The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis

1. American-Cuban Tensions

   • Significance of Cuba
     • Strategic Importance
       • Expansion of territory
       • American sphere of influence
     • Safeguarding Interests
       • Economic Source
         • Production of sugar and tobacco
         • USA buys land from Cubans
           • Set up sugar plantations
           • Construction of factories
         • USA owns 60% of sugar monopoly
       • Resentment towards USA
         • Over-reliance on sugar trade
           • Vulnerable sugar economy
             • Drastic changes in prices
         • Upper-class investments
           • Larger gap between rich and poor
   • Early Tensions
     • American Political Intervention
       • USA figureheads
         • Batista's rule
           • Corrupt and dictactorial
           • Illegal activities
             • Ties with American mafia
             • Large American Corporations
           • Social Oppression
             • Secret Police implemented
               • Political Opponents
               • Citizens
     • Cuban Revolution
       • (1956) Fidel Castro returns
         • Rebellion against Batista
           • Used guerrilla warfare
       • (1959) Batista's defeat
         • Declining popularity amongst people
         • Lost support from USA
         • Outnumbered
           • Soldiers demoralized
           • Castro's army grew
     • Castro's new policies
       • New markets
         • Solved over-reliance on USA
           • Sought new markets for sugar
           • Trade with Soviet Union
             • Trade sugar for Soviet oil
             • USA saw Cuba allying with Soviets
       • Land Reform Law
         • Re-distribuition of plantations
           • Split equally among poor farmers
         • Banned foreigners from owning any plantations
     • Friendship with Khrushchev
       • Meeting Khrushchev
         • Both criticized USA's human rights
           • USA saw Castro associating with leader of Cold War enemy
         • Strengthening relationship
   • Escalating Tensions
     • Economic pressure
       • Embargo imposed on Cuba
         • Threatened Castro to cut ties with Soviet Union
         • Aid from Communist countries
           • Soviets owned 80% of national industry
           • 30% of nation farming
           • Allowed Castro to proceed with economic reforms
     • Overthrow Castro
       • Bay of Pigs Invasion
         • Training of Cuban exiles
           • Critical Failure
             • USA humiliation
             • Outrage from the UN
             • Strengthening of Castro's power
       • Operation Mongoose
         • Sabotage industrial monopoly
         • Assassination attempts on Communist figures
     • Formal alliance with Soviet Union
       • Fear of US invasion
         • Soviet Union rivaled USA
       • Cuba becomes Communist
         • New Communist Party
         • American fears realized
           • Soviet ally geographically close to USA

2. Resolution and Aftermath

   • Steps to Resolution
     • Cooperation between Khrushchev and Kennedy
       • Khrushchev's appeals for peace
         • First Negotiation
           • Khrushchev felt failure to protect Cuba
           • Ongoing construction of missile sites in Cuba
         • Second Negotiation
           • Increased pressure on Khrushchev
           • Request for removal of USA missiles in Turkey
             • Kennedy feared Khrushchev adopted brinkmanship
             • Acceptance of Kennedy's deal
               • Removal of dangerous missiles in exchange of no invasion of Cuba
               • Removal of missiles in Cuba
                 • Displeasure from Castro
                   • Felt betrayed by Soviet Union
                   • Became more dangerous and aggressive
                   • Threatened to expose to UN Soviet tactical missiles
           • Castro demanded immediate action against USA
     • Public and International opinion
       • U-2 Spy Plane incident
         • Soviet leader in Cuba shot down and captured pilot
         • Fear of Khrushchev's losing control over subordinates
         • Robert Kennedy's secret deal to remove Turkish missiles
           • Turkey feared of vulnerability despite missiles being unreliable and obsolete
   • Aftermath of the crisis
     • Implications of the crisis
       • USA
         • Kennedy's reputation increased
         • Dismay amongst members amongst NATO for removal of Turkish missiles
       • Cuba
         • Castro seen by people as national hero
         • Ally of Soviets despite drawbacks
         • Loss of nuclear protection against USA
       • Soviet Union
         • Khrushchev seen showing cowardice and weakness
         • Worsening relations with both Cuba and China over handling of the crisis
         • Threat of Jupiter missiles removed and Cuba still remained an ally
     • Establishment of Moscow-Washington Hot Line
       • Believed lack of communication escalated nuclear tensions
         • Share quick and honest information with each other
     • First steps taken towards nuclear disarmament
       • Both sides limit developments of nuclear weapons
         • Signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty on 5 August 1963
           • Opened it to other countries in 10 October 1963
           • Limit growing effects of nuclear radiation on environment

3. Brink of Nuclear War

   • Soviet installation of missiles in Cuba
     • Soviet consideration of installation
       • Political gains
         • Leverage over West Berin situation
         • Higher standing amongst Communist bloc
       • Military gains
         • Greater number of missiles can reach USA
         • Counter Jupiter missiles in Turkey
         • Deter naval vessels and target cities
           • Greater deterrent against USA
       • Castro agreed
         • Protect his country
           • Fear of threats from USA
         • Smuggled missiles to Cuba (10 June 1962)
     • American discovery of missile deployment
       • American spy plane took photos of launch site (14 October)
       • Kennedy discovered missile deployment (16 October)
   • Escalating tensions during missile crisis
     • Responses towards missile discovery
       • Soviet Union claimed missiles used for defense
         • Kennedy believed missiles were used against USA
         • Doubted Khrushchev's claims
       • Fear of massive destruction caused by both sides
       • Discovery of more missiles in Cuba
         • Many in USA favored an offensive
           • Decided on a blockade
     • US naval blockade of Cuba (24 October)
       • Vessels checked by American naval ships
         • Ensure that they did not contain any more nuclear missiles
       • American forces mobilized in Florida
     • Mobilisation of Soviet and Cuban force
       • Khrushchev was angered by the blockade
       • Defence Minister Rodion Malinovsky delayed mobilisation
       • Castro declares preparations for armed conflict
         • 300,000 Cubans armed
     • Kennedy's strategy of brinkmanship
       • Publicly announced discovery of Cuban missiles
       • Demanded that Soviet Union remove them