Topic 4 - Crises: Cuba Flashcards
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgenico Batista. Castro did not want his country to be under American rule
Aftermath of revolution
America refused to provide aid unless Cuba were to follow guidelines
Cuban government took over all land in Cuba owned by foreigners
Castro appointed communists in his government. He made an agreement with Khrushchev. Cuba may have secretly received military aid from the USSR
Thus, USA cut off all diplomatic ties to Cuba because they were worried
The Bay of Pigs incident
CIA in the USA sent over 1,400 Cuban Exiles to overthrow Castro’s regime. There ended up being 20,000 soldiers in Cuba ready to fight off the soldiers.
Castro showed wrecked aeroplanes and other evidence of the Cuban victory to journalists from around the world. It became a public humiliation for USA.
Effects of Bay of Pigs on Inernational relations
Cuba and USSR got closer in relations
USA warned USSR that they can’t use Cuba as a base to threaten the USA.
What images did the American Spy plane take above Cuba
Showed USSR was building missile launch sites in Cuba which can reach many USA cities
Why did Khrushchev place nukes in Cuba?
NATO had missile bases in Turkey that could reach USSR - Khrushchev wanted to get rid of them
Berlin Wall was a failure for Khrushschev, he wanted to get at Kennedy for it
He feared another attack from USA on Cuba
Naval Blockade, October 22
Kennedy set up a naval quarantine.
No ships were allowed to pass through.
USA expected the Soviet Union to ignore the blockade and then USA would have to sink their ship and war would follow. Kennedy was ready for this, with nukes set up.
(nothing actually happened though lol USSR js turned right back)
Telegram sent on October 26
Khrushchev sent Kennedy a telegram offering to remove missiles from Cuba if the Americans agreed not to invade.
Telegram sent on October 27
Khrushchev would only remove missiles in Cuba if USA removed missiles in Turkey.
Kennedy ignored this telegram and promised that he would not invade Cuba so long as the nukes are removed.
Consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis
Hotline between USA and USSR setup
Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty signed in 1968 to stop the spread of nukes
