Cuban Missile Crisis Notes

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a two-week confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting from October 15, 1962, to October 28, 1962.
It concluded with an agreement between U.S. President John F. Kennedy and the Soviets to dismantle nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba.
The crisis brought the world to the brink of a full-scale nuclear war, despite its short duration.

Before the Cuban Revolution (1953-1959), Cuba was a popular vacation destination for wealthy Americans.
Many Americans owned vacation homes there, and large American-owned resorts were prevalent.
After the communist revolution led by Fidel Castro, the new communist government seized American private property.
The U.S., fearing a communist presence nearby, attempted to overthrow Castro in 1961 by sponsoring an invasion by exiled Cubans.
John F. Kennedy, like many Americans, recognized that Cuba was no longer the welcoming Caribbean paradise it once was.
After the revolution, Cuba reversed its policies toward the U.S. and allied itself with the Soviet Union.

In 1961, Cuban exiles, trained by the American C.I.A., invaded Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro.
The U.S. did not officially support the invasion, but it was evident to Castro that America sponsored it.
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a disaster for the U.S. because:
- The invaders were outnumbered and outgunned, failing to unseat Castro.
- The obvious American support pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union.

After the Bay of Pigs invasion, Fidel Castro allied with the Soviet Union and began modernizing Cuba's military with Soviet assistance.
A communist nation allied with the Soviet Union near the U.S. was considered a direct threat by Americans.
Fidel Castro sought protection against what he perceived as an aggressive American enemy.
Castro agreed to have the Soviets build nuclear missile bases on the island as a deterrent against a future American invasion.
The Soviets planned to send 60,000 troops and build 24 missile bases in Cuba, positioning 45 nuclear warheads just over 100 miles from U.S. soil.
The Soviets argued that they were responding to American nuclear missiles placed in Turkey and Italy within range of the Soviet Union.

Tensions between America and Cuba were high.
The U.S. became aware of the military buildup in Cuba.
America routinely used high-tech spy planes to take detailed photographs of enemy territory.
Increased shipping traffic between the Soviet Union and Cuba was noted, prompting America to send a U2 spy plane to take pictures of the island.
Missile launching sites were detected, beginning the 13-day Cuban Missile Crisis.
After discovering the missile sites, the Americans considered three options:
1. Attack the missiles from the air.
2. A full-on landed military invasion.
3. Surround Cuba with American warships and block all incoming Soviet ships (a naval blockade).

A direct air attack or landed invasion on Cuba was deemed likely to lead to a full-scale war with the Soviets.
The remaining option was a naval blockade of Cuba, preventing Soviet ships carrying nuclear weapons from reaching the island.
President Kennedy knew that a naval blockade would be seen unfavorably by the Soviets and could lead to confrontation and possibly war.
Americans prepared themselves for a nuclear war as the Soviet Union showed no signs of backing down.
An American spy plane was shot down while flying over Cuba after the blockade was set up, increasing tensions.

The U.S. and the Soviets were in secret communication and negotiations from the beginning of the crisis.
Eventually, Kennedy agreed to remove missiles in Italy and Turkey in exchange for the removal of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Both nations secretly conceded, but publicly it appeared as if the U.S. had stood its ground while the USSR had to abandon its military plans for Cuba.
After Kennedy ordered the blockade around Cuba, the situation became more tense as Soviet ships carrying components for nuclear missiles did not change course or slow down.