Confrontation between the superpowers

Pre 1959/long term causes of the missile crisis

* can blame the US

The American policy pushed Cuba towards the USSR

Cuba was America’s garden since they were heavily involved in their economy (Monroe doctrine and manifest destiny)

Castro started a revolution against Batista and that gave him a swell of support - became leader in January 1959

early development 1958-1960/long-term causes of the missile crisis

At first, America saw it as a nationalist rising and decided to let it run its course

But then Castro made moderate reforms (agrarian) which took away from the state that America-owned machinery

America still did not care and then in February 1960 the Soviets and Cuba met to make an agreement;$100 million for oil in trade

in retaliation, America took away 95% of their sugar spending America

by 1961 America decided that Castro needed to be removed

Bay of Pigs

In April 1961, a group of Cuban exiles organized and supported by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency landed on the southern coast of Cuba in an effort to overthrow Fidel Castro. When the invasion ended in disaster, President Kennedy took full responsibility for the failure.

operation mongoose?

was an extensive campaign of terrorist attacks against civilians, and covert operations, carried out by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in Cuba.\[

what was the motives of kennedy?

Kennedy was determined to make a stand and even risk nuclear war. The missiles placed in Cuba could reach most of the large cities of the USA as well as the US space centre at Cape Canaveral (in Florida).

The USA feared the domino effect in South and Central America. Communism in Cuba might lead to communism elsewhere.

The USA regarded Cuba, Central and South America as their area of influence (based on the 'Monroe Doctrine' of 1823). The Soviet Union had broken the unwritten code of the Cold War by intervening in a US area of influence.

Kennedy was under pressure due to the failure of the Bay of Pigs operation and his failure to take action against the construction of the Berlin Wall. He desperately needed diplomatic success.

What was the motives of Khrushchev?

They could not miss out on the chance to place missiles on Cuba right next to America because it would take at least a decade to catch up in the missile race

it meant that he could stop spending money on arms

he also needed a win after the Berlin crisis of 1958

by creating a linkage between Cuba and Berlin his superpower status would survive

how can the Cuban missile crisis be seen as soviets fault?

regardless of the unreasonably of the US’s policy that last decision to place missiles on Cuba almost bough the world to the brink of nuclear war

what was the short term cause of the cuban missile crisis?

In October 1962, US spy planes brought back photos of missile bases under construction in Cuba for Soviet medium-range ballistic missiles. and thus also the placement of Missiles on Cuba on the 8th of September 1962

Kennedy set up the executive committee of the US National Security Council, known as 'ExCom', to discuss US options.

what was the significance of the cuban missile crisis?

It showed that international relations could not take place through crisis management

There was the creation of the ==HOTLINE in 1963== which gave a better line of communication

October 1963 treaty banning nuclear testing

the USA had superiority over the USSR

the USSR responded rather than being deterred because the US was aggressive

it was a loss for the USSR

and the issue over Berlin was definitely not about to be resolved

8th january 1959?

Castro becomes leader of Cuba and overthrows Baptista

14th april 1961?

bay of pigs

what year were missiles placed on Turkey?

1961

30th November 1961?

operation mongoose

march 1962?

operation quick kick

april 1962?

Khrushchev agrees to supply Cuba with missiles

7th september 1962

Soviet ambassadors assure the USA that they are only providing defensive weapons

8th september 1962

missiles arrive in Cuba

11th september 1962

ussr warned us about attack on Cuba

14th October 1962

u2 plane catches pictures of the missile base

16th October 1962?

Excom meeting

a quarantine was agreed

22nd October 1962?

broadcast to the nation about missiles

defcom 2

october 23rd 1962

quarantine is created

24th october 1962?

ships turn back

25th october 1962

highest defconn by america

26th october 1962

letter from the USSR asking for peace and will remove the missiles

27th october 1962

2nd letter saying they will only remove if the us remove from turkey

28th october 1962?

the deal made that they will both remove missiles but US gets to do it secretly without nato or media knowing

30TH NOVEMEBR 1962?

Quarantine ends