Cold War Confrontations and Conflicts - The Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

What was the Cuban Revolution?

Answer 1

Fidel Castro led an armed uprising to bring down the dictatorship of the Cuban president, Fulgencio Batista.

Question 2

When was the Cuban Revolution?

Answer 2

The Cuban Revolution started in July 1953. Batista was removed from power on 31st December, 1958.

Question 3

Who started the Cuban Revolution?

Answer 3

Fidel Castro started the Cuban Revolution.

Question 4

How did the Cuban Revolution affect Cuba’s relationship with the USA?

Answer 4

Before 1959, the USA supported Batista and there was co-operation between the two countries. This ended when diplomatic relations were broken off in January 1961.

Question 5

What was the USA’s reaction to the Cuban Revolution?

Answer 5

• It wanted Cuba back inside America’s sphere of influence.
• In 1959, it refused to accept compensation offered by Cuba for American-owned property and land taken in the revolution.
• Although America did recognise Castro’s government, when he requested economic aid in 1960 this was denied. Instead, President Eisenhower reduced US imports of Cuban sugar by 95%.
• It supported Cuban exiles to undermine the new government.
• It refused to buy Cuban sugar, which provided a significant part of the national income, and eventually ended all trade with Cuba in October 1960.
• The CIA tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Castro and convinced President Kennedy that the USA needed to invade Cuba.

Question 6

What became of Cuba’s relationship with the USSR after the Cuban Revolution?

Answer 6

• Cuba began to build economic links with the Soviet Union instead of the USA.
• In February 1960, it began to trade Cuban sugar for Soviet oil.
• Cuba wanted the Soviets’ military defence and support.

Question 7

What happened at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba?

Answer 7

The Bay of Pigs incident involved Cuban exiles, supported by US forces, invading Cuba.

Question 8

When was the attack at the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 8

The invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs took place on 17th April, 1961.

Question 9

Who led the attack at the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 9

Cuban exiles, trained and supported by America, invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.

Question 10

What happened during the invasion of the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 10

• Castro learned about the invasion in advance because the planes were recognised as American from photographs.
• The 1,400 US-backed Cuban exiles were met by an army of 20,000 Cubans.
• The US-backed Cuban exiles surrendered.
• Almost all of those in the Cuban exile army were jailed or shot.

Question 11

What were the consequences of the attack at the Bay of Pigs?

Answer 11

• The incident meant USA-Cuban relations deteriorated while Soviet-Cuban relations improved.
• Fidel Castro stayed in power.
• The USA was totally discredited because it had supported illegal acts. President Kennedy was embarrassed and his position was weakened.
• In December 1961, Castro stated he and his government were communist.
• Castro asked Khrushchev for military support in case of future attacks by the USA.

Question 12

Why did the invasion at the Bay of Pigs fail?

Answer 12

• The CIA underestimated the strength of the Cubans, who had 20,000 troops and modern tanks and weapons.
• They also failed to gain the support of the Cuban people, which they assumed they would get.

Question 13

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 13

The Cuban Missile Crisis, between the USSR and the USA, was one of the most serious Cold War crises. It happened because the USSR placed missiles in Cuba and was the closest the world had been to a possible nuclear war.

Question 14

When did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?

Answer 14

The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted for 13 days, from 14th to 28th October, 1962.

Question 15

Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?

Answer 15

• The long-term deterioration of the relationship between the USA and Cuba, accelerated by the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and the Bay of Pigs incident in 1961.
• This pushed Cuba closer to the USSR, which bought Cuban sugar. In return, the Cubans bought oil from the Soviets.
• Castro had declared himself a Marxist in December 1961.
• Khrushchev was concerned about the missile gap and the fact the USA had nuclear missiles based in Turkey which could easily reach the USSR.
• The immediate cause was the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles to Cuba for protection against possible attack by the USA.
• Cuba is only 160km south of the US state of Florida, which meant the mainland was within range of any missiles placed on Cuba. The USA therefore felt threatened.

Question 16

What happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 16

• On 14th October, American spy planes spotted missile bases being built on Cuba.
• On 16th October, Kennedy was informed of the missile build-up and Ex-Comm, an advisory group, was formed.
• On 20th October Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba. This was a 500-mile naval ‘quarantine’ to prevent the Soviets from bringing in further military supplies or missiles.
• On 24th October, Khrushchev stated the USSR would launch nuclear missiles if America went to war in Cuba.
• The blockade began. When Soviet ships approached the blockade, some stopped and some turned around.
• On 26th October, Kennedy received a letter from Khrushchev who offered to negotiate if the blockade was removed and the USA did not invade Cuba.
• On 27th October, Kennedy received a second letter from Khrushchev which offered to remove the missiles if the USA removed its missiles in Turkey.
• Kennedy’s brother, Robert, negotiated with the Russian ambassador and accepted the offer on condition the removal of missiles from Turkey was kept secret.
• On 28th October, Khrushchev agreed to the dismantling of the nuclear missiles.

Question 17

How was the Cuban Missile Crisis solved?

Answer 17

• Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles from Cuba if the USA removed its warheads from Italy and Turkey.
• The USA would only agree to the deal if the removal of its missiles from Italy and Turkey was kept secret.

Question 18

What were the results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 18

• Cuba survived as a communist country.
• Kennedy assured the world that the USA would never invade Cuba and his public image improved.
• The Soviet Union looked weak because the world did not know the USA had removed its missiles from Turkey.
• Khrushchev lost power in the USSR and was dismissed in 1964.
• China criticised the USSR over its actions because the Soviets had made the communist world look weak. China’s relationship with the USSR deteriorated.
• The USA’s NATO allies in Europe were horrified because they had not been consulted. France reacted by leaving NATO in 1966.

Question 19

How did the Cuban Missile Crisis affect the relationship between the USA and the USSR?

Answer 19

• The relationship had deteriorated almost to the brink of nuclear war, so Kennedy wanted to focus more on the two nations’ ‘common interests’.
• A hotline was set up in June 1963 between the USA and the USSR. This would help avoid crises by enabling direct and quick communication.

Question 20

Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis important?

Answer 20

• It was the most dangerous Cold War confrontation between the USA and the USSR and almost led to nuclear war.
• It resulted in both countries working to improve their relationship and slow down the arms race.