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The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962. What was the background to the events in Cuba?. Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of Florida US ally, US businesses & US military base (Guantanamo) 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Batista (US-backed dictator), eventually establishing Communist government.

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The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

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  1. The Cuban Missile Crisis1962

  2. What was the background to the events in Cuba? • Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of Florida • US ally, US businesses & US military base (Guantanamo) • 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Batista (US-backed dictator), eventually establishing Communist government. Why was Cuba so important to the Americans?

  3. How successful were early attempts at ‘containment’? • Castro takes over US businesses • January 1961, US breaks off diplomatic relations • April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 anti-Castro Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Castro • Autumn 1962, Cuba has received a significant amount of Soviet missiles, jets, boats & personnel The US committed $100 million to overthrowing Castro. The CIA tried to sabotage the economy - they even planned to send him an exploding cigar! Why did they go to such lengths after April 1961?

  4. Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba? • Cuba was a new Communist state • Cuba provided a launch base for Soviet inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) • Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president, JFK • Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US missiles in Europe Why does this cartoonist think that Khrushchev was interested in Cuba?

  5. What happened during the October Crisis? • 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites on Cuba • Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be ready in 7 days • US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missiles

  6. KENNEDY’S REACTION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W50RNAbmy3M

  7. What happened during the October Crisis? • 22 October, Kennedy announces the blockade (all ships bound for Cuba will be inspected) and publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove weapons.

  8. What happened during the October Crisis? • 23 October Khrushchev announces that he refuses to respect the blockade • 24 October, 18 Soviet ships (accompanied by submarine) approach 800 km exclusion zone, but, at 10:32 am, the ships stop and turn round

  9. What happened during the October Crisis? • 25 October US prepares plans for air strikes • (Khrushchev is being urged to launch a strike to prevent invasion of Cuba) • 26 October, Instead, Khrushchev sends a letter offering to withdraw missiles in Cuba if the blockade is removed and the US will not invade Cuba • 27 October, Khrushchev sends a second letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

  10. What happened during the October Crisis? • Kennedy ignores the second letter and responds to the first • Robert Kennedy meets Dobrynin (Soviet ambassador to US) with an ultimatum: if the missiles are not removed by the 28th, the US will attack, BUT if removed – will discuss removing missiles in Turkey • 28 October, Khrushchev agrees to dismantle Soviet missiles in Cuba What is this cartoonist trying to say about the difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?

  11. Clouds Over Cuba: Documentary and Primary Sources from the Cuban Missile Crisis

  12. Robert McNamara on the Cuban Missile Crisis from the documentary, "The Fog of War"

  13. What was the outcome of the crisis? • 1) Direct Communications Link (hotline) established: decrease in tensions, leading towards détente. (Fear of MAD) • 2) All the Soviet missiles were removed from Cuba, and the US secretly removes all nuclear missiles from Turkey and Italy. • 3) A Test Ban Treaty was signed 1963 • 4) The Bay of Pigs prisoners were exchanged for $60 million in food, medicine and cash. • 5) The Soviet Union became determined to have nuclear capability equal to the US – achieved by 1972- leading to the largest ‘peacetime’ arms race in history.

  14. Outcomes Continued… • 6) China accuses the Soviet Union of being a ‘paper tiger’ and claimed to be the true leader of Communism (widens the split) • 7) The US became convinced the USSR would not go to war over another communist country. (May be what encouraged the US actions in Vietnam, Nicaragua and Grenada.) • 8) The ‘humiliation’ of the Soviet ‘defeat’ increases the criticisms of Khrushchev by the more hardline members of the Communist Party.

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