The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
How far was Cuba from America?
160km
Who was originally Cuba’s leader, while America still liked them
Battista
When was Battista overthrown?
1959
Who overthrew Battista?
Fidel Castro
What political stance did Castro, the new leader of Cuba, have?
He was communist
How did the US retaliate to the overthrowing of Battista?
Refused to buy sugar
When did USA cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba and Cuba began to improve relations with SU?
January 1961
What happened in April 1961 in the Bay of Pigs?
1400 anti-Cuban exiles, backed by the USA , attempted to overthrow Castro
When did the American backed Cuban exiles attempt to overthrow Castro?
April 1961
Why did the American-backed attempt to overthrow Castro fail?
- Underestimated Castro’s support
- Castro had been warned
- America didn’t bomb aircraft bases
- Completely outnumbered
Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba? (5)
- Cube was a new communist state
- Cuba provided a launch base
- Khrushchev wanted to test JFK
- Wanted to force JFK to bargain over missiles
- US has bases in Italy and France so they balanced power
What happened in October during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
USA U2 plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sited on Cuba
When did USA first take photos of suspected USSR bases in Cuba?
October 1962
When did Kennedy decide to blockade Cuba?
20th October 1962
When did Kennedy publicly call on Khrushchev to remove weapons?
22nd October 1962
What happened on the 23rd October 1962?
Khrushchev refused to acknowledge blockade or presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba
When did Khrushchev refuse to acknowledge blockade or presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba
23rd October 1962
When did the 1st Soviet ship approach the 800 km exclusion zone set up near Cuba?
24th October
When did the Soviet ships stop their travel to Cuba and go back?
24th October
What did aerial photos show on the 25th October?
Continued construction of missile sites
When did Khrushchev agree to dismantle missiles in Cuba?
28th October 1962
What was the short term outcomes of the Cuban missile crisis? (3)
- A hotline set up in June 1963, direct line between the Kremlin and the White House
- The Limited Test Ban Treaty in August 1963 which banned testing apart from underground
- Reduction in Khreshchev’s authority
What were the long term outcomes of the Cuban missile Crisis? (2)
- The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) in 1965
- French decision to leave NATO in 1966 so wouldn’t be obliged to help
