The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
Describe the Pre-Revolution Landscape in Cube
-Before 1959, the USA held significant influence in Cuba. The Cuban Constitution allowed the USA to intervene in Cuban affairs and allowed for the creation of US naval bases in Cuba.
-This gave the USA a strong foothold in the Caribbean, a region it viewed as strategically important.
-American business were also heavily invested in Cuba and much of the land was owned by Americans. The USA was also an important investor in Cuba’s main export, sugar.
Describe the Cuban Revolution
-In 1956, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara launched a guerrilla campaign against the pro-American Cuban government.
-This campaign gained momentum and in January 1959, the Cuban government fell.
-Castro was a nationalist who did not want his country’s economy to be under American control.
-The USA became very concerned over this as there were close links between Cuba and the USA.
Explain why Neither Side Interfered in Cuba Immediately
-Initially the USA remained relatively passive towards the Cuban Revolution. As long as there was no external support for Cuba’s movement, the US seemed content to let events unfold.
-Although reluctant, the USA even recognised the new Cuban government but refused to provide economic aid unless Cuba followed guidelines set out by the International Monetary Fund.
-Castro’s government at this point leaned more towards nationalism than socialism and the Soviet Union showed little interest in Cuba.
Describe the Soviet Union’s Importance in Cuba After the Revolution
-In February 1960, Soviet First Deputy Premier, Mikoyan visited Cuba and arranged for $100 million in economic aid and agreed to buy Cuban sugar.
-There was also a secret clause saying that Cuba would receive arms from the Soviet Union. This move tied Cuba to the Soviet Union both economically and politically, raising concerns in the US.
-For Moscow, Castro’s Cuba offered a valuable revolutionary ally, strategically positioned just 90 miles from the US. For Castro, the Soviet Union proved crucial economic support.
Describe how Soviet Interference in Cuba Increased Tensions With the USA
-The USA was extremely concerned that a pro-Soviet regime was being established just 90 miles from the US mainland and decided to take action to try to bring Cuba into line.
-In July 1960, Eisenhower drastically reduced sugar imports from Cuba and placed other economic sanctions against them.
-Castro retaliated by nationalising all US- owned oil companies.
-As a result, in October the US banned all trade with Cuba. Then in January 1961, the USA broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Describe the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion
-President Kennedy did not want a communist ally so close to American territory. He therefore gave his support to a plan agreed by the CIA and Eisenhower before he was elected.
-The CIA suggested that a group of Cuban exiles could be trained to launch an invasion to overthrow Castro.
-Sending Cuban exiles would make the attack look like a Cuban counter-revolution so the USA could claim not to have been involved.
-On 17 April 1961, an invasion force of around 1,400 Cuban exiles landed at the ‘Bay of Pigs’ in Cuba.
Explain why the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion Failed
-The Volunteers had little military experience. They received some training from the CIA but they were no match for the battle hardened Cuban revolutionary army.
-The USA wanted to present the attack as a Cuban effort to get rid of Castro. As a result, they could not send US ground forces or air strikes to support the attack.
-Castro’s government found out about the invasion plans. There were 20,000 soldiers ready and waiting to fight off 1,400 invaders.
-The USA and the exile army wrongly assumed that most Cubans would support them. But many Cubans felt happy with Castro and did not rush to offer their support.
Describe the Impact of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion on the USA
-Castro showed wrecked aeroplanes and other evidence of the Cuban victory to journalists around the world.
-The American involvement was undeniable and the defeat became a public humiliation for the USA.
-The ‘Bay of Pigs’ was a humiliating and embarrassing failure for the USA. It had previously accused the Soviet Union of trying to build an empire in Eastern Europe.
-Now it looked like the Americans were acting in exactly the same way to restore American influence in an independent country by supporting an armed uprising against its government.
Describe the Impact of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion on the Soviet Union
-The Soviet Union was quick to pint out that the people of Cuba were happy under the leadership of the pro-communist Castro .
-They had also shown little support for the Cuban exiles’ attempt to restore the pro-American and corrupt Batista regime.
-Khrushchev said this was a clear indication of the popularity of communism and gave him a propaganda win.
Describe the Impact of the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion on International Relations
-The ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion led to stronger relations between the Soviet Union and Cuba.
-Castro declared himself a communist and asked Khrushchev to help him defend Cuba against any future attack from the USA.
-In September 1961, Khrushchev publicly announced that he would provide arms to Cuba.
-Kennedy was very concerned by this. Cuba would now have modern military equipment and training from Soviet experts. The USA would be under direct threat.
-Kennedy warned Khrushchev that he could not allow the Soviet Union to use Cuba as a base to threaten the USA. Khrushchev assured him he had no intention of doing so.
Describe the American Discovery of Soviet weaponry in Cuba
-On 14 October 1962, an American U-2 spy plane took pictures of what seemed to be launch pads for medium ranged ballistic missiles in Cuba.
-These missiles could carry nuclear warheads capable of causing terrible damage to US cities.
-American intelligence informed Kennedy that a fleet of Soviet ships was sailing to Cuba, presumably carrying the missiles themselves.
-However, Khrushchev had previously told Kennedy that he would not put nuclear weapons on Cuba. This now looked untrue.
Explain why the Soviet Union Provoked the USA by Placing Nuclear warheads on Cuba
-In Europe, NATO had missiles based in Turkey, just a short distance from the Soviet Union.
-Khrushchev believed it was time for the USA to feel what it was like to be under threat. His real aim may also have been to have the missiles removed from Turkey.
-The building of the Berlin Wall was portrayed by many Soviets critics as a failure for Khrushchev. if he could outwit Kennedy in Cuba, he could restore his prestige.
-Khrushchev may also have wanted to put missiles in Cuba because he feared another American attack. If the USA overthrew Castro, this would be seen as another defeat for communism.
Describe the ExComm Meetings During the Thirteen Days
-On 16 October, Kennedy called together an Executive Committee to discuss how the USA should react. ExComm met every day for thirteen days.
-After several days of discussions, on 22 October, Kennedy decided not to launch an attack. Instead, he set up a naval blockade around Cuba. No ships could pass without US permission.
-Kennedy appeared on TV that evening to inform a shocked US public about the missiles on Cuba.
Describe the Reactions to the US Naval Blockade
-Many Americans expected the Soviet Union to ignore the blockade. Then the USA would have to sink their ships and war would follow.
-Kennedy was aware of this and prepared 54 bombers each with nuclear warheads, in case war broke out.
-On 24 October, the Soviet ships reached the blockade- and turned around.
Describe how the USA and Soviet Union Cooled Tensions Around Cuba
-The Soviet decision to not break through the naval blockade avoided direct confrontation. However, the Soviets still had missile sites in Cuba and the USA wanted them removed.
-On 26 October, Khrushchev sent Kennedy a telegram offering to remove missiles from Cuba if the USA agreed not to invade.
-A second telegram was sent on 27 October saying the Soviet missiles would only be removed from Cuba if US missiles were removed from Turkey.
-On the same day, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba. The Hawks in the US government demanded military action but Kennedy refused to take that route.
