The Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

Who ruled Cuba before Castro?

Answer 1

Batista,an army officer who had seized power with the help of the USA

Question 2

Why was Batista so unpopular?

Answer 2

He allowed US companies to control of Cuba’s industry and agriculture; there was little reform for much of Cuba’s population who remained very poor

Question 3

When was Batista overthrown by Castro? What reforms did Castro introduce?

Answer 3

• Batista was overthrown by Castro in 1959

- Castro worked to end corruption in government and improve the conditions of agricultural and industrial workers

Question 4

Why did the USA become increasingly concerned by Castro’s reform?

Answer 4

Castro began appointing communists to his government and signed a trade agreement with the USSR in which Cuban sugar would be swapped for machinery, oil and economic aid (and conventional weapons such as machine guns)

Question 5

How did the USA react after Castro’s reforms were in place?

Answer 5

In Jan 1960 the USA stopped buying Cuban sugar and then banned all trade with Cuba; by Jan 1961 the USA stopped all diplomatic relations with Cuba

Question 6

Why did the USA support the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 6

The USA wanted control of Cuba for several reasons

• The USA supported the Cuba’s win independence from the Spanish and felt the right to make money from the island
• The USA were angry that Castro was now in power and were worried because he had appointed communists and signed a trade agreement with the USSR
• Although the USA had stopped trading with Cuba this didnt work, so they planned an invasion

Question 7

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Answer 7

This was led by 1400 Cuban exiles living in Florida; the plan was supported by Kennedy. Weapons, training and transport were all provided by the CIA. The exiles hoped to establish a base for guerilla activities against Castro and were confident that the Cuban people would support them. However, the invasion did not work as the exiles were met by 20,000 Cuban troops

Question 8

Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion cause problems for the US? What were the consequences of the attempted invasion?

Answer 8

• Kennedy was publicly humiliated as his 1400 men were outnumbered by 20,000 Cuban troops. This made him look weak, leading Castro and Khrushchev to look like they had more power
• The invasion also pushed Castro closer to the USSR, making him more of a threat to the USA

Question 9

Why did the USSR put nuclear missiles on Cuba?

Answer 9

• Khrushchev thought he could use the missiles as a bargaining tool for control of West Berlin. The Soviets considered western control over West Berlin a serious threat East Germany. He believed that if the Americans did nothing over the missiles on Cuba, he could take over West Berlin and use the threat of missiles to deter western counter-measures.
• The Soviets were aware of USA having better and far more long-range nuclear missiles than the Soviets. As US had already placed missiles in W Europe and Turkey USSR believed putting missiles on Cuba would balance it out

Question 10

What did a U2 spy plane discover, and when? What other worrying news was discovered by Americans?

Answer 10

On October 14th 1962 a US U2 spy plane flew over Cuba and took pictures of a nuclear missile base being built. Kennedys advisors told him that the missiles were close enough to hit America and that he had 10 days before Cuba could fire the missiles at targets in the US

Question 11

What options were open to Kennedy?

Answer 11

• Naval blockade (attack)
• Take missiles off Turkey (defeat)
• Air strike on Cuba (attack)

Question 12

What did JFK decide to do on October 22nd 1962?

Answer 12

Kennedy announced he was mounting a naval blockade of Cuba. B52 nuclear bombers were deployed, so that one-eighth of them were airborne all the time

Question 13

How did Khrushchev respond?

Answer 13

He accused Americans of piracy and sent a letter to Kennedy on the 23rd October which said that the Soviet ships would not observe the blockade and did not admit the presence of missiles on Cuba. Then again on October the 26th Khrushchev sent a second letter which he explained that the missiles were ‘solely to defend Cuba against the attack of an aggressor’

Question 14

When did the Soviet ships reach the naval blockade? What happened?

Answer 14

On the 25th October the first Russian ship reached the naval blockade. It was an oil ship and was allowed through. All the other Russian ships (carrying missiles) turned back. Secretly, the US government offered to remove US missiles in Turkey in exchange for those in Cuba

Question 15

When did Khrushchev send his first letter? What did it say?

Answer 15

He accused Americans of piracy and sent a letter to Kennedy on the 23rd October which said that the Soviet ships would not observe the blockade and did not admit the presence of missiles on Cuba

Question 16

When did Khrushchev send his second letter? What did it say?

Answer 16

Then again on October the 26th Khrushchev sent a second letter which he explained that the missiles were ‘solely to defend Cuba against the attack of an aggressor’

Question 17

How did JFK react?

Answer 17

He ignored the second letter and wrote that he would simply lift the blockade and agree to not invade Cuba if Khrushchev would dismantle the missile bases. He also offered secretly to dismantle the Turkish missile bases

Question 18

Why did the crisis end peacefully?

Answer 18

Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the Turkish missile bases and the crisis finished. Russian bombers left Cuba, and Kennedy lifted the naval blockade.

Question 19

What did the USA/JFK gain from the crisis?

Answer 19

Kennedy gained prestige and came out with an improved reputation . He was seen as the man who faced down the Russians and gained lots of popularity and respect abroad. He made no statement attempting to take credit for himself and instructed all his staff that no interview should be given which claimed any victory as he respected Khrushchev

Question 20

What did the USSR/Khrushchev gain from the crisis?

Answer 20

Khrushchev was able to highlight his role as a responsible peacemaker as he made the first move to compromise. He also got the USA to remove their missiles from Turkey. There was also some sympathy for the Soviets in British newspapers

Question 21

What did the USA lose from the crisis?

Answer 21

Kennedy had to remove his missiles from Turkey and he had to accept that Castro’s Cuba would remain communist

Question 22

What did the USSR lose from the crisis?

Answer 22

He had to remove his missiles from Cuba. Also, in 1664 Khrushchev was forced from power by his enemies in the USSR. The world was under the idea that Khrushchev had lost because he had given into the pressure of a ‘strong’ president. The USSR was never able to close the missile gap

Question 23

What did the world gain from this crisis?

Answer 23

• A permanent hotline was set up from the white house to the kremlin. This meant that both sides could communicate.
• Detence -thawing of relations
• The nuclear test ban treaty was signed in 1963 - prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere

Question 24

What did Cuba gain from the crisis?

Answer 24

Cuba remained communist and highly armed and an important base for communist supporters in South America. Also, Castro kept control over the American companies and other economic resources he nationalised during his revolution

Question 25

What did Cuba lose from the crisis?

Answer 25

Trade restrictions placed on Cuba which are still in place today