america and events in cuba 1959-62

when was the cuban revolution?

1959

events of the revolution

• Cuba was ruled by General Batista, a corrupt and unpopular dictator

• USA supported him because he was anti-Communist

• Batista overthrown by Fidel Castro after a guerilla war

• Castro implemented many social reforms to improve the lives of the working class , particularly education and healthcare

• Huge areas of land and industry (much of it owned by Americans) was seized and run by the new government

• Castro had Communist sympathies and formed an alliance with the Soviet Union in 1960

• The USSR gave Cuba $100 million in economic aid and supplied Cuba with arms

why did the Cuban revolution worry America?

• Naval Base

  • The Americans had a large Naval base on the island at Guantanamo Bay

  • There were concerns that it might be seized

• Cuban exiles

  • Thousands of Cuban exiles fled to the USA after the revolution

  • They placed political pressure on the US government to do something

• US businesses

  • American owned businesses on Cuba, particularly agriculture

  • Castro confiscated land and industry

• Geographic proximity

  • Batista had been a strong anti-Communist ally of the USA

  • The US had been fearful of having a Communist regime so close

US reaction to the revolution in 1959

• The USA stopped economic trade, banned trade with Cuba in 1960, and broke off diplomatic relations in 1961.

• Kennedy refused to buy Cuban raw materials and sugar

• In order to undermine the Castro regime or force a change in economic policies

when was the bay of pigs invasion?

1961

bay of pigs invasion

• President Kennedy gave arms, equipment and transport to support an invasion of Cuba by 1,400 Cuban exiles to attack and gain support from the Cuban population to overthrow Castro and his government

• The US military was not directly involved

• Invasion was badly planned and the exiles were outnumbered, it failed miserably

• Budget was $13 million

why did the bay of pigs invasion fail?

• POOR SECRECY

• Became common knowledge among Cuban exiles in Miami. Through Cuban intelligence, Castro learned of the training camps and was prepared

• FAILURE TO CONTROL THE AIR

• The air strikes missed many targets and as news of the attack broke out, photos of American planes became public which revealed American support for the invasion

• Cuban air force left intact

• FAILURE TO GAIN SUPPORT

• When invasion forces landed they came under heavy fire

• Some escaped into the sea, others killed or captured

• Very few if any, of population joined the invaders

• RESPONSE

• Castro ordered around 20,000 troops to advance and Cuban air force continued to control skies

results of the bay of pigs invasion

• Increased suspicion

  • Khrushchev and Castro became very suspicious of American policy towards Cuba

  • Soviets increased military aid and later set up sites for nuclear missiles

• The USA looked weak

  • Although the USA gave some support to exiles, they weren’t willing to get directly involved in Cuba

  • It made Khrushchev believe that placing nuclear missiles on Cuba would not gain a strong response

• Strengthened Castro

  • Strengthened his political position

  • People were angry at American interference

  • After 20 months in prison, USA negotiated a deal to exchange the prisoners for goods scarce in Cuba, they recieved baby food and medicine worth $53 million

Why did Khruschev place nuclear missiles on Cuba?

• Strategic position of Cuba

• Missile gap

• Domestic position

Strategic position of Cuba

• Cuba was in a strong strategic position so close to the US mainland

• Cuba also provided a strong base for supporting Communist movements in South America

• Excellent propaganda as Cuba had become Communist willingly without a Soviet army occupation. Its proximity was embarrassing to the USA.

Domestic position

• America’s superiority in nuclear missiles undermined Khrushchev’s power in the USSR

• Forcing the US to accept Soviet missiles on Cuba would improve his political standing

• Khrushchev wanted to test the new US president

• Kennedy had already demonstrated in the Bay of Pigs Invasion that he might not really have the determination to deal with Castro properly

Missile gap

• The USA had more long range nuclear missiles than the USSR

• The USA also had missiles placed in Turkey and Western Europe: very close to the USSR’s borders

• Medium range missiles could reach most of the USA from Cuba and they were cheaper and easier to produce than long range weapons

• Placing missiles on Cuba would narrow the missile gap or at least be traded for the removal of missiles from Turkey

What were Kennedy’s options in Cuba?

