Tensions over Cuba Flashcards
Who lead Cuba between 1933 and 1959?
corrupt and brutal government led by Batista- a dictator
Who supported Batista and why?
American government
This was because he was an anti-communist and kept things stable by cracking down on opposition.
Who did not support Batista and were fed up with his regime by the 1950s?
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?
Who called for revolution in Cuba? What were the consequences of this?
Fidel Castro
He was arrested and sent into exile.
What did Castro do following his exile from Cuba?
- 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
What happened when Castro visited the USA shortly after coming to power?
- Castro said he was willing to work with the Americans
- Eisenhower refused to meet him
What were Castro’s political ideas?
- 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
What new policies did Castro introduce?
- nationalised businesses
- requisitioned land, giving it to the peasants
With the USA unwilling to work with Castro, where did he turn?
- turned to the USSR
- the USSR provided loans and oil for Cuba totalling $100 million and began to arm Cuba
What was the plan for the Bay of Pigs?
- 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
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
- 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
What happened at the Bay of Pigs invasion?
- 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
What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion?
- 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
Following the Bay of Pigs incident, what did the USSR begin to do with Cuba?
In the summer of 1962, the USSR began to send nuclear weapons to Cuba
What did Kennedy do when these missiles were discovered?
- 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