Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days in October

Cuba/Soviets vs. US

Castro and Cuba

Fidel Castro 1950’s was a lawyer Unhappy with Cuban government 1959 lead a small guerrilla army to overthrow government Was looked at as hero For most people, Castro quickly went from hero to zero when he made Cuba communist

Cuba and the Cold War Outline: US did not like Cuban Revolution, 1953 US still combating communism: ARMS RACE! US plots to over throw Castro= Bay of Pigs April,1961 Berlin Wall was built by USSR, August, 1961-62 Equals Cold War tensions in Cuba

1. US did not like Cuban Revolution

1. US did not like Cuban Revolution US was the biggest buyer of Cuban sugar in 1930’s-50’s US supported military dictators in Cuba, as long as they were not communists Castro took over, 1959, US suspected that he would turn to communism

2. US still combating communism

2. US still combating communism US foreign policy was to confront and contain communism and aid any country trying to resist communism, according to the Marshal plan USSR already: detonated their first atomic bomb 1949 detonated their first hydrogen bomb 1953, released Sputnik 1957 Castro initially did not begin communism, but was leaning towards it US did not want to loose their trade with Cuba

3. US Plots to overthrow Castro

3. US Plots to overthrow Castro Castro and US can not come to agreements Castro turns to Soviets for aid and global recognition US supports anti-Castro people in Cuba Develop a plot to overthrow Castro

Bay of Pigs: WHAT A MESS US President Eisenhower’s plan with CIA Land in “friendly zone” where Cuban rebels will support the US agents Eisenhower leaves presidency without completing plan Kennedy changes location and Castro hears of plot No longer a surprise attack and Castro has an easy victory, 1961

4. Equals cold war tensions with Cuba                                               4. Equals cold war tensions with Cuba

4. Equals cold war tensions with Cuba US is embarrassed by failure US looks like a bully Tightened relations between Cuba and Soviets Cuba is 90 miles off the coast of Miami VERY TENSE US place an Embargo on Cuba, 1962

Enter Missiles US has had nuclear missiles in Turkey for years Turkey is close to Russia After Bay of Pigs, Russia sends nucs to Cuba, (Castro fears second US attack) Kennedy and crew discover them, October 15, 1962

October 22, 1962 Kennedy places a naval blockade off the coast of Cuba Demands the Soviets remove the missiles States that any missile launched in Cuba would be considered an attack on the US by the Soviets and force a counter attack

Anticipation US waited for Soviet response Knew Soviet ships were heading to Cuba Wait to see if Khrushchev honored blockade Tensions mount in anticipation Who will bend first

October 28, 1962 The closet the world has ever come to nuclear war Khrushchev honored the blockade Kennedy privately “leaked” information about the missiles in Turkey Publicly stated that the US promised to never invade Cuba if the Soviet missiles are removed Khrushchev agreed and situation averted

The Results US quietly removed their missiles in Turkey Soviets removed their missiles Cold War tensions eased Hot Line put in place to avert any future issues Kennedy looked like hero in America Khrushchev viewed as weak in Russia

So what about Cuba? Castro sent aid to any country trying to become Communist Latin Americans overall did not like US interference Embargo with Cuba lasted for 46 years, it is still in place TODAY!

Next! Now that we have studied Korea, China, Vietnam, and Cuba during the cold war, we are going to look at how the cold war destroyed the USSR and resulting revolts against the communist government from it’s satellite countries.