Cuban Missile Crisis (SBCS) Flashcards
Key dates/months
- Bay of Pigs invasion (Apr 1961)
- Operation Mongoose authorised (Nov 1961)
- Secret agreement to send nuclear missiles to Cuba (10 June 1962)
- USA discovered missiles - START of Cuban Missile Crisis (16 Oct 1962)
- Khrushchev’s 1st deal (26 Oct 1962)
- Khrushchev’s 2nd deal (27 Oct 1962)
- 1st deal was accepted publicly, 2nd deal was accepted in secret (28 Oct 1962)
- Mikoyan calls for Cuban Missiles, (22 Nov 1962)
Timeline
USA proclaims Monroe Doctrine (1823)
USA withdrew from Cuba, established a pro-US government, and forged economic relations. (1902)
Cuban Revolution against Batista’s regime (1956)
Batista fled Cuba, Castro came to power (Jan 1959)
Castro introduced Land Reform Law (May 1959)
Castro nationalised all major American properties (Aug 1960)
US embargo on exports to Cuba (Nov 1960)
Bay of Pigs invasion (Apr 1961)
Operation Mongoose authorised (Nov 1961)
Secret agreement to send nuclear missiles to Cuba (10 June 1962)
USA discovered missiles - START of Cuban Missile Crisis (16 Oct 1962)
Naval Blockade on Cuba (22 Oct 1962).
Khrushchev offered to remove missiles in exchange for USA’s promise not to invade Cuba (26 Oct 1962)
Khrushchev offered to remove missiles if USA removes Jupiter Turkey missiles (27 Oct 1962)
1st deal was accepted publicly, 2nd deal was accepted in secret (28 Oct 1962)
Mikoyan calls for removal of Cuban Missiles, (22 Nov 1962)
What were the reasons for the CMC (2 US, 2 Cuba)
- US ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION OF CUBA
- Heavy US investment in tobacco & sugar industries, by 1926 owned 60% of Cuban sugar industry
- Plantations owned by upper class Cubans invested by Americans -> LARGE ECONOMIC GAP between rich elites and majority poor Cubans -> poor quality of life.
- Cubans resented USA for exploiting their economy / causing their suffering / influence.
- Desire to overthrow Batista’s dictatorship -> led to revolution. - RESENTMENT OF US POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN CUBA
- Monroe Doctrine: Cuba in US sphere of influence.
- Established pro-US government led by a cruel dictator
-> ensured Cuba will not be controlled by external powers.
- Batista corrupt & used secret police to repress the people.
Cubans resented their political influence -> angered Nationalists.
US installed oppressive government -> angered Cubans -> resentment towards USA -> hostile tensions.
- RESENTMENT OF COMMUNIST INFLUENCE IN CUBA
- Castro overthrew Batista’s government in 1959.
- Economic cooperation with Cold War enemy: Soviets agree to buy Cuban sugar (½ mil ton), Cuban sugar bartered for Soviet oil.
- Land Reform Law -> dissolve large private estates and redistribute them to the poor. -> similar to the practice of Collectivisation in USSR.
Cuba ideologically opposed capitalist economy
Threatened American democracy & national security -> risk of a communist state at their doorstep.
Provoked USA, saw Castro associating himself with USSR, USA’s Cold War enemy.
- US RETALIATIONS & ESCALATIONS
- American oil companies refused to process Soviet oil given to Cuba (Apr 1960).
- Castro nationalised all major American properties (Aug 1960).
- Bay of Pigs Invasion 17/4/1961, planned to overthrow government with Cuban exiles -> USA lost in 2 days, plan backfired;
- Cuba’s formal alliance with the USSR (12/1961).
- USA sought to cripple the Cuban economy to weaken Castro’s government. -> forced Cuba to retaliate against foreign aggression.
- Retaliatory acts against each other -> worsen tensions between 2 parties rapidly -> hostility.
- Furthermore, failed attempts to overthrow Castro strengthened the Cuban-Soviet alliance. -> common enemy.
Why did US & USSR go on brink of nuclear war
SOVIET INSTALLATION OF MISSILES IN CUBA
Khrushchev wanted to install missiles to
1. Gain prestige in the communist bloc.
2. Narrow missile gap between USA and USSR, counter Turkey Jupiter missiles
3. Leverage against American actions in Europe.
SECRET agreement of transport of Soviet missiles: 10 JUNE 1962.
First warheads arrived in Cuba on 4 Oct 1962 -> capable of reaching major US cities -> less time to respond.
Castro wanted to guarantee Soviet protection of Cuba -> defend against US invasion / foreign aggression.
US threatened -> act of aggression -> capable of mass destruction.
Increased risk of deployment of nuclear weapons. -> mutually assured destruction.
AMERICAN DISCOVERY OF MISSILES & RESPONSE
- Kennedy discovered the missiles on 16 Oct 1962 -> start of CMC.
- The US imposed a naval blockade around Cuba on 24 Oct 1962 + inspected all ships headed towards Cuba, in retaliation.
- Khrushchev saw it as an act of war.
Castro was determined to defeat the USA even through nuclear war, mobilised his 300k forces
Caused immediate escalation of tensions -> increased risk of nuclear war.
Resolution of CMC
Khrushchev’s 1st appeal for peace
- Wanted world peace
- Offered to withdraw missiles if US promises not to invade Cuba
Khrushchev’s 2nd appeal for peace
- Would withdraw missiles only if US withdrew Turkey Jupiter missiles
- Kennedy would only accept the deal in secret, USA not seen bowing to enemy
- Believed keeping Cuba safe + removing threat of Jupiter missiles was a win for USSR
U-2 US spy plane shot down on 27 Oct 1960,
Soviet commander in Cuba acted on his own, made both leaders want to resolve crisis ASAP
Khrushchev accepting Kennedy’s deal
- Soviet MRBMs publicly removed, Jupiter missiles secretly removed
- Soviet SRBMs/tactical missiles remained in Cuba, Castro threatened to reveal this to the UN due to their betrayal. Fearing this, they were removed on 22 Nov
Aftermath of CMC
KENNEDY: Seen as courageous victor, standing up against USSR, not backing down
- Did not consult NATO for removal of Jupiter missiles, Disapproval of NATO allies & Britain, as US installed Jupiter missiles on the 1st place
- Had to accept Cuba as communist
KHRUSHCHEV: Lost prestige in USSR
- Public & govt saw him as too compromising, made USSR look weak
- Worsened Cuban relations -> removal seen as betrayal
- Worsened Sino relations -> Accused USSR of backing down to US
CASTRO: Continued to be a national hero
- Soviet ally but deteriorating relations
- Lost its nuclear protection
- Protected from possible American invasion, but prepared
