CMC Flashcards
(12 cards)
Arms race = (1960s)
There was an arms race between US and USSR in the 1960s
There was an atmosphere of spying; the USSR using spies, and the US using spying technology such as the U2 Plane
Both sides worked on nuclear bombs that could be launched via submarines or planes
The USA placed short-range nuclear weapons in Turkey
By early 1960s, both sides could destroy the other (US had slightly more)
Nuclear Deterrent: Enemy would not attack first, because the other would retaliate. MAD = Mutually Assured Destruction
What was the background to the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Arms race:
Through the 1960s the Us and USSR were involved in an arms race
Mutually Assured Destruction
The US had short-range nuclear weapons in Turkey (to destroy USSR)
The US had slightly more weapons but both could destroy each other by early 1960s
- Technology and spying
Both the US and USSR spied on one another during the Cold War.
Aiming to see what the other was up to
The US used spying technology (such as U2)
USSR used spies - Cuban revolution and Fidel Castro
General Batista (Cuban Dictator) was overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959
Relations between him and the US were poor
US investigated overthrowing him, disrupted Cuban economy, and criticised him.
Castro reassured Americans and allowed US to keep naval base BUT allies with USSR.
Cuba = economic aid
USSR = shipped armaments to Cuba - US Response
- Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs background =
US involvement in Cuba pre-CMC
40% Cuban sugar industry was US owned
Vast amounts of land in Cuba -> US owned
Significant US business interest in Cuba
By 1960, Castro in power in Cuba + seeks to nationalise industries, forcing out US businesses
Soviet involvement in Cuba before CMC
Castro + Khrushchev had already established trading links. Concerned US.
US had stopped buying Cuban sugar due to Castro so the USSR stepped in and offered to trade with Cuba (1960)
Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961
Who - Batista (Cuban) wanted to get back in power and overthrow Castro. B = In exile.
CIA (US) persuade Kennedy to support their plan to back and fund Batista to overthrow Castro.
DISASTER for Batista + US: 20,000 Cuban troops Tanks + Modern weapons
Consequences of the Bay of Pigs
Strengthens Castro (B = defeated)
MAJOR embarrassment for US/Kennedy
Khrushchev - an opportunity for USSR (in relation to Cuba)
Effectively destroys US - Cuban relations
-> A cause of CMC
3 X Causes of Bay of Pigs
Cause 1: Cuban leadership:
Castro had led a revolution in Cuba and had seized power in 1959.
He had argued that the US investment in Cuba was the main cause of Cuban hardship & wanted greater independence. Concern for US as Cuba just 90 miles from Florida coast.
Cause 2: Links with USSR:
Castro had made links with Khrushchev. Created tension with USA.
USSR saw Castro’s arrival and dispute with the US as an opportunity to influence a new region.
In 1960 USSR agreed to buy Cuban sugar, provide goods & loans to Cuba.
Cause 3: US/Cuban economic relations:
US owned much of Cuban land pre-revolution and (e.g.) 40% of sugar production.
Castro banned US sugar imports, banned foreign ownership of land & in July 1960 he nationalised (took state ownership) of US businesses in Cuba. USSR gave ec. aid.
In response US banned trade with Cuba.
Three key features of the Bay of Pigs incident
(April 1961)
Cuban exiles wanted to overthrow Castro: some Cuban opponents of Castro during the 1959 revolution were living overseas (= exiles) and wanted to take power from him. Led by Batista, the previous Cuban leader and ally of the US.
US Central Intelligence Agency backed exiles: CIA had tried to assassinate Castro but failed. CIA keen for Castro to be replaced. Did not want a Communist country bordering the US. The CIA persuaded Kennedy in 1961 to give military and financial support to a group of 1400 Cuban exiles, led by Batista, arguing that Castro was weak & invasion would be supported by Cuban people.
Invasion failed: invasion was a disaster. First air strikes missed their targets. Plan was known to the Cuban gvt and US involvement in airstrikes made public. On 17 April 1,400 exiles invaded Cuba at Bay of Pigs. Faced heavy attacks from 20,000 Castro troops. Exiles surrendered.
3 X Effects of Bay of Pigs
Effect 1: Impact on US:
International embarrassment: US’ involvement in the invasion and its failure was publicly known and damaged Kennedy and US’ reputation.
Amicable settlement impossible: US involvement in the invasion and its failure made any amicable (friendly) settlement with Cuba impossible.
