Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
How far is Cuba from Florida
160 km
Who was the ruler Americans provide d
General Batista
What was general Batista like
Dictator
Corrupt
Unpopular
Opposed to communism
In 1959 after a 3 year campaign who overthrew Batista
Fidel Castro
What was Castro like
Charismatic Ruthless Clever Good at propaganda Vision for better cuba that won over most Cubans
What was us reaction to Castro
They were surprised but recognised him as new leader
Why time relation between Cuba and America quickly go bad after Castro took power
Thousands of exiles in us from Cuba who former powerful pressure groups demanding action against Castro
Castro took over some American Owned businesses in Cuba and land and distributed it to cubas peasant farmer population.
When did Eisenhower authorise CIA to first investigate ways of overthrowing Cuba
June 1960
Who did American companies in Cuba refuse to operate with
Any Cuban businesses who used oil or goods from USSR
How did Castro respond to US hostility
He allowed USA to keep its naval base and said Americans living there were safe
But in summer 60, c allied Cuba with USSR
Soviet leader Khrushchev signed trade agreement giving Cuba how much in economic aid
$100 million
What was bay of pigs
Rather than direct invasion Kennedy supplied arms equipment and transport for 1,400 Cuban exiles to invade and overthrow Castro. They were met with 20,000 troops and were fall captured or killed within days
When was bay of Pigs
April 1961
What was the impact o the bay of pigs
Suggest to Cuba and USSR that USA unwilling to get directly involved
It strengthened castors position in Cuba
When did Soviet Union announce publicly that they IT was supplying Cuba with arms
May 1962
By July 1962 who had best army in Latin America
Cuba
By September what 1962 what did Cuba have
Missiles Tanks Patrol boats Jet bombers Jet fighter 5,000 Soviet technicians to maintain as help with weappnry
On the 11th of September what did Hennessy warn USSR ? How’d they respond
K said he would prevent Cuba of becoming an OFFESNIVE (nuclear) base “by whatever means might be necessary” and same day USSR assured them rhey had no intention of it
When we’re the first photos of nuclear missiles on Cuba taken
14th October 1962
Just a month after they said they had no intention of it !
In days following first photos experts said it’d be how long till missiles were ready to be launched ?
7 days
What choices did Kennedy rule out doing and why
Nothing? - USSR had lied and doing nothing wld be sign of weakness
Surgical air attack? - destruction of all couldn’t be guaranteed and any left wld be huge danger, wld inevitably involve killing soviet soldiers = retaliation and attack without warning Sen as immoral
Invasion? - would be equivalent Soviet response
Diplomatic pressures - USA backing down showing weakness
What were Kennedys five choices
Do nothing Surgical air attack Invasion Diplomatic pressures Blockade
Bloackade pros and cons
Show the us as serious
Not direct act of war
Puts ball in Khrushchev court
USA had strong navy and cld take other options if this didn’t work
Didn’t solve main problems of missiles already there and USSR could retaliate. Y blockading Berlin again like it did in 1948
What day did the bloackade begin ?
Wednesday 24th October
What happens on 27th October 1962
Khrushchev said he’d removed Cuban missiles if they removed Turkish ones
American u2 plane shot down over Cuba pilot killed, Kennedy was advised to launch immediate reprisal attack on Cuba but didn’t. He told sov un if they didn’t withdraw an attack would follow
After American pilot killed and Kennedy said if they didn’t withdraw missiles attack would follow what happened
Khrushchev agreed to crate them back
Why did Khrushchev put the missiles there ?
To bargain to remove Turkish ones ? To test USA ? To close missile gap? To defend Cuba? To strengthen his position in the USSR ?
What was the outcome for Kennedy
Great rep for ken
He stood up to them and they backed down
Ken also stood up to hardliners of his government who wanted to invade as it showed that it wldnt have been worth it
BUT Kennedy did back down and take American missiles off turkey and annoyed NATO cos it was their decision
He had to accept Cuba as comm
Outcome for Khrushchev
Showed him as peacemaker
Kept Cuba safe
Got American missiles away from turkey
Crisis exposed America to its allies like brit newspapers called them hypocrites
Had no impact on missile gap
Everyone upset he withdraw soldiers humiliated when missiles counted on ships
In 1964 khrushchec was removed from power and missile crisis contributed to that
Outcomes for cold wars
Helped thaw relations
Both leaders saw how close it gone to destruction
Following year test ban treaty signed
For the rest of the Cold War the superpowers avoided direct confrontation and went thru allies where possible
What was the test van treaty of 1963
USA and USSR both signed it
Limited tests of nuclear weapons but didn’t entirely stop their production
Important step forward
Outcomes for Cuba
Stayed comm
Important base
Helped comm side in a civil war in Angola in the 1970s
Highly armed
