Cuban Missile Crisis

• The United States had always had economic interests in Cuba and controlled most of the countries industry and in particular sugar production.
• In 1959 there was a REVOLUTION in Cuba which saw its Pro American dictator BATISTA overthrown and replaced by a group of Cuban revolutionaries led by FIDEL CASTRO.
• Castro made Cuba a communist country and increased ties with the USSR. This deeply worried the USA as Cuba was right next to them.
• In January 1961 Kennedy became the president of the USA and approved a CIA plan to invade Cuba. This invasion failed and eventually be named the "Bay of Pigs disaster" after where it took place.
• The Bay of pigs disaster resulted in:

  • Kennedy looking weak and inexperienced.
  • Castro gaining more support within Cuba
  • Kennedy getting angry at the disaster and blaming the military.
• Castro turned to the USSR for help as his country was struggling. in 1962 the USSR sent material to construct missile bases in Cuba to counter the USA's in Turkey.
• • HOWEVER, by October 1962 American spy planes had taken photos of the construction of missile sites on Cuba.  It was also clear that further Soviet ships were on their way to Cuba with more supplies.
  • After the Bay of Pigs disaster, Kennedy was determined he would stand his ground and prove himself the tough and decisive leader he was. 

  This would involve dangerous BRINKMANSHIP - Where two leaders go dangerously head to head. going to the edge, waiting for one to lose their nerve first.
• Kennedy chose a naval blockade to defend against the USSR. No Soviet ships would be allowed to cross a designated point around the coast of Cuba - The threat of lethal force would exist if this was breached.  This was a highly risky gamble.
• Kennedy opts for a Naval blockade

  22 october
• The USSR condemns Kennedy for the blockade

  23 october
• Blockade begins; Soviet ships either turn back or are turned back

  24 october
• An American U2 is shot down over Cuba. Khrushchev sends Kennedy a secret telegram promising to remove the missiles in Cuba in return for the US promising to 1) end the blockade and 2) not to invade Cuba

  26 october
• A second telegram arrives demanding the US removes its missiles from TURKEY. Kennedy decides to IGNORE the second telegram and instead agrees to the first one. He threatens to invade Cuba if a reply was not received by the 29th Oct.

  27 october
• Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles

  28 october
• Results of Cuban missile Crisis:

  • A nuclear war was avoided.
  • An american victory appeared in the eyes of the public.
  • CASTRO remained in place in Cuba as  Communist leader until 2011.
  •  HOTLINE:  BOTH the US and USSR realised how close they had come to nuclear war. To prevent this in future, they set up a direct HOTLINE between Moscow (Kremlin) and Washington DC (White House)
  • TREATIES: The US and USSR both agreed to hold talks on limiting their nuclear weapons.
  • DETENTE (RELAXATION). A relaxation in tensions occured.