Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
What did the Russians call the crisis?
The Caribbean Crisis
What did the Russians state the crisis was about?
A long running crisis regarding US hostility towards Cuba and Central America - not because of the Russians’ missiles
How did Kennedy respond? And what’s important to note about it?
Implemented a naval blockade which was illegal - the Soviets would have seen this as part of the crisis
What did Russia believe had recently been created and where?
A ‘revolutionary class’ - in places such as Africa, Central America and East Asia etc
What did Russia believe this new class would do?
Hoped they wouldn’t want to join the US system, and instead adopt Russian model - through coercion, help and patronage
What had Russia been seen as and as achieving?
As a ‘developing nation’, who was seen to have successfully industrialised/modernised. Became a scientific and technological society without losing its identities
Who were Russia hoping to appeal to?
Nations recently freed
What occurred in Jan 1959?
The Cuban Revolution - Russia were not involved (of their own volition)
What effect did the US have on Cuba’s alliances?
They weren’t really Communist, but the Americans’ actions pushed them towards the Soviet Union
What were taken completely seriously by Cuba and Russia?
CIA attempts to kill Castro or plan invasions of Cuba
What happened in 1961 and what did the Russians see it as proof of?
Yuri Gagarin orbited the earth which was a euphoric moment for Russia - saw it as proof of their superior system
What role did Castro’s brother Raul play?
Made constant visits to Moscow to discuss what the Soviet Union could do for Cuba
What did Cuba want from Russia?
Military protection against United States
What was Operation Anadyr?
Placing missiles on Cuba in secret - approved by Khrushchev (named after river in Siberia) However the US caught wind of it very quickly
When can the ‘Caribbean Crisis’ be seen to have taken place?
16-28 October 1962
What was Castro willing to do in order to keep the revolution alive?
Bomb America
What did Operation Anadyr consist of?
164 strategic and nuclear weapons to Cuba, plus conventional weapons, 42,000 troops and military advisors
What kind of advice was open to Kennedy? Which was the loudest?
A variety of options - lots of different views being presented to him - peaceful and more active
Peaceful is louder
What did this cause him to do?
Implement the naval blockade to prevent more supplies from coming in - however it was illegal according to International Law
How did Castro view the blockade?
“banditry and degenerate imperialism” - ignoring Cuba’s sovereignty
To what extent was there evidence of de-escalation from Russia?
Both sides had undercurrents of de-escalation - didn’t want the war. Letters between Kennedy and Khrushchev
Who can be argued to have ‘won’?
The US - Khrushchev had to back down. Tried to play it off as a win for the Soviet bloc but it wasn’t seen that way. Removed from power soon after
How did Cuba react to the end of the crisis?
Didn’t think the Soviet Union had lost, and were angry at Russia for removing the missiles
What victory did Russia achieve?
The removal of American Jupiter missiles (nuclear) from Turkey
What is the traditionalist view of the crisis?
An aggressive attempt to alter the balance of power with the US, who had missiles in Turkey (plus military bases in Japan, West Germany, Norway. - Gain leverage in the situation in Berlin
What was the revisionist view of the crisis?
Defensive move to protect Cuba from US invasion (importance for Khrushchev of third world national liberation movements) . Hostility between Cuba and the US gave Khrushchev his opportunity and blame for crisis put on Kennedy for his overreaction
What was the role of Cuba in the crisis?
They were convinced the US would attack them - therefore wanted to protect themselves, needed nuclear weapons
What other explanations are there for Khrushchev’s actions?
To show the Chinese (and domestic critics) he was the revolutionary leader of the COmmunist bloc - China didn’t like de-stalinisation - thought they were becoming revisionist
How was Khrushchev’s policy of de-stalinisation received by the public?
Came under criticism domestically for de-stalinisation - wasn’t revolutionary enough
Why did Khrushchev undertake de-stalinisation?
Demonstrate to the world that the SU was on the rise, US was on the wane: the future was socialism
