Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
What was Sputnik?
Set in 1957 by the Soviets.
This was a satellite that could orbit Earth in an hour and a half. Seen as a threat.
How did the US real end to Sputnik?
They increased spending on missiles by 20% and Eisenhower founded NASA, (the national aeronautics and space administration). The US expanded training for engineers and scientists due to fears of being overtaken by the Soviets.
How else did the US increase its strength?
Increasing B-52 bombers.
Equipping submarines with nuclear weapons.
It was expected the next war would be based on…
Nuclear weapons. Tensions were increasing due to technological developments in this arms race and the U-2 crisis and Berlin crisis had worsened matters.
What were the causes of the crisis ?
The Cubans held a revolution in 1959, getting Batista out of power and ejecting US businesses. The US refused to buy sugar which was Cuba’s greatest export. The Soviets supplied Fidel and Cuba with oil, machinery, and technological assistance, causing Fidel to lean to communism.
What did the US scheme?
The Cuba exiles commenced a scheme with the US which was set by Eisenhower.
The CIA would train the exiles, La Brigada, in secret at Florida and Guatemala.
By the end of training the Brigada reached 1500 men. The aim was to remove cadel and seize Cuba.
How much was spent on the Bay of Pigs?
$45 million
What were the events at the Bay of Pigs?
15 April - US planes bombed Cuban airforces.
16 - planned second wave called off.
17 - the Cubans met by La Brigada at Bay of Pigs. 20,000 Cubans.
19 April - fighting ended with 100 dead and 1100 imprisoned.
1962 Dec - the prisoners released after $53 million worth of food and medicine given by US
Why was it a failure?
Castro was popular and not removed by the Cubans.
Cadel had heard of the plans and was preparing.
The Cuban airforce was not bombed again on the 16th, allowing recovery. The Cubans sunk the supply ships with their airforces.
They were superior in arms, strength, and organisation.
What were the results?
Kennedy attempted to resist further communism in the Americas.
Operation Mongoose to remove Castro.
Castro pushed to Soviet Union and his position in Cuba strengthened.
An example to developing world.
US humiliation, seen as imperious.
The US and Soviet Union both owned atomic bombs in….
The US tested their first hydrogen bomb in…
This was stronger than ever and highly…
1953, March 1954, explosive.