• Do nothing

• Air strikes

• Invasion

• Blockade

• Diplomacy

Do nothing

• FOR

  • The USA had superiority in nuclear missiles

  • Overreacting may provoke nuclear war with the USSR

• AGAINST

  • Doing nothing would be a sign of weakness, especially after the Bay of Pigs invasion

Air strikes

• FOR

  • Knock out the missiles before they were operational

• AGAINST

  • Complete destruction of the sites could not be guaranteed

  • Cuba might retaliate with a nuclear strike

  • Killing Soviet technicians working on the missile sites might provoke the USSR

  • Attacking without warning might undermine the USA’s moral standings

Invasion

• FOR

  • Would get rid of both missiles and Castro

• AGAINST

  • The USSR would probably respond militarily by sending troops to support Cuba or invading other territories like Berlin

Blockade

• FOR

  • Would show the USA was serious, but stopped short an act of war

  • Placed emphasis on Khrushchev to make next decision

• AGAINST

  • Berlin vulnerable to a retaliation blockade

  • Did nothing to remove the missiles already on Cuba, which would be ready to launch in 7 days

Diplomacy

• FOR

  • It would avoid conflict

  • Left military options open

• AGAINST

  • May be seen as a sign of weakness by the USSR, particularly if the USA was asked to back down

How did Kennedy resolve the Cuban missile crisis?

1. 14th Oct- US U2 Spy Plane catches Soviets for placing missiles on Cuba

2. 16th Oct- Kennedy formed ExComm, a committee of advisors to make decisions

3. 22nd Oct- Imposed a ‘Quarantine’ naval blockade of Cuba, calling upon the USSR to withdraw its missiles and prevent further deliveries

4. 24th Oct- Khrushchev sent a letter saying the blockade wouldn’t be observed by Soviet shipping. However, a convoy escorted by Soviet submarines turned round before it reached the blockade.

5. 26th October- 1st proposal offering to dismantle the missiles in return for ending the blockade and an assurance that the USA would not invade Cuba

6. 27th October- 2nd proposal, adds withdrawal of missiles from Turkey to his list of requirements to dismantle the missiles

7. Secret negotiations to remove missiles from Turkey were arranged to avoid looking weak

8. U2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba. Kennedy was advised to attack Cuba.

9. Kennedy publicly agreed to Khrushchev’s first proposal: to end the blockade and promise not to invade Cuba in return for dismantling the missiles

10. 28th Oct- Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the nuclear missiles, trusting USA wouldn’t invade Cuba

Did Castro emerge best from the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• SUCCESS

  o Although the missiles were removed, the USSR continued to supply Cuba’s army with modern equipment.

  • Cuba’s security was assured and America never attempted to invade again

    o Castro retained control of American companies on the island.
    o He was also able to support Communists in South America and Africa

• FAILURE

  o Castro was angry that the missiles were removed

Did Khrushchev emerge best the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• SUCCESS

  o Looked like a responsible leader-took the first move to find compromise and avert nuclear war

  o Cuba’s security was guaranteed. It could remain a useful ally and base for supporting Communists in South America

  o The USSR was safer from nuclear attack after missiles were removed from Turkey.

  o However, the deal was kept secret, so to the world it looked like Kennedy had won

• FAILURES

  o Many, particularly those in the Soviet military, felt humiliated having to ship the missiles back to the USSR

  o The USSR never caught up with the USA in its nuclear arsenal. Despite developing its own ICBMs, the Missile Gap was never closed

  o Khrushchev was forced from power in 1964. Many felt that the Cuban Missile Crisis contributed to his fall

Did Kennedy emerge best the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• SUCCESS

  o Boosted popularity and reputation in the US and abroad. His deal regarding missiles in Turkey was kept secret, so it looked to the world like he won

  o He had stood up to the USSR and they had backed down, not challenging the naval blockade

  o The missiles on Cuba were dismantled - the cause of the crisis - and never returned. America was safer from nuclear attack

• FAILURES

  o Kennedy had to remove nuclear missiles from Turkey.

  o NATO allies were unhappy that Kennedy had traded them to end the crisis because it was technically their decision

  o Castro’s Communist regime remained in Cuba

  o American failure to remove him from power showed Containment was failing

  o Having a Communist country so close to mainland America remained embarrassing to the USA

was Khruschev to blame for the CMC?

