Unit 2.2 - The Cuban Missile Crisis 1959-63 Flashcards
January 1959 - New leader of Cuba
Fidel Castro
What was the Cuban Revolution?
A group of (communist) revolutionaries, led by Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Che Guevards, toppled the pro-American government of Cuba. Fidel Castro was a nationalist who did not want his country’s economy to be under and dependent on American control.
On January 1, Batista (previous president of Cuba) fled Cuba and Castro and forces entered Havana. Castro then assumed control of the government marking the end of the revolution.
Why was President Eisenhower concerned by the Revolution? 1. Economic Interest
American businesses had heavily invested in Cuba and much of the land was owned by Americans. Cuba’s oil refineries, networks and railways were also controlled by Americans and they had also invested in Cuba’s main export: sugar.
The nationalisation of these assets by Castro threatened American economic interests and provoked strong opposition from business groups.
Why was President Eisenhower concerned by the Revolution? 2. Communist Influence and Location
Cuba’s proximity to the U.S. coast made it important. A communist regime could serve as a base for Soviet military operations in America, heightening the risk of direct conflict between the powers.
The rise of communism so close to the US was also seen as a direct threat to American security and influence in the West.
Why was President Eisenhower concerned by the Revolution? 3. Political Stability in Latin America
Eisenhower was concerned that the Cuban Revolution could inspire similar movements in the West and Latin America. The success of Castro’s communist government could embolden other leftist movements, leading to political instability and spread of communism which inherently contradicted the spread of communism throughout the region.
By February 1960, Castro had already begun…
appointing communists to his government. Khrushchev agreed to buy Cuban sugar and provide economic aid to Cuba.
Khrushchev’s “secret clause”
Refers to the confidential understanding between the Soviet Union and Cuba regarding the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuban soil. This was a plan to counterbalance the U.S. missile deployments in Eastern Europe, such as in Turkey and Italy, and to protect Cuba from the U.S.
How did Eisenhower respond to these concerns?
1. Economic Sanctions
The U.S. reduced the amount of sugar they bought from Cuba, and imposed economic sanctions, including an embargo on exports to Cuba, excluding food and medicine, to pressure them into surrendering or weakening Castro’s regime.
How did Eisenhower respond to these concerns?
2. Diplomatic Relations
The USA broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba.
When was the Bay of Pigs invasion?
APRIL 1961
What was the Bay of Pigs incident?
Failed military operation undertaken by a CIA-sponsored coup composed of Cuban exiles. The invasion aimed to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro using Cuban exiles to make the attack look like a Cuban protest or counter-revolution towards communism, and use this as propaganda against the communist regime - this would also make it seem as though the USA were not involved and they are not aggressors.
Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion fail?
- Cuban exiles had little military training, so they were no match for the battle-hardened Cuban revolutionary army.
- The US failed to provide air support due to political and strategic decisions aimed at minimising overt American involvement.
- Castro knew of the planned invasion so his forces quickly overwhelmed the invaders, capturing or killing them.
- The exiles numbered about 1400 whereas the Cuban army was 20, 000.
Consequences for the USA
- Significant embarrassment for the Kennedy administration. It damaged US credibility and was seen as a major blunder in American foreign policy.
- The US was viewed as hypocritical as they had condemned the Soviets for invading Hungary to assert power but they did the same by passively invading Cuba.
Consequences for Cuba
- The invasion pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union, leading to increased Soviet support for Castro’s regime and setting the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Castro declared himself as a communist.
- Khrushchev supplied Cuba with arms in 1961.
Consequences for USSR
Quick to point out that the citizens of Cuba were happy under communist rule and did not want to rise against Castro. Supplies Cuba with missiles in ‘61.
Why was the USA alarmed by this move?
- Cuba is about 100 miles off the coast of the US
- This is the closest communism’s ever been to the US
- With missiles deployed from their greatest enemy, the chance of a quick, unprecedented attack, was high (nuclear risk)
Why did Khruschchev place missiles in Cuba? 1. Strategic Advantage
Placing missiles in Cuba allowed the Soviet Union to target most of the US with nuclear weapons, thereby significantly enhancing its strategic nuclear capability and altering the power dynamics, putting Kennedy under pressure to act.