Reinforced Castro’s links with USSR and with Communism
Effect 2: Impact on Cuba:
Castro declared himself a communist in the wake of the BoPigs invasion.
Fear of attack: Castro remained fearful of further US attacks after BoPigs.
Missiles: Castro entered into negotiations with USSR about placing USSR missiles on Cuba and Cuba receiving military protection from USSR.
Effect 3: Impact on USSR:
Castro request for help: Castro asked Khrushchev for protection after the BoPigs incident.
USSR nuclear weapons: in August 1961, Khrushchev devised a plan to station USSR nuclear weapons on Cuba. Argued it would deter the US from attacking Cuba.
Arms race: placing USSR missiles on Cuba would balance out the fact that US had missiles in Turkey & would save USSR the cost of developing costly ICBMs due to proximity of Cuba to the US.
Why did the USSR help Cuba?
Opportunity to redress the ‘failure’ over Berlin.
Putting nuclear weapons on Cuba would put pressure on the USA.
US missiles in Turkey meant USA had ‘total coverage’ of USSR.
USSR nuclear weapon deployment was far inferior to USA.
Khrushchev knew that USA had missiles in Turkey – he wanted the equivalent.
Would mean USSR had weapons base within 90 miles of US eastern coast.
What & When did the US U2 Spy plane find x in Cuba?
On 15 October 1962, a U-2 spy plane took photographs of Cuba.
These showed the construction of long-range Soviet missile launching sites. No actual missiles were identified.
Further spy photographs revealed Soviet ships travelling towards Cuba carrying long-range nuclear weapons.
What could the USA do?
President Kennedy organized ExComm (the Executive Committee). This was group of political and military advisors including Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen. They debated what to do day and night for nearly seven days!
What were the effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962?
Telephone hotline set up: improved communication between leaders (enabled direct contact between the leaders in the White House & Kremlin, from June 1963). Slow communication had increased tensions and risk in CMC.
The LimitedTest Ban Treaty signed US & USSR agreed to ban testing nuclear weapons in space, in the sea & above ground. Underground tests still permitted. 1st step in controlling nuclear weapons. Signed August 1963.
Common interests speech: Kennedy gave a speech in June 1963 signalling a need to find “common interests” with USSR. This is seen as preparing the way for détente (see below).
“High” point of CW: Cold War never became as serious again. Despite future tensions, there was a major change in attitude.
“Sides” of CW started to break down?: eg. France decided to leave NATO in 1966 & began to develop own nuclear missiles.
Détente: Both superpowers realized how close they had come to nuclear war: superpowers encouraged to start “détente” and reinforced the idea of MAD (by 1965 both sides were on an equal footing in nuclear arms, for the time being). [NOTE HOWEVER THAT CMC DID NOT END THE COLD WAR!]
13 DAYS SUMMARY =
Thursday 25th October:
USA aerial photography shows rapid work on Cuban missile bases
(Despite Soviet ships turning around)
Friday 26th October:
Khrushchev’s first letter to Kennedy:
Claimed that the missiles were defensive
He offered that - if the US didn’t attack Cuba + lifted blockade, USSR would consider the removal/destruction of missile sites
(First time Khrushchev admitted presence of missiles)
Saturday 27th October:
(a.m. = )
Khrushchev’s second letter to Kennedy:
Said that if US removed missiles from Turkey, USSR would remove missiles from Cuba
American U-2 plane shot down over Cuba: (Pilot killed)
Kennedy advised to attack Cuba
(p.m. = )
Kennedy delayed an attack
Replied to Khrushchev’s (first) letter:
Accepted terms of Khrushchev’s first letter
Said that is USSR did not withdraw, US would attack
Sunday 28th October:
Khrushchev’s reply to Kennedy:
USSR agreed to dismantle + return missiles (to Soviet Union)
Impacts of the crisis
Both superpowers realized how close they had come to nuclear war.
- Telephone hotline set up in 1963.
- Test-ban treaty signed in 1963 – ban on testing nuclear weapons.
Cold War never became as serious again. Despite future tensions, there was a major change in attitude.
Kennedy appeared to have stood up to communism – massive public opinion boost.
- Turkey missile deal remained secret
Khrushchev came out of the crisis badly – criticized both for trying to place missiles in Cuba, and also for giving into the USA.
- Is this fair? Why should Khrushchev be praised?
