T2 B

• narrative account of the Cuban revolution

  -1952 Cuba had been taken over by US friendly dictator Batista

  -Batista allowed US firms special privileges in Cuba and US mafia ran organised crime

  -Cuban lawyer Fidel Castro opposed Batista

  -Castro imprisoned in 1953

  -in 1955 Castro released and went into exile in Mexico and then USA

  -December 2 1956 Castro and 81 companions invaded Cuba

  -spent next 2 years fighting Batista using guerilla tactics

  -by late December 1958 they were close to capital, Havana

  -on 1 January 1959 Batista fled to USA and Castro became leader a week later
• consequences of the Cuban revolution

  -castro expelled US mafia

  -castro introduced socialist style reforms like breaking up large farms

  -Cuba became increasingly left wing and castro included communists in the government

  -castro made anti American speeches

  -Cuba became closer to USSR

  -USA responded by launching bay of pigs

  -factor in causing the Cuban missile crisis
• narrative account of bay of pigs

  -eisenhower agreed a plan with CIA to overthrow Castro which Kennedy inherited when he became president

  -plan was for Cuban exiles to invade Cuba then start anti castro revolution and put pro US government in charge

  -on 17 April 1961 around 1400 Cuban exiles landed on bay of pigs in Cuba

  -but castros government found out and around 20,000 soldiers were waiting

  -USA couldn't send American military aid to help exiles

  -ordinary Cubans did not rush to help exiles

  -castro showed evidence of Cuban victory to world's media

  -invasion had failed
• consequences of bay of pigs

  -public humiliation for USA

  -very embarrassing for new president Kennedy

  -a reason for Khrushchev to reissue Berlin Ultimatum at Vienna summit

  -cuba declared communist

  -September 1961 Khrushchev publicly announced he would send arms to Cuba
• What date did the American spy plane take pictures of launch pads in Cuba?

  14 October 1962
• What did the American spy plane discover in Cuba?

  Launch pads for medium range ballistic missiles
• What did US intelligence discover about Soviet ships?


  A fleet sailing to Cuba
• Why was there concern about the missiles in Cuba?

  They could become operational in 2 weeks
• What was called on 16 October regarding the crisis?

  ExComm meeting
• What were the two factions within ExComm during the crisis?

  Hawks for military response, doves for peaceful
• What action did Kennedy take on 22 October?


  Put a naval blockade around Cuba
• What happened on 24 October regarding the Soviet ships?

  They reached the blockade and turned around
• What did Khrushchev offer in his telegram on 26 October?


  To remove missiles from Cuba
• What condition did Khrushchev add in his second telegram on 27 October?

  Removal of US missiles in Turkey
• How did Kennedy respond to Khrushchev's second telegram?

  He ignored it but agreed to the first
• Who secretly agreed to Khrushchev's first telegram?


  Robert Kennedy
• consequences of Cuban missile crisis

  -dangers of brinkmanship led both sides to seek more peaceful solutions

  -june 1963 a hotline was set up to allow direct communication between USA and USSR

  -in August 1963 a test ban treaty signed by USA USSR and Britain which banned nuclear testing in space water or atmosphere

  -1967 outer space treat banned putting nuclear weapons into orbit

  -contributed to détente of 1970s