The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Question 1

Why was there a crisis in Cuba in 1962

Answer 1

1. Castro took over Cuba and formed a communist government
2. The USA stopped buying sugar from Cuba as they were not communist. The Soviet Union bought it instead. This solidified their alliance
3. In 1962 an American U2 spy plane photographed Soviet missiles and had proof they were on Cuba
4. The Soviet missiles on Cuba could hit any American city and kill thousands of people
5. The missiles were to be fully active by November 1962
6. President Kennedy was young and inexperienced, Khrushchev thought could take advantage of this as he believed Kennedy would be weak and indecisive.
7. The failure of the Bay of Pigs meant that communist stayed in power in Cuba. It was also a humiliation for the US and President Kennedy

Question 2

What were the key events of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962

Answer 2

1. In 1962 an American U2 spy plane photographed Soviet missiles and had proof they were on Cuba
2. These were Intermediate Range Ballistic missiles and could reach any American city
3. When President Kennedy found out he was very alarmed, his opinions were to do nothing, invade Cuba, attack Cuba and USSR, have an air strike to destroy the missiles on Cuba or blockade Cuba
4. President Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba so that Soviet ships could not deliver missiles to Cuba
5. Khrushchev then sent President Kennedy a letter, telling him the Soviets would remove their missiles from Cuba if America removed theirs from Turkey
6. President Kennedy agreed to this, and missiles were removed from Cuba and Turkey

Question 3

What were the results of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962

Answer 3

1. A hotline was set up between the Kremlin and the White house so that any future conflicts could be resolved quickly which was not possible when conversing through letters
2. Khrushchev was sacked as leader of the Soviet party
3. A nuclear war was avoided
4. The Chinese criticized the Soviets for backing down over Cuba
5. Missiles were removed from Turkey and cuba
6. Worsened relations between Cuba and America
7. President Kennedy kept the removal of US missiles on Turkey a secret from the US public