The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
How far away was Cuba from America?
145km from us mainland
What dod Eisenhower do about the Cuban revolution?
In July 1960 Eisenhower reduced the amount of Sugar they would buy from Cuba (to try and effect Cuba) and in October banned all trade with Cuba
In January 1961 the USA broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba
What did Kennedy do when he was ellected in 1961?
He approved plans of a “sure victory” by the CIA
What was proposed for the Bay of Pigs?
Group of Cuban exiles would be trained and invade Cuba to overthrow Castro.
Why did the USA use Cuban exiles in the bay of pigs?
So it would look like an Cuban attack with no US involvment
When did the Bay of Pigs happen?
17th April 1961
How big of a force was the bay of pigs?
1,400
What did the US want from the bay of pigs?
The topple Castro
Reverce his reform
Get there land back
Stop communism in Cuba
Why did the Bay of Pigs fail?
The volenteers had little military experience and were no match for the battle-hardened Cuban revolutionary army
The US wanted to hide there involvment so they didn’t send any ground support or air support
Castro knew of the plan to invade and therefore sent 20,000 troops waiting
USA though that Cubans would support them but they were wrong
What did the USA do to lend air support?
The US disguised some planes with Cuban flags
However Kennedy also withdrew air support
What did Castro do after the bay of Pigs attack?
He showed pictures of wrecked aeroplanes and other evidence of a Cuban vicotrys for a big propoganda victory and a humiliation for the USA
What were the effects of the bay of pigs incident on the Superpower relations?
It was a humiliating deffete for the USA
It made Castro declear that Cuba was a socialist country to get help from the USSR
In September 1961 Khrushchev anounced that he would provide arms to Cuba
It made the USA look like hypicrits as they were condeming the USSR of influencing Eastern Europe
What happened on the 14th October?
A U2 spy plane took photos of launch pads for medium ranged balistic missliles in Cuba
Kennedy was informed of a fleet of Soviet ships presumable bringing the missles themself
Why did Khrushchev want to put missles of Cuba?
NATO had missles in Turkey
This may have been a baragining move to get the Turkey missles removed
Khrushchev needed to look strong as he was looking week
If the americans overthrew Casto it would look like a communism deffet
It would improve the Soviet’s barganing position by a lot
How long did the missles need to become activational?
Defense secetary Robert McNamara said it would take 2 weeks
Why did Kennedy decide to act against the threat of Soviet missiles in Cuba?
- It endangered US cities and millions of US citizens
- It would be seen as a blow to the USA’s national pride
- He has elections comming up and he needs to look like a good precident. This could ensure his re-election
- Negotiations will get harder is the USSR have missiles based in Cuba
What were Kennedys options to deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Invade Cuba
Bomb Cuba
Sink Soviet Ships heading to cuba (quarenteen)
Nuke Cuba
Do nothing
When were the 13 days?
16-28 October 1962