Superpower Relations - 2.2 The Cuban Crisis Flashcards
What happened in January 1959?
In January 1959, a group of revolutionaries, toppled the pro- American goremment in cuba
What was there before January 1959 in Cuba?
- Sugar and tobacco was Cubas main source of income
- Lots of poverty in Cuba but not in the Capital (Havanna)
- American businesses were interested
- President Batista ran the country only wanting to make money for themselves
- “Gorillas” are the people who rebelled against cuba
- Havanna’s casinos which made lots of money were ran by mafias
- Batista was backed by the US
- Fidel Castro launched a revolution to overthrow Batista promising people land which inspired many (as they are poor)
What were the events in 1959?
- Revolution backed by Cuba by the end of 1958 (popular revolution succeeds)
- They then take “Havana” in 1959 with Batista fleeing
What was the US reaction to the Cuban Revolution?
The US were concerned about the events in Cuba as the new leader of Cuba (Fidel Castro), was a nationalist who did not want his country’s economy to be under American Control. This created tension between the USA and Cuba, which grew into a crisis threatening world peace
What were three areas of tension between US and Cuba?
- The Americans knew about the new goverment, but they wont provide economic aid unless Cuba follow guidelines set by the International Monetary Fund
- In May 1959, Castro took all land in Cuba owned by foreign nationals, though it paid compensation to previous owners, the US refused to recognise the scheme.
- Before 1960, Castro had already begun appointing communists to his government, then in Febuary 1960 he made an agreement with the Soviet Union where Kruschev agreed to buy Cuban sugar and provide economic aid. There was also a secret clause saying that Cuba would receive arms from the Soviet Union
What were five ways in which the USA tried to kill Castro?
- Femme Fatale (women seducing him and killing him in his sleep)
- Poisoned wetsuit (Castro likes scuba diving)
- Ballpoint hypodermic syringe (going close to Castro and kill him)
- The Mafia Ice Cream Plot (changing the ice cream by tainting it to kill him)
- The Poisoned Cigar (Castro liked Cigars)
Why did JFK agree to the Bay of Pigs invasion?
JFK agreed to the invasion as the CIA trained Cuban Exiles so it would seem the USA weren’t involved and JFK was told it would be easy
Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion fail?
Although, the invasion had failed as JFK scared the bombing down reducing its impact, Castro was already prepared and only 1500 cuban exiles invaded, the US cancelled the air support , supply ships were destroyed, all of cuba’s forces were deployed making it fail within 72 hours.
What are the consequences of the ‘bay of pigs’?
The consequences of the bay of pigs was Castro now calls his revolution “socialist” and it humiliated John F Kennedy (JFK) calling this a “fiasco” and Cuba pushed even closer to the USSR
Extra Notes of Bay of Pigs invasion (JUST READ)
- The volunteers who invaded Cuba had litte military experience. They received some training from the CIA, but were no match for the battle -hardened cuban revolutionary army
- There were 1,400 invaders (US) vs 20,000 soldiers (Cuba)
- The US involvement in the invasion became known so they cancelled their support
- The exile army was outnumbered and got no support from other humans
- Another reason for failure is the Cubans didn’t want Batista back
- IF JFK got rid of Castro, it would’ve been a great start to his presidency by supressing the influence of communism
What are the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion for Cuba?
- Showed that the people of Cuba were unhappy under Batista’s leadership
- Castro felt vulnerable and asked the USSR to help defend Cuba
- Castro declared himself a communist / socialist
What are the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion for the USA?
- Very embarassing for Kennedy and the US
- USA widely condemned for supporting an amed invasion in Cuba
- Bad start to Kennedy’s presidency
What are the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion for the USSR?
- Kruschev claims that this showed the popularity of communism
- Led to stronger relationship between Castro and Kruschev (USSR and Cuba)
Why did the USSR send missiles to cuba?
• USSR were annoyed that the USA had missile bases in the UK and Turkey that could bomb its cities, they wanted to be able to retaliate against the USA
• Cuba saw Soviet missiles as a great way to prevent the USA from invading them again.
• Both countries were Communist and so were natural allies against capitalist USA
• In September 1962 Soviet ships carried nuclear warheads and missiles to Cuba
What was the key events of the missiles crisis called?
The 13 days
