NCEA Level 3 History: Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards

Flashcards for memorising historian quotes, contexts, paragraphs, proofs, and factual arguments for NCEA Level 3 History essays on the Causes and Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Which historian described the deterioration of US-Cuban relations as 'crucial', and what details belong to this quote?

1. Who said it? Mike Sewell. 2. Exact quote: 'crucial'. 3. Context: Identifies the success of the Cuban Revolution and the deterioration of Cuban-US relations in 1959-1960 as central developments leading towards the crisis. 4. Paragraph: Cause 1, deterioration of US-Cuban relations. 5. What it proves: Shows that the deterioration of US-Cuban relations was a major underlying cause.

What exact short quote fragment from Mike Sewell describes the success of the Cuban Revolution and US-Cuban relation deterioration under Cause 1?

The exact quote fragment is 'crucial'. (Historian: Mike Sewell; Context: deterioration of Cuban-US relations in 1959-1960; Paragraph: Cause 1; Proves: deterioration was a major underlying cause).

Who stated that relations between revolutionary Cuba and the US initially had 'every hope of being cordial', and what are the details of this card?

1. Who said it? Alan Axelrod. 2. Exact quote: 'every hope of being cordial'. 3. Context: Axelrod argues that relations between revolutionary Cuba and the United States initially had the possibility of remaining friendly. 4. Paragraph: Cause 1, deterioration of US-Cuban relations. 5. What it proves: Shows that the deterioration was not inevitable and was partly influenced by American responses to Castro.

Which historian noted that US pressure served to 'thrust' Castro further into the Soviet embrace, and what are the card details?

1. Who said it? Alan Axelrod. 2. Exact quote: 'thrust' Castro further into the Soviet embrace. 3. Context: American pressure and Eisenhower's response helped push Castro closer to the USSR. 4. Paragraph: Cause 1, deterioration of US-Cuban relations. 5. What it proves: Shows that American attempts to isolate Cuba actually contributed to Soviet-Cuban alignment.

Who said 'high time America learned', and what is the full quote, context, paragraph, and proof?

1. Who said it? Nikita Khrushchev. 2. Exact quote: 'high time America learned' (Full quote: 'It was high time America learned what it feels like to have her own land and her own people threatened.'). 3. Context: Khrushchev wanted the United States to experience the feeling of having nuclear weapons close to its territory. 4. Paragraph: Cause 2, Khrushchev's motives. 5. What it proves: Shows that strategic rivalry and the desire to challenge American nuclear superiority influenced his decision.

What is Michael F. Hopkins' interpretation regarding Khrushchev's motives in Cause 2?

1. Historian: Michael F. Hopkins. 2. Direct quote: No direct quote. 3. Context/Interpretation: Khrushchev saw the Cuban deployment as an opportunity to support an anti-imperialist revolution while improving the strategic balance. 4. Paragraph: Cause 2, Khrushchev's motives. 5. What it proves: Shows that Khrushchev had both ideological and strategic motives.

What is John Lewis Gaddis' interpretation of Khrushchev's motives in Cause 2?

1. Historian: John Lewis Gaddis. 2. Direct quote: No direct quote. 3. Context/Interpretation: Khrushchev primarily feared another American invasion of Cuba, particularly after the Bay of Pigs. 4. Paragraph: Cause 2, Khrushchev's motives. 5. What it proves: Shows that Cuban security was a major motive and connects the Bay of Pigs to Khrushchev's decision.

Who described Khrushchev's deployment of missiles as a potential 'foreign policy coup', and what are the details?

1. Who said it? Mike Sewell. 2. Exact quote: 'foreign policy coup'. 3. Context: Sewell describes the potential political benefit of Khrushchev's deployment of missiles. 4. Paragraph: Cause 2, Khrushchev's motives. 5. What it proves: Shows that Khrushchev was motivated not only by Cuban security and strategic concerns, but also by political and prestige considerations.

Who used the quote 'toughness…nerve and wisdom', and what is the context, paragraph, and proof?

1. Who said it? Arthur Schlesinger Jr. 2. Exact quote: 'toughness…nerve and wisdom'. 3. Context: Schlesinger praised Kennedy's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. 4. Paragraph: Intended consequences, missile withdrawals / Prioritisation/historiography. 5. What it proves: Supports the Traditionalist interpretation that Kennedy handled the crisis successfully and decisively.

What evidence does Anatoly Dobrynin provide regarding intended consequences, and what does it prove?

