1. Aim: How did the “ proxy war ” over Cuba symbolize the entire Cold War, for both the superpowers and their “ proxies ” ?

2. Small and even medium-sized countries looked for assistance to one superpower against the other Small and even medium-sized countries often became pawns in larger conflict Superpowers used small countries to fight “proxy (substitute) wars” against each other Superpowers tried to keep economic, political, military control of nations in their sphere of influence Small conflicts could easily become big ones A massive military build-up – the “arms race”

3. US acts in its “sphere” Iran (1953): CIA led coup overthrows elected government seeking to nationalize oil industry Guatemala (1954): CIA led coup overthrows elected (socialist) President trying to implement land reform Dominican Republic (1965): US lands Marine to support military coup against an elected (socialist) President Chile (1971): CIA led coup overthrows elected (socialist) government

4. USSR acts in its “sphere” Hungary (1956): Soviets topple leadership of Hungarian Communist Party after it announces its intention to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and become a “neutral” country Berlin (1961): Soviets build the “Berlin Wall,” separating East and West Berlin to prevent emigration from the Soviet sphere to western Europe. (“The Brain Drain”)

5. Cuba: Prelude to a Revolution 1903: US picks Cuban government, announces it has the right to intervene at any time, writes Cuban constitution 1900-1960: US companies control Cuban economy – sugar, oil, mining, transportation, electricity 1933-59: US supports anti-communist dictator Fulgencia Batista 1959: Cuban Revolution – Batista out, Fidel Castro becomes President

8. Cuba: the Early Revolution 1959: Cuban Revolution – Batista out, Fidel Castro becomes President 1959: Cuban government announces land redistribution 1959: Cuba asks major landholders, oil and sugar refineries to voluntarily assess the value of their property for tax purposes

9. Cuba: Tilting Toward the Soviets 1960: Cuban government buys out US sugar interests – makes it state property 1960: US refuses to buy sugar from Cuba 1960: US oil companies in Cuba refuse to refine oil shipped from the Soviet Union 1960: Cuba seizes US owned oil refineries 1960: Soviet Union offers Cuba economic aid; will purchase whole sugar crop

10. Cuba: Tilting Toward the Soviets 1960: CIA trains anti-Castro Cubans to invade and replace new government 1961: Failed “ Bay of Pigs ” invasion 1961: Castro declares that he is now a communist

12. The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962: Soviet Union begins to establish nuclear missile sites in Cuba 1962: President Kennedy establishes naval blockade of Cuba 1962: Soviet freighters carrying additional missiles near blockade zone 1962: Premier Khruschev demands that the US remove nuclear missiles from Turkey

13. Cuban Missile Crisis: The Deal Soviet Union: –Blinks – turns ships around –Removes missiles from Cuba United States: –Says it will never invade Cuba again –After a few months removes missiles from Turkey

14. Cuban Missile Crisis: Results Superpowers: Step back from the brink of destruction No more direct confrontations Cuba: US economic boycott (1961 - present) destroys Cuban economy Complete reliance on Soviet aid; continues as a sugar “ colony ” w/ Soviet-style state farms Continued attempts by US to overthrow Castro lead to political repression of all other political parties Cubans become Soviets ’ “ Third World ” face