Tensions over Cuba Flashcards

1
Q

Who lead Cuba between 1933 and 1959?

A

corrupt and brutal government led by Batista- a dictator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who supported Batista and why?

A

American government
This was because he was an anti-communist and kept things stable by cracking down on opposition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who did not support Batista and were fed up with his regime by the 1950s?

A

Many Cubans were fed up with Batista’s regime and life for ordinary Cubans was tough while members of the Cuban government became very wealthy?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Who called for revolution in Cuba? What were the consequences of this?

A

Fidel Castro

He was arrested and sent into exile.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What did Castro do following his exile from Cuba?

A
  • returned to Cuba
  • with some supporters
  • in 1956 he began a two year guerrilla war campaign against the government
  • his support grew
  • on 1st january 1959 Batista’s government collapsed and Castro declared a new Cuba
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happened when Castro visited the USA shortly after coming to power?

A
  • Castro said he was willing to work with the Americans
  • Eisenhower refused to meet him
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What were Castro’s political ideas?

A
  • he and his supporters were left wing
  • Castro never referred to communism
  • talked of a fight by ordinary Cubans for a fairer and freer society
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What new policies did Castro introduce?

A
  • nationalised businesses
  • requisitioned land, giving it to the peasants
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

With the USA unwilling to work with Castro, where did he turn?

A
  • turned to the USSR
  • the USSR provided loans and oil for Cuba totalling $100 million and began to arm Cuba
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What was the plan for the Bay of Pigs?

A
  • a large group of CUban exiles, trained by the CIA, would take control of Cuba
  • the US Air Force would give the support
  • the USA assumed that the invasion would inspire other Cubans to take up arms against Castro
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What problems arose shortly before the plan for the Bay of Pigs was put into action? Why was the plan decided to be worth the risk

A
  • it became clear that most Cubans supported Castro
  • a number of senior figures in the US government felt that their involvement was illegal under international law
  • having spent $5 million of preparations, it was decided that the plan was worth the risk
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happened at the Bay of Pigs invasion?

A
  • the Cuban exiles landed on the beach in the Bay of Pigs
  • at the last moment, Kennedy withdrew the support of the US Air Force
  • this left the exiles totally exposed
  • 200 were killed and 1197 were taken prisoner by Castro’s forces
  • no one in Cuba came to their aid
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

A
  • it was obvious that the USA was involved
  • the USA had broken international law
  • the USA were humiliated
  • Kennedy, just months into his presidency, looked weak and incompetent
  • Castro knew that the Americans would not give up and this pushed him further into his alliance with he USSR
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Following the Bay of Pigs incident, what did the USSR begin to do with Cuba?

A

In the summer of 1962, the USSR began to send nuclear weapons to Cuba

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What did Kennedy do when these missiles were discovered?

A
  • had a week of discussions with his advisors
  • he then revealed the missiles’ existence to the American people
  • ordered a blockade of Cuba saying that the US army would fire on any ship that tried to reach the island
  • placed the USA on DEFCON 3
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How did tensions rise following Kennedy’s response to the discovery of the missiles in Cuba?

A
  • convinced that Kennedy would invade Cuba, he prepared for a fight
  • Soviet ships approached Cuba carrying more missiles
  • UN Secretary General, U Thant called for a compromise
  • the ships faced each other waiting for the other side to back down
  • US declared DEFCON 2
17
Q

How was nuclear war eventually avoided during the Cuban Missiles Crisis?

A
  • Khrushchev sent a second letter to Kennedy
  • once again, he promised to remove the missiles but this time also demanded the removal of US missiles from Turkey and Italy
  • Kennedy agreed on the basis that the removal of US missiles would be kept secret
18
Q

What events happened following Khrushchev’s first letter beyond the two leader’s controls that increased the danger of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

A

The Soviet Submarine
- the US navy detected a Soviet submarine close to Cuba
- when the Americans try to force the submarine to the surface
- the captain almost launched a nuclear torpedo believing a war had begun

Soviet Spy Plane
- Cubans shot down a Soviet spy plane

American U2 Planes
- an American plane drifted into Soviet airspace

19
Q

What were the positive consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Khrushchev?

A
  • publicly claimed he had agreeded to remove the missiles to encourage world peace
  • he believed his actions showed that the USST was willing to support smaller countries gains the USA
  • Cuba remained a close ally of the USSR for the remainder of the Cold War
  • the removal of American weapons from Turkey and Italy albeit secret was a major victory
20
Q

What were the negative consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Khrushchev?

A
  • senior figures within the communist party felt that Khrushchev had backed down just as he seemed to be gaining an advantage and had been reckless
    -concerns over Khrushchev’s handling of the crisis was one of the issues that led to his removal from power in 1964
21
Q

What were the positive consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Kennedy?

A
  • shown that he could sand up to Khrushchev and was not weak, silencing many of his critics
  • the removal of the missiles from Cuba meant that there was no direct nuclear threat to the USA
22
Q

What were the negative consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Kennedy?

A
  • the removal of American weapons from Turkey and Italy would have been seen as a major retreat from Europe by the USA
23
Q

What consequences did the Cuban Missile Crisis have?

A
  • drew attention to the risks of brinkmanship
  • showed the importance of good communication between the two superpowers
  • a special phone hotline was introduced between the White House and the Kremlin in order to evoke a similar crisis in the future
  • the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963 banned the testing of nuclear weapons except underground
  • both sides maintained their heavy nuclear arsenals but it was recognised that the arms race could not continue in the same way