1. Person: Anatoly Dobrynin. 2. Direct quote: No direct quote. 3. Context: Soviet evidence concerning the secret agreement involving the removal of US Jupiter missiles from Turkey. 4. Paragraph: Intended consequences, missile withdrawals. 5. What it proves: Shows that the settlement was more complicated than the public American narrative suggested.

Who stated that the US was 'bent on liquidating the Cuban revolution', and what is the context and proof?

1. Who said it? Fidel Castro. 2. Exact quote: 'bent on liquidating the Cuban revolution' (Full quote: 'If the United States had not been bent on liquidating the Cuban revolution there would not have been an October crisis'). 3. Context: Castro argued that American attempts to destroy the Cuban Revolution were central to the crisis. 4. Paragraph: Intended consequences, non-invasion pledge. 5. What it proves: Shows that the US non-invasion pledge addressed a genuine Cuban fear of another American attempt to overthrow Castro.

Which historian described the crisis as a 'hinge, or turning point', and what are the card details?

1. Who said it? Mike Sewell. 2. Exact quote: 'hinge, or turning point'. 3. Context: Sewell describes the Cuban Missile Crisis as an important turning point in US-Soviet relations. 4. Paragraph: Unintended consequences, communication. 5. What it proves: Shows that the crisis unintentionally changed superpower relations and encouraged greater communication.

Who wrote about 'greater understanding, confidence building and contact', and what is its context and use?

1. Who said it? Mike Sewell. 2. Exact quote: 'greater understanding, confidence building and contact'. 3. Context: Sewell describes the longer-term improvement in US-Soviet relations following the crisis. 4. Paragraph: Unintended consequences, communication/détente. 5. What it proves: Shows that the consequences went beyond simply ending the crisis and contributed to improved superpower relations.

Who used the quote 'structure of peace', and what is the context, paragraph, and proof?

1. Who said it? McMahon. 2. Exact quote: 'structure of peace' (Full context: McMahon argues that détente did not mean replacing the Cold War with a structure of peace). 3. Context: Evaluation of détente. 4. Paragraph: Unintended consequences, détente. 5. What it proves: Shows the limitations of détente because the Cold War continued despite improved relations.

What interpretation does James Paterson offer regarding Kennedy's leadership, and what does it prove?

1. Historian: James Paterson. 2. Direct quote / phrase: Kennedy 'accentuated the crisis and obstructed diplomacy.' 3. Context: Critique of Kennedy's response during the crisis. 4. Paragraph: Prioritisation/historiography. 5. What it proves: Shows the Revisionist interpretation that challenges the Traditionalist view of Kennedy.

In an NCEA essay analyzing causes, how are Cause 1, Cause 2, and the U2 discovery evaluated in terms of significance?

Cause 1 (Deterioration of US-Cuban relations) was a highly significant underlying cause because it created the necessary conditions. Cause 2 (Khrushchev's actions and motives) was the MOST significant cause because he directly created the nuclear threat. The U2 discovery was a highly significant immediate trigger because it forced the US response.

What is the key causal chain outlining the causes leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

US-Cuba deterioration -> Castro turns toward USSR -> Bay of Pigs increases Cuban fear -> Khrushchev sees need/opportunity to protect Cuba and improve Soviet position -> Soviet missiles deployed -> U2 discovers missiles -> USA responds -> Cuban Missile Crisis.

In an NCEA essay analyzing consequences, how do intended and unintended consequences compare in overall significance?

Intended consequences (missile withdrawals, non-invasion pledge) were highly significant in resolving the immediate crisis. Unintended consequences (improved US-Soviet communication, development of détente) were, to a large extent, more significant because their influence was deeper and more durable across the wider Cold War.

What key factual details define the Bay of Pigs invasion (April 1961) and its historical significance?

In April 1961, CIA-trained Cuban exiles invaded Cuba to overthrow Castro. The invasion failed due to poor planning, ammunition shortages, and Kennedy's refusal to provide US air support. Consequences: Kennedy was humiliated, Castro was strengthened, Castro declared himself Marxist-Leninist, Cuba strengthened ties with the USSR, and demonstrated that the US was serious about overthrowing Castro.

What five specific motives led Khrushchev to secretly deploy nuclear missiles to Cuba?

1. Protect revolutionary Cuba from another American invasion. 2. Support communist/anti-imperialist revolution. 3. Improve the Soviet strategic position. 4. Challenge American nuclear superiority. 5. Increase Soviet prestige and political strength.