Cuban Missile Crisis and Its Consequences, Prague Spring And Its Consequences

Question 1

Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer 1

1962
In response to the Bay of Pigs invasion and the presence of US missiles in Turkey, Khrushchev decided to place missiles in Cuba.
US spy planes identified missile sites being built in Cuba.
President Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island to prevent the USSR delivering nuclear missiles there.
Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles if the USA agreed not to invade Cuba.
In private, the USA also agreed to remove missiles from Turkey.

Question 2

Cuban Missile Crisis and its consequences

Answer 2

Fear of nuclear war began move towards détente.
Hotline created between Washington and Moscow.
1963: Test Ban Treaty banned all nuclear weapon testing, except underground.
1964: Backing down over Berlin and Cuba led to Khrushchev being replaced by Brezhnev (Turkey agreement remained secret).
1967: Outer Space Treaty banned putting weapons into space.
1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty banned sharing weapons with others.

Question 3

Prague Spring

Answer 3

1968
Alexander Dubcek became new Czech leader.
Suggested government should offer communism ‘with a human face’ to restore communisms popularity.
Relaxed censorship and government control, and suggests holding multi-party elections in the future.
When Dubcek invited the leaders of Romania and Yugoslavia to talks, Brezhnev sent 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia.

Question 4

Prague Spring and its consequences

Answer 4

1968-69
The USA and NATO members made formal protests, but took no other action.
Dubcek was arrested and sent to Moscow.
A new government, loyal to Moscow, was set up.
Many Czechs continued to protest; thousands arrested.
Brezhnev Doctrine: The USSR would step in if the Warsaw Pact’s stability was threatened by any member.
Yugoslavia and Romania condemned Brezhnev’s actions, relations with the USSR became strained.