Cuba 1959-63

• What year did the Cuban Revolution occur?

  1959
• Why was Cuba historically important to the USA?

  The USA helped Cuba gain independence from Spain and developed businesses there.
• What was Cuba's main export by the 1950s?

  Sugar
• How much sugar did Cuba produce by 1925?

  Cuba produced five million tons of sugar out of the world's 25 million tons.

  
• What role did US banks play in Cuba's sugar industry in 1920?

  US banks financed and provided technology for Cuba's sugar industry.

  
• What was the nature of the relationship between the USA and Cuba by the 1950s?

  The USA had a beneficial relationship with Cuba due to economic investments.

  
• Why was Cuba's geographical location significant to the USA?

  Cuba is only 90 miles away from Key West, Florida, making it strategically important.

  
• What did the USA control in Cuba's economy before 1959?

  US businesses controlled Cuba's sugar trade, oil refineries, railways, and electricity.

  
• What actions did the US military take in Cuba from the 1900s to the 1930s?

  The US military suppressed three attempted revolutions in Cuba.
• Who became the president of Cuba after the US-supported military coup in 1933?

  Sergeant Fulgencio Batista
• How did Batista's leadership affect the Cuban society?

  Batista was corrupt, stopped elections, and ignored the struggles of the poor.

  
• What illegal activities did American mobsters engage in under Batista's rule?

  American mobsters began illegal businesses, which increased tourism to Cuba.
• How did the USA respond to Batista's corruption?

  The USA ignored Batista's corruption because US businesses were profiting from his rule.
• Who led the uprising against Batista in November 1956?

  Fidel Castro
• What type of warfare did Castro employ against the Cuban government?

  Guerrilla warfare

  
• When did Castro and Guevara's forces defeat Batista?


  On 1st January 1959
• What happened to Batista after he was defeated?

  Batista fled from Cuba to the Dominican Republic.
• What was one of the key issues the USA had with Castro's government?


  Castro did not want American influence in Cuba's economy.
• What significant action did Castro's government take in May 1959?

  Castro's government began to take back land owned by foreign nationals.

  
• Who replaced Eisenhower as President of the USA in January 1961?

  John F. Kennedy
• What was Kennedy's stance towards communism?

  Kennedy was an anti-communist.
• What was the CIA's plan regarding Cuban exiles?

  The CIA wanted to use Cuban exiles to invade Cuba to make it look like a counter-revolution.

  
• When did the US government begin their invasion of Cuba?

  On 17th April 1961

  
• How many Cuban exiles were sent to invade Cuba during the Bay of Pigs incident?

  1,400 Cuban exiles

  
• What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

  The invasion force surrendered to Castro's government in less than 24 hours.
• What were some reasons for the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

  The CIA provided limited military training, and Castro was aware of the invasion beforehand.
• How did the Bay of Pigs incident affect US reputation?

  It damaged the USA's reputation as a protector of freedom.
• What was the impact of the Bay of Pigs incident on US-Cuban relations?

  Cuba no longer wanted a diplomatic relationship with the USA.
• How did the Bay of Pigs incident benefit the Soviet Union?

  Khrushchev claimed the failure of the invasion was a success for communism.
• What did Castro publicly announce after the Bay of Pigs incident?

  Castro publicly announced that he was a communist.
• What did Khrushchev declare in September 1961 regarding Cuba?

  Khrushchev declared that the Soviet Union would give weapons to Cuba.
• How did the Bay of Pigs incident contribute to the likelihood of nuclear war?

  The incident drew the USA and the Soviet Union closer to nuclear war.

  
• What was one of Kennedy's concerns regarding Cuba after the Bay of Pigs incident?

  Kennedy worried about Cuba gaining access to Soviet military training and modern weaponry.
• What did Kennedy warn Khrushchev about regarding Cuba?

  Kennedy warned Khrushchev not to place nuclear weapons on Cuba.
• How did distrust between the USA and the Soviet Union change after the Bay of Pigs incident?

  Distrust between the USA and the Soviet Union increased.
• What was the significance of the arms race during the Cold War?

  The arms race involved the development of nuclear technology capable of destroying the world.
• What was the outcome of the Paris Summit in 1960 regarding nuclear issues?

  The meeting did not result in a resolution to the nuclear issue.
• What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the context of US-Soviet relations?

  It was a necessary event to reduce Cold War tensions and cause a 'thaw' in US-Soviet relations.
• When did the Cold War tensions peak between the USA and the Soviet Union?

  By October 1962.
• What major issue developed between the USA and the Soviet Union during the early 1960s?

  An arms race that involved the development of nuclear technology.