The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis

1. The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Cuba in the 1940’s-50’s • Cuba was a close American Ally since the Spanish American War • There was large amounts of American investment in Cuba • Agriculture companies • Many real-estate investments(Hotel Industry) • Guantanamo Bay Naval Base • Caribbean Playground for Americans • Casino, clubs, beaches

3. Problems in Cuba • Problem major source of the economy was from sugar productions • Wealth in Cuba was concentrated in a very small upper-class • High level of unemployment • Deep rooted social and racial divides • Slavery had only ended in 1880 • Limited options for impoverished majority

4. The Dictator • Fulgencio Batista- Cuban President 1934-1944 • Then led a coup and became leader from 1952-1959 • Kept close ties with the US • These ties were lost as his regime became more brutal and repressive in the mid 1950’s • Under his leadership status-quo was kept • (rich got richer and poor poorer) • Little hope for Democracy

5. Fidel Castro • Wealthy educated Lawyer • Un happy with the lack of democracy and inequality in Cuba • Failed attack on base in 1953 • 2 years in Prison and exiled to Mexico • IN Mexico met with other Marxist revolutionaries to plan an attack on Cuba • Met Ernesto “Che” Guevara- Argentinean Med Student devoted to Marxist revolutions world Wide

6. The Cuban Revolution • 1956 Castro and others land in Cuba • Seek shelter in the highlands (Sierra Maestra) • There they gain huge support from rural peasant class • They are promised a better future under a Marxist Gov • (equality of land, wealth, social class)

7. Used Guerilla tactics, bombings, and attacks on infrastructure • Revolutionaries gained support as Batista became increasingly brutal • 1959 Batista flees and Fidel Castro and his leaders take over Cuba

8. US Fears • Castro slowly becomes more aligned with the USSR creating fear in the US • US business also lost millions when Castro took their properties with out compensation

9. Bay of Pigs Invasion • President Eisenhower organized training of Cuban exiles for an attack • President Kennedy inherited this and gave approval for the attack • Bay of Pigs Invasion in April of 1961 • Was a complete failure • US gave no support to invaders( fear getting into war with Cuba) • This pushed Castro to seek Soviet support against the US

10. Operation Mongoose • Plans to Get Rid of Castro • From starting rebellion to assassination attempts • Increase espionage in Cuba • CIA confirmed 8 plots( Could be more) • This led to constant Flights of US spy planes • October 14 a flight found Nuclear Missile Sights in Cuba

11. The Cuban Missile Crisis Oct 14th- Oct 28 • Initial Plan of actions • Pressure the Soviet Union I the UN • Oct 22 Kennedy Public address to the US • Start a Naval Quarantine (Blockade) of Cuba • Began troop mobilizations in Florida

12. Soviet Response • Missiles in Cuba only defensive • Khrushchev attack on Cuba= war • Sent Soviet Ships • Submarines made it past blockades US Response was to go to Def Con 2 • DefCon 1 prepare for launch fully armed • DefCon 0 NUCLEAR WAR

13. What each leader wanted

14. Agreements Are Made • Oct 27 RFK Met USSR Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin • Notice that missiles were leaving Turkey anyways • Soviets needed to remove Missiles or they would be destroyed • Khrushchev's Decision • Oct 28 Radio announcement stating Removal of Missiles under UN verifications • US Would not Invade Cuba -US would remove Missiles in Turkey but not made Public -IF this was made public Kennedy would and the US would look weak as making a Missile swap

15. Why put Missiles in Cuba • Soviets lacked numbers and technology of US Nuclear Missiles • This would be pressure to have the US remove some of their Missiles • Cuba was used to improve Soviet protection • Blockade of Cuba lasted Nov 20th 1962 • Economic Sanctions last till today