cuban missile crisis

Question 1

cuban background

Answer 1

-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

Question 2

Why was Cuba geostrategically important to the USA?

Answer 2

-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

Question 3

Who was Fidel Castro?

Answer 3

-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.

Question 4

Who was Fulgencio Batista?

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

Who was Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara?

Answer 5

-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

Question 6

Early developments: ‘home-grown, non-communist’

Answer 6

The US was willing to let it run its course: no communist threat

Question 7

Early developments: shifting us policy

Answer 7

Vice President of US- Nixon visited a number of Latin American states which resulted in the shift

Question 8

Early developments: Castro’s need for a powerful ally

Answer 8

-In order to allow him to manage the USA’s response to his plans, to reduce US economic + political influence in Cuba

Question 9

Early developments: Castro’s economic policies in Cuba

Answer 9

-Wanted to reduce US economic influence in post revolutionary Cuba
-Agrarian reform- seized large amounts of American owned property

Question 10

Early developments: visits of Soviets + economic aid

Answer 10

-Cuba was tied to an economic + political relationship with Cuba w/ Soviets: Feb 1960 Soviet first deputy premier arranged $100m in credits w/ Castro.

Question 11

Early developments: USA’s response to Soviet oil- April 1960

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Early developments: Castro’s response to US response

Answer 12

-Castro seized $1b worth of US assets in Cuba, Oct 1960
-This led to him needed Soviet support for foreign + domestic reasons

Question 13

The bay of pigs

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Why did the bay of pigs fail?

Answer 14

-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.

Question 15

Consequences of the failure of the bay of pigs

Answer 15

-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

Question 16

What was operation mongoose?

Answer 16

-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.

Question 17

Operation anadyr

Answer 17

-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.

Question 18

What would having soviet missiles on Cuba allow for?

Answer 18

-The soviets to close the missile gap
-Khrushchev to have resources left to invest in the non-military civilian economy.

Question 19

Kennedys response to soviet missiles

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Consequences of the Cuban missile crisis

Answer 20

-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.

Question 21

Significance

Answer 21

-Showed that international relations can’t be conducted through crisis management methods.
-Showed how any future conflict would be managed

Question 22

Cuba gained the most

Answer 22

-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.

Question 23

America gained the most

Answer 23

-Kennedy succeeded in humiliating his enemy.
-Major propaganda victory—> gained popularity

Question 24

Kennedy’s attitude towards the USSR

Answer 24

-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