Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

Causes

Answer 1

• Bays of pigs invasion: Secret CIA Operation launched under Kennedy in 1961, is a failed attempt to take over Cuba by Cuban Exiles
• Arms Race: Soviet Union behind US in arms race, couldn’t bomb all of US, but now communist Cuba is good strategic point for more nucs
• Soviets feel need to protect Cuba, which is only Communist stronghold near US
• US can bomb all of Russia, as they have missiles in Italy and Turkey
• Khrushchev hopes he can use Cuba as way to gain control over West Berlin

Question 2

Event

Answer 2

1. Operation Anadyr (Secret Mission) - run by Khrushev secretly begins to put missiles into Cuba (Successfully)
2. More missiles arrive in Cuba
3. US suspects (August 1962) of these missiles
4. September 11, 1962 USSR announces any US interference with Cuba or USSR boats will equal WAR
5. Kennedy sends U2 planes out again and find absolute evidence
6. Kennedy decides to launch an blockade but calls it “Quarantine” of military goods entering Cuba
7. USSR and US have a secret Negotiation
8. Kennedy Agrees to second offer of Khrushchev on taking nuclear missiles out of Turkey and Italy (secretly) when USSR removes missiles from Cuba

Question 3

Consquences

Answer 3

• Kennedy looks like the winner
• Kennedy secretly pulls nuclear missiles out of Italy and Turkey as agreed
• Khrushchev is viewed to be the weak one, who gave into Kennedy
• Two years later Khrushchev falls from power
• Tensions between USSR and US remain high
• Nervousness about a Nuclear War rise
• Cuba is stable under Castro’s Rule