Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
What was the date of the Cuban Revolution?
July 1953
Who were the revolutionaries and who got kicked out
Revolutionaries: Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
Kicked out: Fulgencio Battista
How did the USA respond to the revolution?
Stopped buying sugar and cut off sugar trade in 1960. Then all trade was stopped
What were the relations like between America and Cuba?
Difficult as they had communists in their ‘backyard’
What date did America break off diplomatic relations with Cuba?
January 1961
What was annoying America early in the missile crisis?
That they were getting aid from Russia. Cuban sugar being traded for machinery, oil and cash.
What date was the Bay of Pigs invasion and who authorised it?
April 1961. Authorised by JFK
Who were the invaders of the Bay of Pigs invasion and who trained them up? What was the aim of the invasion
1400 Cuban exiles were supported in a military way. They were trained up by the CIA.
Aim - kick out Castro and establish a guerrilla base in Cuba.
Why couldn’t they use American troops?
Because it would have been a clear act of war.
Why did they have to invade Cuba?
Because their initial assassination plans for Castro would not work.
How did the invasion go?
Disaster. 1400 exiles met by 20,000 communist Cubans.
How did the invasion affect JFK and why?
Humiliated JFK and America. Also, JFK cancelled air strikes at last minute.
What became clear to Castro and Khrushchev and what happened as a result?
Obvious America were behind invasion and it made them angry. Cuba asked for more help and aid from Russia.
How did America support the Cuban exiles?
Trained them up, supplied them with weapons and transported them to bay of pigs.
How did the invasion cause problems for the USA?
JFK looked weak as he cancelled air strikes and he looked soft on communism.
Why did the invasion cause a problem for JFK in terms of the future?
He wanted to be re-elected in 1968
What did Cuba do after they got invaded?
Turned to Russia for more help and supplies
What date did Khrushchev announce he would help Cuba more
September 1961. He announced he would give more weapons and supplies to Cuba.
What did Cuba now have because of Russia?
A modern army, tanks, missiles, better technicians, patrol boats, radar vans, jet bombers and fighters.
What did JFK allow to be built and where and when was it built? How did it affect him?
Berlin Wall in August 1961 in East Germany. JFK looked more weak.
What date did the crisis start and how did America find out?
Started October 14th 1962. A U2 flew over and took pictures of Russian missile sites. Would all be ready in 7 days.
What did Khrushchev deny then secretly do?
Denied that there were missiles on Cuba. Then secretly put 64 SS4 + SS5 missiles on 9 bases in Cuba.
What did Russia secretly transport to Cuba between which dates?
July-October 1962. 43,000 soviet troops, thousands of tanks and AA missiles were unloaded in secret.
Why did NK send missiles? How many missiles did America and Russia have?
To close the missile gap. America had 295 long range missiles and Russia had 75. America had 1600 long range bombers. They also had 15 Jupiter missiles in Turkey which Russia wanted removed.
What did Russia feel they had to do with Cuba?
Defend them as they were the only communist place in the Western Hemisphere. Could also act as a beacon for South and Latin America.
Why did NK send missiles in relation to the president?
To test JFK as he was new. Was he strong or not? How much could he get away with as he built Berlin Wall for free
What were one of JFK’s options after he realised there were missiles on Cuba?
Airstrikes - probably get rid of missiles. Act of war and would start war with Russia. There was MAD, may lead to a retaliation - Cuba bombed -> Russia invade Berlin. No guarantee all missiles would be destroyed.
What were JFK’s options after he realised there were missiles on Cuba? (2 passive points)
Diplomacy - could look weak and Hawks wanted to attack
Nothing - JFK look weak, wouldn’t solve problem
What were JFK’s options after he found out there were missiles on Cuba? (2 aggressive points)
Blockade - stop any more missiles, show USA is serious and would put NK under pressure to make next move.
Full scale invasion - get all missiles, massive act of war.
What did JFK chose after he found out there were missiles on Cuba?
Chose a mix of diplomacy and blockade.
Why may some people say USA won the crisis?
Nukes removed, Cuba never armed again since, JFK now looked strong and avoided war. REVISE IN GREATER DETAIL.
Why may some people say that the USA won the crisis in terms of getting the missiles removed from Cuba?
The threat was removed as the missiles could hit every major city but Seattle. Long term as Cuba has not been armed since
Why may some people say that the USA won the crisis in terms of JFK looking strong?
BoP and Berlin wall made him look weak. He accepted first letter in public and accepted 2nd in private. He avoided war - Blockade and diplomacy worked. Now more popular
Why may people say the USSR won the crisis?
Jupiter missiles removed from Turkey, Cuba still Communist, avoided nuclear war
Why may some people say that the USSR won the crisis in terms of the Jupiter missiles being removed from Turkey?
Missile gap reduced. He more or less got them removed for nearly nothing. Threat to Southern Russia reduced
Why may some people say that the USSR won the crisis in terms of keeping Cuba Communist?
Beacon for the West and has immunity from America. Could turn some countries in Western hemisphere Communist
Why may some people say that the USSR won the crisis in terms of avoiding nuclear war?
America had a massive advantage in nuclear war and Russia would have been destroyed due to the better nuclear weapons America posessed
Why may some people say that Cuba won the crisis?
Avoided war and didn’t get destroyed, got to Stay communist and remained highly armed
Why may some people say that the Cuba won the crisis in terms of staying Communist?
It was a popular revolution which shows it was what they actually wanted - wasn’t minority. They have no threat of a repeat of BoP or any US invasion
Why may some people say that the USSR won the crisis in terms of remaining highly armed?
They kept a lot of what Russia gave them - Anti-aircraft missiles, patrol boats, some troops, tanks and got aid from the USSR