• Placed missiles on Cuba, which triggered the crisis.

• He wanted to close the Missile Gap and improve his own political position at home

• Khrushchev was mistaken by Kennedy’s resolve over Cuba.

• Miscalculated Kennedy’s determination to stand up against threats

was Kennedy to blame for the CMC?

• The failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion helped cause the crisis

  o It made Khrushchev believe that placing nuclear missiles on Cuba would not get a strong response.

  o USA appeared that it would not get directly involved in Cuba

  o Failed invasion also made Khrushchev and Castro very suspicious of American policy and fearful of another attack

• USSR made to feel insecure because of the Missile Gap

  o America’s high spending on nuclear weapons in the arms race and placing nuclear weapons in Turkey made the USSR feel vulnerable

what was the quarantine in cuba?

• October 1962- Kennedy imposed a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from delivering nuclear missiles.

• The US Navy surrounded the island with warships to stop and inspect any vessels suspected of carrying weapons.

• Kennedy chose this option to avoid immediate war while still appearing strong.

• The blockade increased tensions but gave both sides time to negotiate, helping to avoid nuclear conflict.

Cuba Context with Spain

• Treaty of Paris in 1898

• Gave Cuba independence from Spain

• Ended conflict between USA and Spain

• USA victory meant they gained influence and some measure of control over Cuba

US economic control over Cuba in the 1950s

• Forced Cubans to sell raw materials for low prices

• Cubans forced to buy US manufactured goods

• 1914- ¾ of Cuban imports were from the US

• Railway industry run by USA

• Telephone system and tobacco plantations were controlled by USA

• 2/3 of all arable land under US control

US political control over Cuba in the 1950s

• No Cuban government was elected unless willing to implement policies favorable to US

• In return for cooperation, government ministers in Cuba received payments from US businessmen

US cultural control over Cuba in the 1950s

• Attractiveness of Cuba to visiting Americans increased, became a holiday island for the rich

• Enjoy pleasures like gambling, prostitution and drinking which were illegal in US

• Relaxed government controls meant American mafia controlled gambling, horse racing and hotels

• Mafia even had agreements with Cuban president to protect their interests

Long term impacts of CMC

• Improved US-Soviet relations

Improved US-Soviet relations

• Led to the establishment of the Moscow-Washington "Hotline" in 1963

• Allowed direct communication between the two superpowers to avoid future crises.

Castro’s Cuba- Industry, Land, Equality, Education and Healthcare

• INDUSTRY

• Nationalised and made cheaper to use

• LAND

• Rent cut by up to 50% for low wage earners

• Land redistributed among peasants

• EQUALITY

• Segregation for facilities e.g. swimming pools, was abolished

• EDUCATION

• Free- asked young students to travel to the countryside and teach people to read and write

• HEALTHCARE

• Free- by 1970, more doctors per head than in USA

Castro’s Cuba- Society, Politics Repression, Links with other countries

• SOCIETY

• Many casinos and hotels popular with Americans were shut down

• Mafia forced to leave the country

• POLITICS

• 90% of the population supported him

• Didn’t hold free elections as promised

• REPRESSION

• People who publicly disagreed with him faced arrest

• People he considered deviants, e.g. homosexuals, were imprisoned

• LINKS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

• Negotiated trade agreements with Russia and other Communist countries to export sugar, and import weapons and technology

Batista’s Cuba- Land, Equality, Education and Healthcare

• LAND

• 75% of Cuba’s best farming land was owned by foreign individuals and companies

• EQUALITY

• Followed USA’s lead with segregation

• EDUCATION

• Over 20% of Cuba was illiterate

• 61% of children didn’t go to school in rural areas

• HEALTHCARE

• Cuba only had 6000 doctors

• 64% worked in Havana, where the rich lived

Batista’s regime- Repression and links with other countries

• REPRESSION

• Batista’s regime had killed over 20,000 Cubans

• LINKS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

• USA dominated industry and politics