Cuban Missile Crisis

Nota:

• Superpowers trying to build bigger and more deadly weapons (atom bomb, US-1945, Soviets-1949). Also huge rockets (inter-continental ballistic missiles) which could carry bombs for miles

1. Historians think the fear of the damage could have stopped the fighting

Nota:

• After Stalin died in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev replaced him. He wanted to reduce tension between US and Russia (peaceful co-existence). In 1961 JFK became president of US (did not get on well)

1. Outcome
   1. Berlin Wall
   2. Americans put missiles on Soviet Union in Norway and Turkey

1. Background

   Nota:

   • Island off coast of US, had an American backed dictator called General Batista (until 1959). Americans controlled most industries including sugar and tobacco
2. Bay of Pigs

   Nota:

   • 1961 - an invasion of Cuba by former Cuban patriots. Invasion was backed by the CIA
3. Cuban Missile Crisis
   1. 1962

      Nota:

      • 1962 the USSR constructed missile sites in Cuba (capable of Nuclear attacks on US). Cuba allowed this in response to previous aid
   2. JFK

      Nota:

      • JFK demanded their removal but Khrushchev refused
   3. blocked waters

      Nota:

      • JFK decided to block Cuban waters (to prevent supplies from Russia)
   4. Khrushchev backed down

1. Hotline between Moscow and Washington
2. reduction of Nuclear weapons

Nota:

• Test Ban Treaty - all nuclear testing above ground was banned

Nota:

• Non-Proliferation Treaty - non-nuclear powers would not be helped to develop nuclear technology

Nota:

• SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks). Talks were held between Presidents Nixon and Brezhenev. The SALT1 treaty was signed, which limited the number of weapons on both sides

Nota:

• SALT2 was signed by Presidents Carter and Brezhenev