Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
1
Q
Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba?
A
Reduce missile gap
- USSR had 75 ICBMs and the USA had 170 ICBMs and 16 Polaris missiles.
- USA had bases in Turkey Britain and France which surrounded USSR
To Test Kennedy
-Kennedy was a new president who got humilated after the Bay of Pigs and Kruschev thought kennedy would just step aside
Strengthen position in USSR
-USSR looked week because they were surrounded by american bases
To defend Cuba
- Kruschev had spent $100 million on Cuba and wanted to protect his investment
- Cuba could be important base which could spread communism through south america
2
Q
October crises?
A
- Sunday 14th - American spy plane flew over and took detailed photographs of missile sites in Cuba
- Tuesday 16th Kennedy informed about missile build up
- Saturday 20th Kennedy starts blockade
- Tuesday 23rd Kruschev doesn’t admit to the presence of missile base in Cuba
3
Q
Evidence for Russia Winning the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
- Kruschev got the USA to remove naval base in Turkey
- Kruschev got Cuba as an ally and managed to protect them from American action
- Kennedy had to accept that Cuba would remain communist the backyard of America
- Newspapers said that it was unreasonable for America to have bases in Turkey and to not allow bases to be built in Cuba-USA got criticised for this
4
Q
Evidence for USA winning the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
- Kennedy came out with a greatly improved reputation for beating Kruschev
- Kennedy stood up to government who wanted to invade Cuba
- Soviets were forced to be put missiles on the ships so Americans could count them/ this was seen as demoralising
5
Q
Cuban Revolution?
A
- 1959 February Castro defeated Batista
- 1960 may USSR shot down U2 spy plane
- 1960 summer Eisenhower decided to stop buying Cuban sugar
- 1960 autumn USA ban all trades with Cuba
