at a rapid pace in Cuba
What did American intelligence suggest?
More ships with missile equipment - sail to Cuba
What were Kennedys three decisions?
- Ignore missiles – posed a threat to American security
- Soviets were not remove missiles without fight
- Too dangerous to attack – outbreak of war
What did USSR successfully do in 1953?
Detonated first nuclear weapon
Why did the USA into rapidly expand their nuclear weapons?
And they had the ability to strike back harder - Soviets think twice
What did American military believe?
Okay would use it intimidating nuclear arsenal and actively engage the serviettes in the stand-off – USSR backed down
What is Brinkmanship?
Deliberately provoking the Soviets to the brink/moment just before point of no return
What did brinkmanship hope to achieve?
Scare USSR into retreat and admission of defeat
What Kennedy advised to attempt?
Circling the island of Cuba with in the US Navy ships
What would the Navy ships prevent?
Soviet ships unloading missile equipment
Play what happened on the 22nd of October 1962?
Kennedy told USSR if they ships attempted to go see blockade – USA sync them
What did Khrushchev accuse Kennedy of?
Piracy and war-like actions
When did brinkmanship take place between ships?
Between 23 and 24 October
North Atlantic ocean
What happened on the 25 of October 1962?
Soviet ship returned
How was the missile dilemma solved?
- Khrushchev would removed missiles - blockade lifted, USA did not attempt invasion
- America remove missiles from Turkey
What system was established after Cuban Missile Crisis?
Direct communication between two leaders
Why was this communication system implemented?
Future problems resolved easily - helped relations
What reduced Khrushchev’s prestige in the USSR
Removal of missiles - sign of weakness
What happened to USA relationship with Cuba?
Remained difficult
What did Guevara call USA officials?
Imperialists
What did Cuba support Guevara in?
Attempt to spread communism
How did Guevara attempt to spread communism?
World tour and encouraging military uprisings
What did Castro speak about publicly in 1968?
Defence of Soviets crushing Prague Spring
What did Castro’s defence of Soviets lead to?
USSR sent more aid to Cuba
What did the USA successfully do in 1969?
Guevara assassinated in Bolivia - trying to start revolt
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
What was the CIA plan?
Train exiles to invade Cuba and start rebellion
Who succeeded Eisenhower?
JFK
Who implemented the CIA plan?
JFK
How many exiles landed in Cuba?
1 500 exiles
When was the ‘Bay of Pigs Invasion’?
17 April 1961
What did both sides missiles look like in 1962?
USSR: Launch against Europe
USA: Strike entire USSR
Why did Castro approve Khrushchev plan about missiles?
Fear of second attack from USA
When did the USSR secretly place missiles?
Summer of 1962
When was Kennedy informed about the missile installations?
15 October
What is Kennedy organised after finding out about the missiles?
Executive Committee of National Security Council (EX-COMM)
What is EX-COMM?
Group of 12 most important advises to handle the crisis
Whose reputation was enhanced?
Kennedy gained prestige and won test of strength
What treaty was signed in 1963?
Test Ban Treaty
What is the Test Ban Treaty?
Promise to not test nuclear weapons in atmosphere, underwater or in outer space
What policy did Khrushchev make?
Policy of peaceful co-existence
Why did the peaceful co-existence policy not last long?
Khrushchev’s support in Politburo (USSR parliament) ended
When did Khrushchev step down?
1964
