Cuban Missile Crisis

Background

Cuba = 90 miles from Florida
US had lots of money invested in Cuba
closely allied

Cuban revolution

1959 - Fidel Castro replaced Batista
independence from USA
nationalised US companies
Khrushchev decided to ally with Cuba - dran to communism

Trade embargo

USA refused to trade with Cuba
Cuba now relied on USSR for trade - closer allies
USA ends diplomatic relations

Bay of Pigs

invasion of Cuba
used Cuban exiles hoping citizens would join in
Last minute decided not to involve air force
Cubans did not jjoin in 
Failure
1961

Bay of Pigs effect

Kennedy - looks weak
bacame more determined
Strengthened Castro’s position - had been losing popularity
United cuba against USA
Khrushchev used as prrof of communism popularity

Bacground to missile crisis

Cuba becomes closer with USSR
USSR stations missiles on Cuba
USA had missiles in Turkey
US U2 plane found Soviet missile bases in Cuba - panic - October

Actual crisis

14 Oct - photographs
21 Oct - Cuba quarantined
23 OCt - Soviet ships approach
24 Oct - DEFCON 2
26 Oct - Khrushchev sends letter to remove missiles

Effects

Started detente
Established hotline
Removed Cuban and Turkey missiles
Partial Test Ban Treaty 1963