The Cuban Missile Crisis CIE IGCSE History

• Who was the Cuban dictator overthrown in 1959?

  General Batista
• Who overthrew Batista in Cuba?

  Fidel Castro
• What did Castro do to upset the USA?

  Confiscated and nationalised private US land and industry on Cuba
• Why did the USA support Batista?


  Because he was also anti-communist
• What did Castro sign in 1960?

  A trade agreement with the USSR giving Cuba $100 million in economic aid
• Who approved to do what with the Cuban exiles?

  Eisenhower approved a CIA plan to train and launch Cuban exiles against Castro
• What happened to Batista's supporters?

  Many were exiled, others were killed or arrested
• What happened in 1961?

  The Bay of Pigs Invasion
• How did the Bay of Pigs invasion go?

  Failed disastrously, Castro captured or killed them all within days
• Impact of the invasion

  Suggested to the USSR and Cuba that US was weak and unwilling to get involved directly
• What did the USA discover in October 1962?

  Soviet missile bases on Cuba
• What were Kennedy's options in dealing with the missiles in Cuba?

  - Do nothing

  - 'Surgical' air strike on missile bases

  - Invade Cuba

  - Apply diplomatic pressure

  - Impose naval blockade
• Pros and Cons of 'Do Nothing'

  For: Missiles didn't matter much and didn't risk escalation

  Against: US looks weak
• Pros and Cons of 'Surgical air strike on missile bases'

  For: Would destroy missiles before they could be used

  Against: couldn't be guaranteed success; risk of counter-attack or USSR retaliation; unprovoked attack is immoral
• Pros and Cons of 'Invade Cuba'

  For: could get rid of missiles + Castro

  Against: likely USSR retaliation
• Pros and Cons of 'Apply Diplomatic Pressure'

  For: getting other bodies like the UN to negotiate avoids conflict

  Against: If USA has to back down can be a sign of weakness
• Pros and Cons of 'Impose naval blockade'

  For: show USA was serious and not weak; put burden on Khrushchev on what to do next

  Against: there re already some missiles on Cuba; risk of retaliation by blockading in Berlin like last time
• What option did Kennedy take?

  Diplomatic pressure and naval blockade
• What was Khrushchev's motive in putting missiles on Cuba?


  He likely wanted to test Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs invasion
• Outcomes for Kennedy and the USA

  His reputation greatly improved, made allies unhappy by removing missiles from Turkey, had to accept Cuba remained communist
• Outcomes for Khrushchev and the USSR

  Gained a powerful ally and base to support South American communists, got the USA to withdraw missiles in Turkey, Khrushchev was ousted from power
• Outcomes for the Cold War

  Help thawed relations between US and USSR: hot line phone link established from White House to Kremlin, both signed Nuclear Test Ban treaty, both realised they nearly had a nuclear war
• Outcomes for Castro's Cuba

  He was upset with the deal but accepted, Cuba stayed communist, kept control of US companies and nationalised economic resources