The Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

When did Fidel Castro become the leader of Cuba?

Answer 1

January 1959

Question 2

Who did Fidel Castro replace?

Answer 2

Fulgenicio Batista

Question 3

Why was the USA concerned about Cuban-USSR relations?

Answer 3

American businesses invested lots into Cuba and lots of Cuban land was owned by the USA. They were a big investor in Cuba’s main export, sugar. Castro was a nationalist, though, and didn’t want Cuba under American control. This caused major tension between the two countries.

Question 4

What did the USA say Cuba had to do before they gave them economic aid?

Answer 4

They had to follow the guidelines of the International Monetary Fund

Question 5

What happened in May 1959?

Answer 5

Castro took back all Cuban land own by foreign nationals.

Question 6

What did Cuba do in February 1960?

Answer 6

Castro started appointing Communists into his government. He then signed a treaty with Krushchev saying the USSR would by sugar off them and provide them with economic aid. There was a secret clause that said Cuba woukd receive arms from the Soviets.

Question 7

How far away was Cuba from the USA?

Answer 7

145km

Question 8

What happened in July 1960?

Answer 8

Eisenhower reduced the amount of sugar the USA would buy from Cuba.

Question 9

What happened in October 1960?

Answer 9

The USA banned all trade with Cuba.

Question 10

What happened in January 1961?

Answer 10

The USA broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Question 11

What was the Eisenhower-CIA plan Kennedy put his faith into?

Answer 11

A group of Cuban exiles would be trained to launch an invasion against Castro.

Question 12

When did the Bay Of Pigs land in Cuba?

Answer 12

17 April 1961

Question 13

How many Cuban exiles were in the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 13

1,400

Question 14

What was the USA’s hope for the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 14

They would topple Castro’s regime and put in place a US-friendly government.

Question 15

Why did the Bay of Pigs fail?

Answer 15

1. The exiles had little military experience
2. The USA wanted to seem like they had nothing to do with it, so they couldn’t send US air strikes or ground forces.
3. Castro found ourt about the attack, there were 20,000 soldiers waiting for the 1,400 soldiers.
4. The USA wrongly thought most Cubans would support them, but they were actually happy with Castro.

Question 16

How did the American involvement in the Bay of Pigs become public?

Answer 16

Castro showed photos of wrecked aeroplanes and other evidence to journalists from round the world.

Question 17

What happened in September 1961?

Answer 17

Krushchev publicly stated he would provide arms for Cuba.

Question 18

How did the Bay of Pigs affect tensions between the USSR, Cuba and the USA?

Answer 18

USSR-USA relations got much more tense,
Cuban-USA relations got much more tense,
Cuban-USSR relations strengthened.

Question 19

What happened on 14 October 1962?

Answer 19

A U-2 spy plane caught photographs of nuclear launch pads in Cuba.
American intelligence found a fleet of Soviet ships headed for Cuba, presumably carrying missiles.

Question 20

Why did Krushchev go back on his word about giving Cuba arms?

Answer 20

NATO had missiles based in Turkey, whci hwas very close to the USSR. Krushchev wanted the USA to feel thratened too.
The Berlin Wall was seen by many Socpviet critics as a failure.
If the USA overthrew Castro, this would be seen as another defeat for Communism.

Question 21

When were the 13 Days?

Answer 21

16-28 October 1962

Question 22

What was the group Kennedy set up to discuss the USA’s reaction duringcthe 13 days?

Answer 22

Executive Committee (ExComm)

Question 23

What was decided on 22 October 1962?

Answer 23

Kennedy would not launch an attack, but would instead set up a naval blockade around Cuba. Ships could only pass if they were granted US permission.

Question 24

What did Kennedy prepare in case a ship ignored the blockade and war followed?

Answer 24

54 bombers, each with nuclear warheads

Question 25

What happened on 24 October 1962?

Answer 25

The Soviet ships reached the blockade, and turned around.

Question 26

What happened on 26 October 1962?

Answer 26

Krushchev sent his first telegram, offering to remove missiles from Cuba if the USA agreed not invade.

Question 27

What happened on 27 October 1962?

Answer 27

Kruschev sent a second telegram, saying he would only take missiles out of Cuba if the USA removed missiles from Turkey.
That same day, a US U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba, the Hawks demanded military action, but Kennedy refused.

Question 28

What happened on 28 October 1962?

Answer 28

Kennedy had agreed to the first propossal, and ignored the second, Krushchev sent his agreement.

Question 29

What do we now know about the 13 days?

Answer 29

Robert Kennedy had met the Soviet ambassador in Washington and they agreed to remove missiles from Turkey. This was kept as a secret from the public.

Question 30

What happened in June 1963?

Answer 30

A direct ‘hotline’ was establishes between Moscow and Washington.

Question 31

What happened in August 1963?

Answer 31

The Test Ban Treaty was signed - GBR, USSR and the USA could not test nuclear weapons in space, underwater or in the atmosphere.

Question 32

What happened in 1967?

Answer 32

The Outer Space Treaty was signed by the USA and the USSR. Neither could use space military purposes.

Question 33

What happened in 1968?

Answer 33

The Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.The countries who signed up agreed not to share their nuclear technology with other countries.