The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
How did Fidel Castro antagonise the USA
Castro overthrew US backed dictator Batista in 1959
Nationalised Cuba’s industry and wanted to ensure greater independence from USA
In 1962 Castro announced Cuba had become communist
Why and how did Castro develop closer links with the USSR
As a result of nationalisation programme USA were worried and traded less with Cuba hoping to bully them into compliance
Castro turned elsewhere for trade and in 1960 USSR and Cuba agreed to trade oil and sugar for machinery
What were the events of Bay of Pigs
Kennedy approved CIA led invasion of Cuba (1961)
Cuban exiles with US military help going to invade island and overthrow Castro
Bad military planning and lack of support cause failure
Made Kennedy look inexperienced and turned Castro into a hero in Cuba.
When did the missile base construction equipment arrive in Cuba
August 1962
Positives and negatives of invading Cuba
+ Definitely stop missiles
+ Get rid of Castro
- Could risk Soviet aggression - they could invade Berlin
Positives and negatives of a naval blockade of Cuba
+ would stop further supplies reaching Cuba
+ Not a direct attack
- Could cause confrontation what if Soviet ships don’t stop?
- Cuba might have all the supplies they need already
Positives and negatives of an air attack on the missile bases
+ could eliminate missile sites
+ less aggressive option
- can’t be sure all sites will be destroyed
Positives and negatives of doing nothing
+ No chance of conflict
- USA would look weak, especially after Bay of Pigs
- Missiles in Cuba
Cuba - What happened on 23rd October
USSR condemned the USA and said only helping Cuba defend itself
Cuba - What happened on 24rd October
US naval blockade began
American invasion plan drawn up
US air force planes flew over Cuba
Soviet ships were either stopped or turned away at the blockade
Cuba - What happened on 26rd October
American U2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba
Kennedy received a telegram from Khrushchev - the USSR would remove the missiles if America agreed to end the blockade and not invade Cuba
Cuba - What happened on 27rd October
Khrushchev sent second telegram said USSR would only remove missiles from Cuba if America removed its missiles from Turkey
Kennedy ignored second telegram and agreed to the first
Cuba - What happened on 28rd October
Khrushchev agreed and began to remove the missiles
What were the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis
USA removed their missiles from Turkey
Castro remained in power and Cuba remained communist
Mutual understanding - agreed conflict should never come so close again (Kennedy + Khrushchev both gone before 1964)
Public victory for JFK which strengthened his presidency
Telephone hotline set up between Washington and Moscow to improve communication
Partial test ban treaty is signed in 1963 this was designed to reduce number of Nuclear weapons both had
