cuban missile crisis Flashcards
cuban background
-Cuba is a large island in the Caribbean
-Considered America’s ‘back yard’
-The USA owned most of the businesses on the island: had a large naval base
-Was only 160km from Florida
Why was Cuba geostrategically important to the USA?
-Was a key part of their economy
-Had been America’s ally for a long time
-Key for their military
-Could be a launch pad for communism
-Was right next to US
Who was Fidel Castro?
-Cuban nationalist
-Came to Cuba after a period of exile with his brother + 79 supporters in 1956
-Led a successful revolution in 1959
-Developed Cuba into a communist state after the US refused to help him.
Who was Fulgencio Batista?
-Dictator of Cuba from 1952 until overthrown in 1959
-Ran the country as an anti-communist stronghold
-Ruthlessly suppressed opposition to the corrupt regime
-Received economic + military aid from the USA
Who was Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara?
-Argentinian revolutionary
-Formed the 26th July movement in Cuba
-Resigned in 1965 + became a guerrilla leader in Bolivia
-A committed communist + freedom fighter
-Executed 1967
Early developments: ‘home-grown, non-communist’
The US was willing to let it run its course: no communist threat
Early developments: shifting us policy
Vice President of US- Nixon visited a number of Latin American states which resulted in the shift
Early developments: Castro’s need for a powerful ally
-In order to allow him to manage the USA’s response to his plans, to reduce US economic + political influence in Cuba
Early developments: Castro’s economic policies in Cuba
-Wanted to reduce US economic influence in post revolutionary Cuba
-Agrarian reform- seized large amounts of American owned property
Early developments: visits of Soviets + economic aid
-Cuba was tied to an economic + political relationship with Cuba w/ Soviets: Feb 1960 Soviet first deputy premier arranged $100m in credits w/ Castro.
Early developments: USA’s response to Soviet oil- April 1960
Crude oil from USSR shipped to Cuba BUT US refused to refine it
-This led to Castro nationalising it immediately
-So America imposed economic sanctions on Cuba + reduced Cuban exports of sugar by 95%: sugar was a key part of Cuba’s economy
Early developments: Castro’s response to US response
-Castro seized $1b worth of US assets in Cuba, Oct 1960
-This led to him needed Soviet support for foreign + domestic reasons
The bay of pigs
1961
-Planned for 1500 anti-Castro exiles to land on Cuba and carry out a military coup to remove him.
-Was planned during the Eisenhower administration + Kennedy inherited it.
-Kennedy chose to support the CIA-inspired attack to land the exiles on the bay of pigs
Why did the bay of pigs fail?
-Was an ‘open secret’ lots of people knew it was going to happen.
-Cuban exiles boasted about their return in advance of the invasion.
-Kennedy ruled out the use of military forces.
Consequences of the failure of the bay of pigs
-Humiliated Kennedy
-Confirmed the soviet unions and Castros fears about rhe USA’s intentions for Cuba
-Castro’s power in Cuba was consolidated: protected Cuba from American imperialism
What was operation mongoose?
-Name given to the USA’s continued efforts to overthrow Castro + his regime through covert action to destabilise the regime + form a anti-Castro revolt from within
E.g. sabotage of economic targets, diplomatic isolation of Cuba + assassination plots against Castro + other Cuban leaders.
Operation anadyr
-Soviet decision to deploy nuclear missiles to Cuba, 1962
-Soviets also provided fighter planes, bombers + 14,000 ground troops
-Nuclear weapons were short + medium range, could reach 1100-2800km from their launch site.
What would having soviet missiles on Cuba allow for?
-The soviets to close the missile gap
-Khrushchev to have resources left to invest in the non-military civilian economy.
Kennedys response to soviet missiles
Implement a naval blockade around Cuba, stopping + searching any ships.
-Showed the USA is serious + puts a burden on Khrushchev.
-BUT didn’t solve the main issue + the USSR may of retaliated
Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis
-Creation of a ‘hot-line’ in 1963 connecting the Kremlin and the White House
-1963- Moscow Ban Treaty- banning of nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere: led to development of deténté
-US no longer had a military base in turkey + promised not to invade Cuba.
-Easing in tension
-Cuba= communist still.
Significance
-Showed that international relations can’t be conducted through crisis management methods.
-Showed how any future conflict would be managed
Cuba gained the most
-Castro remained in power + his regime continued till his death
-Achieved their goal of not being invaded by the USSR + continued to gain support from USSR
-Able to spread their ideology + value to parts in Africa + Central America.
America gained the most
-Kennedy succeeded in humiliating his enemy.
-Major propaganda victory—> gained popularity
Kennedy’s attitude towards the USSR
-Had to maintain a strong anti-communist stance to appease his opposition
-Wanted to halt the Arms race + gain peace between the soviets + Americans
-It would be advantageous for the US + USSR to have nuclear equality
