Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
Unlike Stalin, Kruschev openly admitted he would do what?
- use decolonisation as a tool to get back at states and promote his ideology
Background to the CMC:
- Cuban revolution 1959-1962
- USA long had hegemony over countries of central / latin America
- 1823 Monroe doctrine (USA had for much of the 20th century got itself involved in wars of national liberation)
What was the Monroe doctrine
- saw area of influence in Latin America, USA would keep out of European affairs if Europe did the same back.
(Banana republic = country where major product is bananas , production often owned by US companies = US imperialism over economy)
In 1954 the CIA staged a coup where?
Guatemala, to topple the Arbenz government, after nationalisation of the American multinational united fruit company
in 1964 President Johnson intervened where?
Brazil
1973 USA staged a coup where?
Chile, against the socialist allende government. Put Pinochet in power
When did Reagan sent troops to depose marxist government in Grenada
1983
When was was Reagan’s Iran contra scandal? What was it?
1983, financing of contra forces who conducted Guerilla war against left wing Sandinista government
Where did Bush send troops to in 1989?
Panama to depose General Noriega
How was Cuba a bit like a US protectorate?
The USA brought Batista to power in 1934 (ousted in 1959)
Show US economic interests in Cuba
- USA brought 75% of Cuban exports
- USA provides almost 70% of Cuban imports
- USA took nearly 1/3 of Cuban sugar crops
Why as Castro not necessarily a hardline communist?
- He brought people together based on economic unfairness
- He was not a communist when he took power in 1959, his nationalisation of industry was aimed at freeing Cuba from domination
= Nationalisation of oil refineries, factories and Casinos which were all nationalised
What was the American response to Cuba challenge?
- Suspension of sugar quota, trade embargo, CIA plot to kill castro
- Eisenhower in 1960 plans to invade Cuba with Cuban exiles based in Miami
- Diplomatic ties were broken off with Cuba in 1961
Why did Castro proclaim himself to be a marxist leninist?
- USSR offered alternative and attractive model of rapid modernisation
- Needed an ally
- USSR agreed to supply Cuba with Sugar and oil
what is important to note about years that end with a 0 or 4
- These are election years! Be evaluative when thinking about events that happen in these years
Describe the pay of pigs invasion
- April 1961
- 14,000 Cuban exiles (aim was ripple effect)
- Humiliaiton for JFK (didn’t provide enough air cover)
- Pushed Castro even closer the the USSR
What was the secret operation launched in reaction to the failure of bay of pigs?
- Covert action, operation Mongoose, CIA planned assassination of Castro
- Economic isolation - Ban on Cuban imports to USA
- Diplomatic isolation (e.g. removed from organisation of American states in 1962)
- Military pressure, sabre rattling in the Carribbean
What is revisionist Thomas Paterson take on CMC?
- CMC seen as inevitable with the mounting hysteria within US (Kennedy hostility and Castro fear of invasion)
- Cuban actions were therefore defensive because they feared another invasion
What did Krushchev decide to put in Cuba in May 1962?
- 48 medium range and 32 intermediate range missiles
What is the theory of some?
That Krushchev might have been planning to announce his missiles at the UN general assembly meeting in November (NY)
When did U2 spy plane spot missiles in Cuba?
- August 1962
When was a blockade decided for Cuba?
22nd Ocotber 1962
What was the difference for Kennedy that Krushchev didnt have access to?
Global media exposure, he won world support with his appeals. (Post revisionist?)
When did the USA secretly remove missiles from Turkey?
April 1963
What are the reasons Krushchev might have done what he did?
- Berlin?
- Inferiority compensation?
- Kremlin internal struggle (Post revisionist)
What do Post revisionists say?
With revidence from USSR it is likely that USSR did what it did because of Berlin and to help stop a US invasion
Why do invdividuals really matter in the CMC?
JFK and Krushchev didn’t want a nuclear war, Krushchev sent an open letter to JFK and a cable
How did both sides claim victory?
- USA said it showed resolve and forced USSR to back down
- USSR said that they saved the Cuban revolution
Krushchev was removed in 1964, why?
- It was a humiliating backdown
- The allies were still in Berlin
What does Gaddis say about CMC?
- By 1962 the outcome of the CW already decided and the Russians had lost
- There was a continuing weakness of the soviet economy
- Sino Soviet Split.
- *Russia was only ever a military power, never an economic one
According to Gaddis was the cold war prolonged by the CMC or made shorter?
- Gaddis says it was made longer
How can you argue that the cold war was prolonged?
Although krushchev backed down, they came so close to war that open talks seemed dangerous
What were the positive outcomes of the CMC?
- Kremlin hotline
- Limited nuclear test ban treaty 1963
- Nuclear non proliferation 1968
What did Russia start to do in the 1960s?
Started to build up militarily to redress the strategic imbalance
