Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
How far is Cuba from the USA?
90 miles
Who was the leader of Cuba 1956?
President Fulgencio Batista
What was Batista’s policy towards the US?
His government was Anti - Communist and protected American interests in the Tobacco and sugar industry. Batista advocated keeping Cuban markets open to US Corporations.
When did Castro take control of Cuba?
On Jan 1 1959 Castro toppled Batista’s government and he took control of Havana the Capital
What was the USA’s first opinion towards Castro’s take over?
Tt appeared that Castro had no direct external aid from Communist countries and so was not a threat
Why did attitudes towards Castro change?
In 1959, Castro introduced a programme of agrarian reform, which led to considerable amounts of American owned property being seized by the State. Soviet First Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan visited Cuba in Feb 1960 and arranged for $100 million in credit for Castro.
By April 1960 Cuba was receiving crude oil shipments from the Soviets but US owned companies refused to refine the oil. Castro therefore Nationalised the companies
What was the US response to Cuba’s new relationship with the USSR 1960?
the US imposed economic sanctions on Cuba and reduced their imports of Cuban sugar by 95%. Relations deteriorated further when Castro seized $1 billion worth of US assets in October 1960
What was the reason for Bay of Pigs invasion?
It was intended to provoke popularity for an uprising against Fidel Castro. Instead, it gave Castro a military victory and a permanent symbol of Cuban resistance to American aggression.
Who’s idea was the Bay of Pigs invasion?
Eisenhower’s administration who handed it over to the CIA
What was the plan for the Bay of Pigs invasion?
The plan was to enable 1500 anti- Castro exiles to land on Cuba and carry out a military coup to remove him without showing US involvement
When did planning for the invasion begin?
Planning for the invasion began in 1960, before diplomatic ties with Cuba had been broken. The situation was delicate, since the plan was to overthrow a government with which the United States was not at war. Various aspects, including propaganda and military strategies, were included in the plan, along with the directive that the U.S. should not appear to be involved
Knowledge of US involvement before the attack
The Cubans had presented evidence to the United Nations as early as October that the United States was hiring and training mercenaries. American involvement was not likely to remain much of a secret. On April 12, 1961, Kennedy told a press conference that the United States unequivocally had no intention of intervening in Cuban affairs. Five days later, the invasion took place.
