Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

what is brinkmanship

Answer 1

art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping typically in politics

Question 2

what is the red scare

Answer 2

promotion of fear for a potential rise of communism, using propaganda

Question 3

what was Maccarthy’s war on communism

Answer 3

thousands of americans accused of being communists or communist sympathizers . Aggressive investigations were conducted against government employees, people in the entertainment industry, activists

Question 4

What is the concept of MAD

Answer 4

mutually assured destruction, use of nuclear weapons would cause attacker and defender as well as the world to be completely annihilated

Question 5

why was cuba so important to the USA

Answer 5

source of natural resources off the coast of the USA, served an economic purpose, forced cubans to sell raw materials for low prices. Cuba was a market for american products. USA invested heavily in Cuban Economy. Holiday place for Americans. Guantanomo bay , US navy base in Cuba

Question 6

what was the environment before the revolution

Answer 6

much of Cuba’s economic wealth controlled by the USA(oil, sugar, tobacco) , cubans lived in extreme poverty , 40% of population illiterate
Country in the hands of General Batista, backed by the USA, allowed the USA to exploit Cuba

Question 7

what happened in the revolution

Answer 7

general batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959 after 3 years of civil war. It was a guerilla campaign> fidel Castro was highly popular as he was pro socialism and a man of the people, he highlighted the disparity between rich and poor and wanted the money back in the hands of the cubans

Question 8

what did Castro promise the people of Cuba

Answer 8

He promised to restore power in Cuba , end american corruption in the country, promised land redistribution, defend the rights of the poor

Question 9

what was the result of the revolution

Answer 9

Cuba became a pro communist statewithin USA’s sphere of interest, this was a major test to the USA’s policy of containment

Question 10

What were the USA and Cuba relations like after revolution

Answer 10

Because American influence reduced , America resented this and became concerned over spread of communist ideals so close to america, Cuba began to implement socialist changes, like land redistribution and nationalization, this took away power from american companies who had previously dominated the economy

Question 11

What is the american response to the cuban revolution

Answer 11

USA tried to put diplomatic pressure on Cuba, banning sugar imports, break diplomatic ties.

Question 12

what was the cuban reaction to USA breaking diplomatic ties

Answer 12

Cuba was weary wanted protection from the USA, started trade negotiations with the USSR , this increased tensions between Cuba and USA.

Question 13

Why was the USA so afraid of Cuba becoming communist

Answer 13

height of Cold War , didn’t want a communist Country in their sphere of influence , fear that Cuba would spread communist ideals through the rest of South America

Question 14

what were the USA’s attempts at containment in Cuba

Answer 14

sanctions and the bay of pigs

Question 15

what sanctions did the USA put in place against cuba

Answer 15

economic sanctions, stopped trading with cuba, refused to buy Cuban raw materials and sugar, attempt to undermine Castro’s regime of force a change in US policy

Question 16

what was the bay of pigs

Answer 16

cubans who had fled to the USA , trained by CIA , lead an assault an guerilla warfare campaign, 1400 troops would land secretly at bay of pigs and paratroopers would be dropped to disrupt transportation and occupy forces, to create confusion. Wanted to do away with revolution and put a pro USA government in place. Unsuccessful everyone arrested or executed.

Question 17

how successful were early attempts at containment in Cuba

Answer 17

unsuccessful , Castro was not removed and USA failed to admit responsibility for the attacks. failed due to poor secrecy, failure to gain support etc.

Question 18

What did the bay of pigs and sanctions lead to

Answer 18

Castro declares Cuba communist turns to USSR for support

Question 19

what options did JFK have when he found out Cuba had nuclear bases

Answer 19

1. not attacking- did not want to start a nuclear war or worsen USA reputation
2. negotiating- meant talking to USSR, didnt want to appear weak
3. doing nothing- would make USA look weak

Question 20

what is another name for the cuban missile crisis

Answer 20

13 days in october

Question 21

what happened on the 16/10

Answer 21

JFK informed of missile build up

Question 22

what happened on the 20/10

Answer 22

JFK decides on naval blockade to prevent soviet ships from reaching Cuba

Question 23

what happened on 22/10

Answer 23

JFK announces blockade and calls for USSR ti withdraw weapons, met with letter from Krushchev decides not to observe this

Question 24

what happened on the24/10

Answer 24

blockade begins, 500 mile, first ships reach blockade and turn around, US forces on high alert

Question 25

what happened on the 25/10

Answer 25

aerial photographs shows bases being built rapidly

Question 26

what happened on the 26/10

Answer 26

JFK receives proposal 1 from Kruschev

Question 27

what happened on the 27/10

Answer 27

kruschev sends revised proposa, U2 spy plane shot down over cuba, pilot killed, JFK advised to attack, accepts first proposal

Question 28

what happened on the 28/10

Answer 28

kruschev withdraws , dismantles arms returns to USSR

Question 29

what were the outcomes of the crisis?

Answer 29

Cuba stays communist highly armed but no nuclear weapons
JFK improves his reputation
permanent hotline set up between white house and kremlin
tensions thawed slightly
1963 NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

Question 30

what was the 1963 nuclear test ban treaty

Answer 30

no testing of weapons in atmosphere

Question 31

what was the difference between the first proposal and second proposal

Answer 31

proposal 1 don’t attack cuba get rid of blockade

proposal 2 USSR will remove missiles if USA gets rid of missile bases in Turkey and Italy