Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
What regime was overthrown by Fidel Castro?
The Batista regime
When did Fidel Castro take control in Cuba?
January 1959
What did Castro’s programme of agrarian reform lead to?
Considerable amounts of American-owned property being seized by the state
Who visited Cuba in February 1960?
Mikoyan - Soviet First Deputy Premier
How much did Mikoyan arrange to send Cuba?
$100m
How did the US react when the USSR sent the first shipment of crude oil to Cuba?
US-owned oil companies refused to refine it
When did the USSR send the first shipment of crude oil to Cuba?
April 1960
How did USA punish Cuba for nationalising their oil companies?
-Imposed economic sanctions
-Reduced their imports of Cuban sugar by 95%
How did Castro react to the US refusing to refine their oil?
Nationalised them
How did Castro react to the reduced imports on Cuban sugar?
Seized $1b worth of US assets on Cuba
When did Castro seize $1b worth of US assets on Cuba?
October 1960
When was the Bay of Pigs invasion?
April 1961
What was the plan for the Bay of Pigs invasion?
To enable 1500 anti-Castro exiles to land on Cuba and carry out a military coup to remove him
When was Operation Mongoose authorised?
30th November 1961
What was the aim of Operation Mongoose?
To overthrow Castro and his regime
How were they trying to overthrow Castro in Operation Mongoose?
Primarily through the use of covert operations
What are covert operations?
Involves:
-Gathering intelligence information
-Forms of economic sabotage and psychological intimidation through propaganda
How did Khrushchev react to US threat on Cuba?
Deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba
What operation involved the Soviet decision to deploy nuclear missiles?
Operation Anadyr
What did the Soviets provide to Cuba?
-Fighter planes
-Bombers
-14,000 ground troops
How did the secrecy of Soviet’s deployment of missile bases end?
U-2 Spy plane brought unmistakable evidence
What decision did Kennedy make in regards to the Cuban missiles bases?
Enforce a naval blockade that would stem the flow of missiles entering Cuba
How did Soviet ships react to the blockade?
Either stopped dead in the water or turned around
What basic proposal did Khrushchev make with the US?
USSR would remove its military presence in Cuba, in return for a non-invasion pledge
What threatened the ending of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Castro ordering Cuban anti-aircraft forces to start firing on low-level planes as he was convinced an American attack was imminent
When did Khrushchev agree to remove the missiles?
28th October 1962
What was the immediate response to the resolving of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
‘Hot-line’ between the Kremlin and the White House
What was signed in October 1963?
The Moscow Test Ban Treaty
How did the US fail overall with Cuba?
Failure to containment and Truman Doctrine had failed
