The Space Race/Cuban Missile Crisis

i literally cant take this shit anymore.

What was the main appeal of space exploration?

Space travel allowed for better rockets to be created (to launch nukes)

Who got into space first? What was the name?

USSR, Sputnik 1

Who was aboard Sputnik 2?

Laika the dog

What was the US response to the USSR getting up in space?

Congress approves school funding for national defense related programs

Why did the US respond to the USSR getting up in space by education, messages, etc.?

Getting into space is a group effort. The Soviets got there by a team effort and unification as a country. By creating inspiration, especially in children and education, it creates an interest in the Space Race for the people of the US to get involved.

What organization is created during the Space Race?

NASA

Who was the leader of Cuba before Castro?

Batista

What was Batista’s economic values and diplomacy like in office?

Built on US tourism/relations

Did Fidel Castro overthrow Batista easily?

No, it took another attempt; this time a full blown war against Batista 2 years later

When did Fidel Castro take over Cuba?

1959

How did the US feel about Castro when he first became leader? Why?

US supported Castro because of his promise to make Cuba a democracy.

What economic system did Castro change Cuba to?

Socialist

What was the effect of socialism on Cuban citizens?

Less freedom

Why was the US threatened due to Cuba’s socialism?

The Domino Effect. The proximity of Cuba to US gave the possibility of socialist influence to US

Why did the US break relations with Cuba?

After Cuba agreed to buy oil from the USSR, the US oil refineries declined to process the oil, so Castro took control and the US broke relations.

What started the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The USSR reinforced Cuba with long range missiles that could strike Southern cities in US

What was the Bay of Pigs? Date?

A failed invasion of Cuba/assisination of Castro by Cuban exiles under the CIA

April 17, 1961

List and describe the 3 phases of the Bay of Pigs plan:

Phase 1- Destroy as many of Castro’s combat aircraft as possible- they planned to bomb three of Castro’s air force bases by posing as pilots, getting in the planes, bombing, then escaping to the US.

Phase 2- Destroy any remaining combat planes in Castro’s fleet- Pilots in Brigade 2506 would drop bombs on bases so the other Brigade members invading the beach would have no issues

Phase 3- Invasion by sea and air (on beaches of Trinidad, parachuting from the sky).

Why was the location changed to Bay of Pigs?

Kennedy wanted to ensure the mission would be as secret as possible so the US could deny any involvement in the assassination.

What happened as a direct result of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion?

Kennedy decided he would not partake in fights against Cuba with the US military.

How did the US discover missiles in Cuba?

A pilot on a spy plane flew over, discovered, and photographed the missiles.

Why did the Soviet Union want to deploy missiles in Cuba?

To increase the USSR’s capability of a nuclear strike.

What was Kennedy’s strategy to remove the Soviet presence in Cuba?

The US Navy would set up a blockade/quarantine of the island to stop any deliveries of weapons or equipment then he would deliver an ultimatum that the existing missiles must be removed.

What happened during the showdown at sea between the US and Soviet Union?

USSR sent 20 ships carrying missles to Cuba and US blockaded Cuba. USSR did not attempt to breach the blockade, and there was a standoff.

How does the Cuban Missile Crisis end and what is the aftermath?

-The presidents of USSR and US delivered letters of terms for the end of the crisis, both benefited

-Hotline between Russia and US was installed to help defuse tensions like this in the future