Why did Khruschchev place missiles in Cuba? 2. Political Influence
Strengthening the Soviet Union’s relationship with Cuba would help secure a communist ally in the Western Hemisphere as well as provide an example for other communist movements globally - the Soviet Union is committed to supporting allies.
Why did Khruschchev place missiles in Cuba? 3. Bargaining Chip
Khrsuhchev wanted to use the missiles in Cuba as a bargaining chip to negotiate the removal of US missiles from Turkey - this was eventually agreed as a resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Why did Khruschchev place missiles in Cuba? 4. Bay of Pigs
Khrushchev claimed that he was defending Cuba from future attacks from the USA - defensive not offensive.
Why did Khruschchev place missiles in Cuba? 5. Detterence
The US had a significant military presence in Europe and had nuclear warheads in Turkey and Italy within striking distance of the Soviet Union. Khrushchev placing missiles in Cuba was mainly an act to restore balance in threat and deter the US from putting pressure on the Soviets using nuclear weapons, since the Soviet Union could now do the same through Cuba.
Khrushchev secretly shipped…
ballistic missiles and other military equipment to Cuba - summer 1962
Missiles discovered by the US
In October of 1962 a US U-2 Spy Plane took photographs showing Soviet ballistic missile sites under construction in Cuba.
The photos were analysed and JFK was informed of the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. This marked the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Kennedy’s options after missile sites were discovered: 1. Invade Cuba
Launching a full-scale military invasion of Cuba to overthrow the Castro regime and eliminate the missile threat was the most aggressive option and posed the greatest risk of triggering a Soviet response, risking nuclear war.
Kennedy’s options after missile sites were discovered: 2. Air Strikes
Air strikes to destroy the missile sites in Cuba risked significant Soviet retaliation.
Kennedy’s options after missile sites were discovered: Do nothing or negotiate with Khrushchev
Doing nothing and remaining neutral posed threats for the USA and risked the emboldening of Soviet aggression if the US seems weak and submissive.
Direct communication with Khrushchev to demand the removal of the missiles was also an option.
Kennedy’s options after missile sites were discovered: ACTUAL DECISION: Naval Blockade
Implementing a naval blockade to prevent further Soviet military shipments to Cuba was the chosen option since it was a middle ground between diplomatic pressure and military action.
16th October 1962
Kennedy assembles advisory group Excomm to begin the ‘Thirteen Days’
Kennedy appears on national television to announce Naval Blockade. The Soviets can…
- break the blockade and seem like an aggressor
- turn away
both of these options give the USA and advantage.
24th October 1962 Soviet ships…
reached the blockade, before turning around. Khrushchev views the blockade as an act of aggression.
26th October 1962 Khrushchev sends Kennedy…
a long and emotional message (telegram) that offered to negotiate over Cuba so as to avoid nuclear war and “dooming the world”. Ultimately, he asked Kennedy to not attack Cuba (Kennedy and his advisors had begun preparing for an attack) and thus they would remove the missiles from Cuba.
27th October 1962 Khrushchev’s Second Telegram
The following day, Khrushchev sent a second more demanding telegram. This one added the condition that the US should also remove its Jupiter missiles from Turkey.
Ambassador Kennedy
On the evening of the 27th October, the President’s brother and Attorney General, met secretly with the Soviet Ambassador He conveyed that the US was not committed to invade Cuba and that the US will be removing their missiles from Turkey, however this should not be addressed in the public resolution of Cuban missile crisis (because he did not want to be perceived as weak but also because the Jupiter missiles in Turkey were part of NATO’s defence strategy and a public announcement could have unsettled NATO allies.
Kennedy’s Response to Khrushchev’s First Telegram
Kennedy chose to only reply to the first telegram. He agreed to the no-invasion pledge and demanded removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba.
28th October 1962
Khrushchev issued a public statement that Soviet missiles would be dismantled and removed from Cuba.
