Cuban missile crisis Flashcards
What led to the Cuban Missile Crisis globally?
proxy wars extended across the globe in late 1950s
• establishment of spheres of influence
• continued brinkmanship between USSR and USA
• USSR achieved nuclear capability in mid-1950s – growth of ideas of Mutually Assured
Destruction
US response to Cuban revolution
Ban on sugar imports and break in diplomatic relations (Prompted Castro to turn to USSR)
Bay of pigs 1961
USA were wary of a communist state so close to its borders
CIA backed exiles to overthrow Castro administration
Exiles were defeated -> Humiliating failure for US
Cuba turned to USSR for military support to mitigate US invasions
Cuban Missile Crisis
October 1962: U2 Spy captures images of nuclear missile bases being built in Cuba.
Fears rose in US as many of the major cities would be within striking range
Khrushchev wanted US to promise to never invade Cuba, remove missiles in Turkey as well as give up West Berlin
Kennedy decided to place naval blockade on incoming ships to Cuba to prevent more equipment coming in.
Partial nuclear test ban treat 1963
Stated that countries would not be able to test their nuclear weapons in the ocean, or in the atmosphere.
Outcomes of Cuban Missile crisis
Kennedy and Khrushchev realised that such a crisis is a threat to world peace
Kennedy’s reputation was enhanced and he gained prestige. Praised for his brinkmanship
Khrushchev’s prestige was seriously hurt. Criticised by the Chinese and his own
Hotline between Washington and Moscow was set up to provide leaders with direct communication with one another
Test ban treaty of 1963 set up - Prevented testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space or under water
Cuba remained Communist (Failure of roll back)
USSR felt it was embarrassing to not make withdrawal of missiles from Turkey public
USA generals felt they should’ve invaded
Cuba felt they had been betrayed by the USSR; all decisions were made by Kennedy and Khrushchev
Period of detente and cooling tensions between the US and the USSR
One week in October 1962
22 Oct Kennedy announces a naval quarantine of Cuba; warns of full retaliatory response if any missile is launched from Cuba
23 Oct - Khrushchev explains that the missile sites are to defend Cuba from US aggression
24 Oct - Khrushchev tells twenty Russian ships to ignore the blockade
25 Oct - First Russian ship arrives at blockade and is allowed in. Conversations of removing missiles from Turkey spark up
26 Oct - Kennedy considers invading Cuba until he gets a telegram from Khrushchev offering to dismantle missiles sites if Kennedy promises to not invade Cuba and lifts blockade. DEFCON II
27 Oct - Khrushchev demands missiles in Turkey are with drawn. U2 spy plane incident. Kennedy agrees to dismantle missiles provided it’s kept secret
28 Oct - Khrushchev agrees to Kennedy’s proposals.
Events in Cuba before the Cuban Missile Crisis
Events in Cuba to 1961:
• control of Cuban government by USA puppets
• USA maintained large naval base at Guantanamo Bay
• USA companies controlled economy – USA bought bulk of main export, namely sugar
• few wealthy Cuban families dominated – oligarchy
• majority of Cubans poor and illiterate/acute shortage of education and social services
• Fulgencio Batista in power from 1952 – abolished the constitution and suppressed
opposition – supported by army/landowners
• Fidel Castro led a revolution of workers and peasants – overthrew Batista and entered
Havana in January 1959
• Castro implemented socialist policies: social policies/nationalisation of industries/
collectivisation of farms – requested aid from USA
• USA companies pressured government to act – USA banned import of sugar and
broke off diplomatic ties – migration of wealthy Cubans to USA
• Castro started trade negotiations with USSR – arrival of Soviet technicians and
advisers – USA fearful of a communist Cuba – encouraged by Cuban émigrés
• Eisenhower administration planned overthrow of Castro – use of USA military forces
and Cuban exiles
• go-ahead for invasion given by Kennedy in January 1961 – Bay of Pigs – USA forces
easily defeated by Cuban forces
• USA actions caused Castro to move closer to the Soviet Union – diplomatically and
economically
How did the US respond to presence of missile sites
• October 1962 – USA spy plane photographs revealed the missile bases for medium-range ballistic missiles – being transported from USSR – ability to reach major USA cities from Cuba
• Kennedy set up EXCOMM – advised on a number of possible responses: invasion/air
strike/diplomacy/withdrawal/blockade
• Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba
• Khrushchev not willing to risk war – Soviet ships ordered to turn back
