History - Cuban Missile Crisis

When was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

1962

What was the background to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Throughout the 1960s, the USA and USSR were in a nuclear arms race; both countries tried to steal each others technological secrets, the USSR with spies and the US with U2 planes (planes that could not be shot down as they flew very high and took very detailed images). Each side perfected nuclear weapons that could travel to another continent in 30 minutes, and the US placed short range nuclear weapons in Turkey.

What was Mutually Assured Destruction? (MAD)

A nuclear deterrent, which meant that the enemy would not strike first, because it knew that if it did, the other would strike back before its bombs had even landed, and it too would be destroyed.

What is the relationship between Cuba and the US?

Cuba is just 160km from Florida and it had long been an American ally. Americans owned most of the businesses there and they had a huge naval base. The Americans also provided General Batista (Cuban ruler) with economic and military support. Batista was an unpopular dictator, but the Americans only supported him because he was also very opposed to communism.

What happened in 1959?

After opposition and a three-year campaign to overthrow Batista, Fidel Castro came into power in Cuba. He killed, arrested or exiled political opponents.

How did Fidel Castro coming to power affect relations with the US?

Castro took over many American owned businesses in Cuba, especially in the agricultural area; he took the land and gave it to peasant farmers who supported him. Additionally, there were thousands of Cuban exiles in the US who were demanding action against Castro.

How did the US respond?

In June 1960, President Eisenhower ordered the CIA to provide support and funds to Cuban exiles. It also tried to disrupt the Cuban economy, like damaging sugar plantations, and American companies working in Cuba refused to cooperate with Cuban businesses.

How did Fidel Castro respond to this?

He initially said that he just anted to rule the country in peace, but by June 1960 he had allied Cuba with the Soviet Union. Soviet leader Khrushchev gave Cuba $100 million in economic aid, and Castro also began receiving arms from the Soviet Union.

When was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

1961

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

The USA's new President (Kennedy) broke relations with Cuba and Castro thought that he was preparing to invade. Kennedy was no longer tolerating the Soviet satellite in the USA's sphere of influence, but the Americans did not want to invade directly. So Kennedy supplied arms, transport and equipment for 1400 anti-Castro exiles to invade Cuba with the intention to overthrow Castro.

What was the result of the invasion?

The invaders were met by 20,000 Cuban troops armed with tanks and modern weapons. Castro captured or killed them all within days.

What was the impact of the invasion?

It suggested to Cuba and the Soviet Union that despite the opposition to communism in Cuba, the USA was unwilling to get directly involved and made Kennedy look weak.

What was Khrushchev's response to the invasion?

In May 1962, the Soviet Union announced publicly for the first time that it was supplying arms to Cuba. By September, it had thousands of Soviet missiles, plus patrol boats, tanks, radar vans, missile erectors, jet bombers, jet fighters and 5000 Soviet technicians to help maintain the weapons.

What was Kennedy worried about?

Khrushchev putting nuclear weapons into Cuba, he said he would prevent 'by any means necessary' Cuba becoming an offensive base.

What happened on 14th October 1962?

An American U-2 spy plane spotted missile bases in Cuba which were being built by the Soviets. The spy planes also reported that twenty Soviet ships were currently on the way to Cuba carrying missiles.

What happened on 20th October?

Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba. On the 22nd he announced the blockade and addressed the American people.

What happened from 23rd to 25th October?

Kennedy received a letter from Khrushchev saying that Soviet ships would not be observing the blockade, but the following night, twenty Soviet ships which were approaching the blockade zone turned around. Despite this, aerial footage showed missile bases were still advancing rapidly.

What did the letters from Khrushchev on 26th and 27th of October say?

Initially he said that the missiles were purely defensive, but the following letter said that if Kennedy were to remove the missiles from Turkey, he would do the same in Cuba.

What happened on 27th October?

An American U-2 plane was shot down over Cuba and the pilot was killed. Kennedy decided to delay an attack, but sent a letter back to Khrushchev saying that is the Soviet Union did not withdraw, that an attack would follow.

What happened on 28th October?

Khrushchev sent a final letter to Kennedy, saying that he would remove the offensive arms from Cuba and return them to the Soviet Union in order to keep peace.

Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?

To test the USA and see how strong they were during the time of the Cold War. To trap the USA and draw them into a nuclear war. To close the missile gap between the US and Soviets. To defend Cuba, as it was the only communist state in the Western Hemisphere. To strengthen Khrushchev's own position in the USSR.

Outcomes of the missile crisis for Kennedy and the USA?

Improved reputation for Kennedy as he stood up to Khrushchev and made him back down. His NATO allies were unhappy that he made the decision to remove missiles from Turkey without consulting them, but they knew it was better than nuclear war. Kennedy had to accept that Castro's Cuba would remain a communist state in America's backyard.

Outcomes of the missile crisis for Khrushchev and the USSR?

In public it made him look like a peacemaker and that he had the ability to compromise. He kept Cuba safe from an American attack. He made the USA remove their missiles from Turkey, but he had to keep this private. Khrushchev had been forced to back down. The USSR was still behind the USA in the arms race.

Outcomes of the missile crisis for the Cold War?

It helped to reduce Cold War tensions between the US and USSR. It avoided direct confrontation and they fought through their allies where possible.

Outcomes of the missile crisis for Castro's Cuba?

He was upset about Khrushchev's deal with the US but he had to accept it. Cuba stayed communist and highly armed. Castro kept control of the American companies.