The Cuban Missile Crisis

American-Cuban Tensions
1. Significance of Cuba
  1. Strategic Importance
    1. Expansion of territory
    2. American sphere of influence
  2. Safeguarding Interests
    1. Economic Source
      1. Production of sugar and tobacco
      2. USA buys land from Cubans
        Set up sugar plantations
        Construction of factories
      3. USA owns 60% of sugar monopoly
    2. Resentment towards USA
      1. Over-reliance on sugar trade
        Vulnerable sugar economy
        Drastic changes in prices
      2. Upper-class investments
        Larger gap between rich and poor
2. Early Tensions
  1. American Political Intervention
    1. USA figureheads
      1. Batista's rule
        Corrupt and dictactorial
        Illegal activities
        Ties with American mafia
        Large American Corporations
        Social Oppression
        Secret Police implemented
        Political Opponents
        Citizens
  2. Cuban Revolution
    1. (1956) Fidel Castro returns
      1. Rebellion against Batista
        Used guerrilla warfare
    2. (1959) Batista's defeat
      1. Declining popularity amongst people
      2. Lost support from USA
      3. Outnumbered
        Soldiers demoralized
        Castro's army grew
  3. Castro's new policies
    1. New markets
      1. Solved over-reliance on USA
        Sought new markets for sugar
        Trade with Soviet Union
        Trade sugar for Soviet oil
        USA saw Cuba allying with Soviets
    2. Land Reform Law
      1. Re-distribuition of plantations
        Split equally among poor farmers
      2. Banned foreigners from owning any plantations
  4. Friendship with Khrushchev
    1. Meeting Khrushchev
      1. Both criticized USA's human rights
        USA saw Castro associating with leader of Cold War enemy
      2. Strengthening relationship
3. Escalating Tensions
  1. Economic pressure
    1. Embargo imposed on Cuba
      1. Threatened Castro to cut ties with Soviet Union
      2. Aid from Communist countries
        Soviets owned 80% of national industry
        30% of nation farming
        Allowed Castro to proceed with economic reforms
  2. Overthrow Castro
    1. Bay of Pigs Invasion
      1. Training of Cuban exiles
        Critical Failure
        USA humiliation
        Outrage from the UN
        Strengthening of Castro's power
    2. Operation Mongoose
      1. Sabotage industrial monopoly
      2. Assassination attempts on Communist figures
  3. Formal alliance with Soviet Union
    1. Fear of US invasion
      1. Soviet Union rivaled USA
    2. Cuba becomes Communist
      1. New Communist Party
      2. American fears realized
        Soviet ally geographically close to USA
Resolution and Aftermath
1. Steps to Resolution
  1. Cooperation between Khrushchev and Kennedy
    1. Khrushchev's appeals for peace
      1. First Negotiation
        Khrushchev felt failure to protect Cuba
        Ongoing construction of missile sites in Cuba
      2. Second Negotiation
        Increased pressure on Khrushchev
        Request for removal of USA missiles in Turkey
        Kennedy feared Khrushchev adopted brinkmanship
        Acceptance of Kennedy's deal
        Removal of dangerous missiles in exchange of no invasion of Cuba
        Removal of missiles in Cuba
        Displeasure from Castro
        Felt betrayed by Soviet Union
        Became more dangerous and aggressive
        Threatened to expose to UN Soviet tactical missiles
        Castro demanded immediate action against USA
  2. Public and International opinion
    1. U-2 Spy Plane incident
      1. Soviet leader in Cuba shot down and captured pilot
      2. Fear of Khrushchev's losing control over subordinates
      3. Robert Kennedy's secret deal to remove Turkish missiles
        Turkey feared of vulnerability despite missiles being unreliable and obsolete
2. Aftermath of the crisis
  1. Implications of the crisis
    1. USA
      1. Kennedy's reputation increased
      2. Dismay amongst members amongst NATO for removal of Turkish missiles
    2. Cuba
      1. Castro seen by people as national hero
      2. Ally of Soviets despite drawbacks
      3. Loss of nuclear protection against USA
    3. Soviet Union
      1. Khrushchev seen showing cowardice and weakness
      2. Worsening relations with both Cuba and China over handling of the crisis
      3. Threat of Jupiter missiles removed and Cuba still remained an ally
  2. Establishment of Moscow-Washington Hot Line
    1. Believed lack of communication escalated nuclear tensions
      1. Share quick and honest information with each other
  3. First steps taken towards nuclear disarmament
    1. Both sides limit developments of nuclear weapons
      1. Signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty on 5 August 1963
        Opened it to other countries in 10 October 1963
        Limit growing effects of nuclear radiation on environment
Brink of Nuclear War
1. Soviet installation of missiles in Cuba
  1. Soviet consideration of installation
    1. Political gains
      1. Leverage over West Berin situation
      2. Higher standing amongst Communist bloc
    2. Military gains
      1. Greater number of missiles can reach USA
      2. Counter Jupiter missiles in Turkey
      3. Deter naval vessels and target cities
        Greater deterrent against USA
    3. Castro agreed
      1. Protect his country
        Fear of threats from USA
      2. Smuggled missiles to Cuba (10 June 1962)
  2. American discovery of missile deployment
    1. American spy plane took photos of launch site (14 October)
    2. Kennedy discovered missile deployment (16 October)
2. Escalating tensions during missile crisis
  1. Responses towards missile discovery
    1. Soviet Union claimed missiles used for defense
      1. Kennedy believed missiles were used against USA
      2. Doubted Khrushchev's claims
    2. Fear of massive destruction caused by both sides
    3. Discovery of more missiles in Cuba
      1. Many in USA favored an offensive
        Decided on a blockade
  2. US naval blockade of Cuba (24 October)
    1. Vessels checked by American naval ships
      1. Ensure that they did not contain any more nuclear missiles
    2. American forces mobilized in Florida
  3. Mobilisation of Soviet and Cuban force
    1. Khrushchev was angered by the blockade
    2. Defence Minister Rodion Malinovsky delayed mobilisation
    3. Castro declares preparations for armed conflict
      1. 300,000 Cubans armed
  4. Kennedy's strategy of brinkmanship
    1. Publicly announced discovery of Cuban missiles
    2. Demanded that Soviet Union remove them

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