Cuban Missile Crisis Flashcards
When did a spy plane spot the construction of missile sites on Cuba, starting the Cuban Missile crisis?
14th October 1962
Why did Khrushchev put nuclear missiles on Cuba?
Short range missiles could hit the USA
The USA already had missiles close to the USSR in Turkey
Defend Cuba from the USA
What were Kennedy’s options during the Cuban missile crisis?
Do nothing Surgical air strikes Invade Cuba Use diplomacy and the UN to resolve the crisis Naval Blockade of Cuba
What did Kennedy choose to do during the Cuban missile crisis?
Blockade Soviet ships from delivering weapons to Cuba and request the removal of the missiles already there
What did Kennedy agree to do in private to end the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Remove US missiles from Turkey and promise not to invade Cuba
What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis?
Removal of missiles from Cuba
Removal of missiles from Turkey
Hotline telephone link set up between Moscow and Washington to avoid future crises
Test Ban treaty signed by USA, Britain & USSR in 1963
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a success for the USA?
Kennedy stood up to the Soviets who had backed down.
Kennedy stood up to the hard-line advisers (hawks) who wanted to invade Cuba.
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a success for the USSR?
Prevented a US invasion of Cuba
Claim to have acted reasonably and as a peacemaker
Removal of US missiles in Turkey (secret at the time)
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a success for Cuba?
Castro remained in power
USA promised not to invade
Cuba remained heavily armed (though no nuclear weapons)
Castro kept control of former US industries
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a failure for the USA?
Promised not to invade Cuba and remove missile from Turkey
Castro and communists remained a threat in Cuba
Some thought Kennedy wasn’t tough enough or prepared to fight
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a failure for the USSR?
The lied to the UN when they said they wouldn’t put missiles on Cuba
Khrushchev backed down
Soviet missiles removed from Cuba
Khrushchev couldn’t make the secret deal about missiles in Turkey public
Why was the Cuban missile crisis a failure for Cuba?
Remained poor and isolated
Unable to trade with the USA
Dependent on the USSR for supplies and equipment
