How effectively did the USA contain the spread of communism? - Cuba

Question 1

Why was Cuba important to the USA?

Answer 1

• Cuba sold raw materials for low prices to the USA
• Cuba bought American manufactured goods
• Railway industry run by USA
• Tobacco plantations and telephone system controlled by the USA
• Guantanamo Bay was an important US naval base
• Cuba was a holiday destination to Americans
• American Mafia controlled gambling, horse racing and hotels

Question 2

When did the revolution in Cuba occur?

Answer 2

1959

Question 3

What happened in the revolution in Cuba?

Answer 3

The unpopular President Batista was overthrown by revolutionary Fidel Castro. Castro promised to end American influence and control

Question 4

What did Castro do with the Soviet Union?

Answer 4

Castro negotiated trade agreements with the Soviet Union to export sugar and Khrushcev sent Castro advisers, military equipment and economic aid

Question 5

What was the state of the relationship between the USA and Cuba after the revolution?

Answer 5

Their relationship was tense and frosty

Question 6

What did America do in response to Cuban trade links with the Soviet Union?

Answer 6

The USA banned all trade with Cuba

Question 7

When did America cut diplomatic relations with Cuba, and in response to what?

Answer 7

January 1961, in response to Cuban trade links with the Soviet Union

Question 8

When was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 8

April 1961

Question 9

Why did President Kennedy carry out the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 9

President Kennedy made available weapons and transport for an attempt to overthrow Castro

Question 10

How many Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs during the invasion?

Answer 10

1,500 cuban exiles

Question 11

How many troops, supplied with weapons provided by whom?, were the Cuban exiles faced with at the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 11

20,000 Cuban troops, armed with weapons supplied by the USSR

Question 12

What was the result of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 12

The exiles were killed or taken prisoner. The invasion was a failure

Question 13

When and where did Khrushchev and Kennedy meet?

Answer 13

June 1961, in Vienna

Question 14

When and what did Castro do to all American industries?

Answer 14

In July 1961, Castro nationalised all American industries

Question 15

When and what did Khrushchev publicly announce in relation to Cuba?

Answer 15

In September 1961, Khrushchev publicly announced that he would provide arms to Cuba

Question 16

When and what did Khrushchev lie to Kennedy about?

Answer 16

In September 1962, Khrushchev lied to Kennedy, telling him he had no intention of placing nuclear missiles on Cuba.

Question 17

What did a US spy plane photograph, and when?

Answer 17

The construction of nuclear missile sits on Cuba, on the 14th of October 1962

Question 18

Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles into Cuba?

Answer 18

• Placing missiles in Cuba would reduce the advantage held by the USA
• To act as a deterrent
• To send out a message of strength to the USA
• The Soviet Union wanted a base close to America for its medium-range missiles
• To “close the gap”

Question 19

Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles into Cuba? -Placing missiles in Cuba would reduce the advantage held by the USA (explanation)

Answer 19

The USA had missiles in Western Europe and had recently placed missiles in Turkey, which bordered the Soviet Union

Question 20

Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles into Cuba? - To act as a deterrent (explanation)

Answer 20

Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union. Missiles on Cuba would act as a deterrent against another attack. Cuba was the only communist country in the western hemisphere

Question 21

Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles into Cuba? - To send out a message of strength to the USA (explanation)

Answer 21

Khrushchev was seen by some within the Soviet Union as not being strong enough in his dealings with the USA. Missiles close to America would give Khrushchev increased bargaining power

Question 22

Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles into Cuba? - To “close the gap” (explanation)

Answer 22

Khrushchev wanted to increase the number of Soviet warheads. Medium-range weapons were cheaper to produce and could threaten America from Cuba

Question 23

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 1: Do nothing

Answer 23

He did not want another disaster like the Bay of Pigs. Overreaction to the situation might cause a nuclear war
Not doing anything might be seen by the Soviets as weakness and result in other challenges, such as Berlin

Question 24

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 2: Full ground invasion

Answer 24

Would removed the missiles and Castro as well

Almost certainly this would lead to a Soviet response to protect Cuba or even a takeover of Berlin

Question 25

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 3: Air strikes

Answer 25

These would destroy the missiles before they could be used
To be effective all the bases had to be destroyed. This could not be guaranteed
Inevitably there would be loss of life and almost certainly the Soviet Union would retaliate

Question 26

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 4: Naval blockade

Answer 26

To prevent missiles reaching Cuba by introducing a blockade enforced by the American navy forcing negotiation
It gave the opportunity for both sides to consider their next move

Question 27

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 5: Threaten Castro

Answer 27

To warm Castro as to what will happen if the missiles are not removed
Likely to be ignored with the US looking weak and ineffectual

Question 28

What option did Kennedy have in response to the missiles in Cuba? - Option 6: Diplomatic measures

Answer 28

To use negotiation rather than aggression to help find a solution. This could be through the United Nations
The USA would be seen as weak as it was backing down

Question 29

The Cuban Missile Crisis - the outcome for Cuba

Answer 29

• Cuba remained communist, becoming a base for other communists in South America
• Castro remained in power, keeping control of the American industries he had nationalised at the time of the revolution
• Castro maintained the support and protection afforded to them by the USSR although he was disappointed with the deal Khrushchev agreed with America
• Unable to traded with America and dependent on the USSR, Cuba remained poor and isolated in the Western hemisphere

Question 30

The Cuban Missile Crisis - the outcome for the USSR and Khrushchev

Answer 30

• Khrushchev was able to say that he had acted responsibly by agreeing to remove the missiles from Cuba
• Cuba was maintained as a communist ally in the western hemisphere. This was a significant achievement in the face of American action
• The USA had agreed to remove NATO missiles from Turkey. Because this was a secret agreement, Khrushchev was unable to take credit
• Many in the USSR felt humiliated by the fact that Khrushchev had been forced to back down and remove the missiles from Cuba
• Khrushchev’s reputation was tarnished and he was replaced as Soviet leader within two years. His critics believed he had not been forceful enough

Question 31

The Cuban Missile Crisis - The outcome for the USA and Kennedy

Answer 31

• The possibility of nuclear war had been avoided
• Kennedy’s prestige in the world increased. He was seen by the West as a tough negotiator as he did not back down over his naval blockade
• Some of Kennedy’s military advisers, who were critics of containment, thought he should invade Cuba to turn back communism. He avoided his high-risk strategy by standing up to these hard-liners
• Cuba remained a communist state close to America. Restrictions on trade between Cuba and America remained in force
• The US was criticised by some of its allies including Britain. British newspaper articles were critical of America’s “two-faced” attitude, happy to have its missiles in Turkey and at other European bases and yet prepared to complain about Cuba
• Kennedy had agreed concessions, both not to invade Cuba and also to the removal of missiles in Turkey. The issue over Turkey was more difficult as technically they were NATO missiles. tHis left some NATO members unhappy. The removal of the missiles was kept from the American public

Question 32

What happened to the relations between USA and the USSR after the crisis?

Answer 32

They improved. Both sides realised that brinkmanship had to be avoided in the future

Question 33

What was established between the Kremlin and the White House?

Answer 33

A hotline telephone link so that problems could be discussed

Question 34

What was the Test Ban Treaty?

Answer 34

It prohibited all test detonations of nuclear weapons except for those conducted underground

Question 35

When was the Test Ban Treaty signed?

Answer 35

1963