The Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
When did the USSR get their first atom bomb?
1940
What was the missile gap?
The difference in amount and destructive power of the warfare of the USA and USSR. The USSR had less powerful warfare, however much of the american population believed that the USA was ‘behind’
Who was Batista?
Batista was the dictator of Cuba before Castro revolted against him
Why did the USA support Batista?
He allowed Americans to trade with Cuba and was not communist
What was life like under Batista?
The Cuban people were ill-educated, had no healthcare, no freedom, in fear of secret police who murdered and tortured many people
What was the July 26 movement?
A small (unsuccessful) revolution led by Fidel Castro trying to overthrow Batista (had only 123 men)
When did Castro come to power?
1959, New Year’s day
What did Castro do once in power?
Redistributed wealth, nationalised many industries, forbid further foreign land ownership, lowered pay of politicians (including himself) and judges and increased pay of lower civil servants
Why did the USA dislike Castro?
He was communist, he would not let them own Cuban land, he ordered US oil refineries to process soviet fuel (they refused), he was in ‘Uncle Sam’s backyard’
Why did the USSR support Castro?
He was communist, Castro’s Cuba was good propaganda for them, Cuba was an ideal base to spread communism to South America, Cuba was willingly communist
What was the October crisis?
Khrushchev placed missiles on Cuba
Why did Khrushchev put missiles on Cuba?
To close the missile gap, defend Cuba, challenge Kennedy, improve (Khrushchev’s) reputation and get USA to remove its missiles from Turkey
When was the Bay of Pigs invasion?
April 1961
What happened at the Bay of Pigs invasion?
USA supported anti-Castro Cuban exiles in an attempt to invade (and ‘get back’) Cuba
How did the USA support the Cuban exiles?
They supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 Cuban exiles
Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion fail?
The exiles were met not with supporters (they thought they would be welcomed) but with 20,000 Castro-loyal troops- all were captured and killed in days
Why was the Bay of Pigs invasion an embarrassment?
It made Kennedy look weak, made USA look desperate, further soured relations between the USSR and USA, made Castro and Khrushchev suspicious of US policy
When was the October crisis?
14th October 1962- a USA U-2 spy plane flew over Cuba and photographed missile sites in Cuba being built by the USSR
What group did Kennedy form to advise him?
Ex-comm
How did Kennedy respond to the Cuban missiles?
By blockading Cuba- he called on Krushchev to remove the missiles
When did the blockade of Cuba begin?
24th October 1962
How did Krushchev respond to the threat of the blockade?
He refused to observe the blockade and did not acknowledge that there were even missiles on Cuba
What happened on the first day of the Cuban blockade?
The first missile carrying ships approached (accompanied by a soviet submarine) then the 20 Soviet ships closest to the zone turned around
After the Soviet ships turned around how did Khrushchev respond to Kennedy?
He sent a letter (late at night Russian time) acknowledging the missiles, and offered to remove them if Kennedy removed the blockade and did not attack Cuba
What happened just hours after Khrushchev’s first letter?
Another letter is sent (and is much more formal) adding that Kennedy must also remove his missiles from Turkey as well if they are to remove the Cuban missiles
How did Kennedy publicly respond to the letters?
He responded only to the first letter- saying that he accepts the original terms. He says if the USSR don’t withdraw an attack will follow?
How did Kennedy secretly respond to the letters?
To keep face, Kennedy uses his brother Bobby Kennedy to secretly organise to remove the missiles from Turkey - the USSR agree to keep this secret as long as they are removed
What did Kennedy say when questioned about the removal of the Turkish missiles?
That the missiles were now old, so needed to be removed anyway- which was true, but not the reason for his removal of them
What was the outcome of the Cuban missile crisis?
Cuba still well armed + communist but no missiles, Khrushchev improved his reputation and had kept Cuba as an useful ally, USA + USSR were more willing to prevent nuclear war
What did both countries do to prevent nuclear war?
Nuclear test ban treaty signed by both in 1963 (agreeing not to test any more nuclear weapons)
