Section 1 Foreign Policy Cuba and Berlin Chapter 20 Section 1 Foreign Policy Cuba and Berlin

A New Military Policy Must redefine nation’s nuclear strategy Flexible response – to allow the U.S. to fight limited wars around the world while maintaining a nuclear balance of power with the Soviets JFK increased non-nuclear forces

Crisis over Cuba Fidel Castro overthrows Cuban dictator Fulgencio Bastisa in 1959 Promises to eliminate “poverty, inequality, and dictatorship” Castro nationalizes American refineries and sugar companies Relies increasingly on Soviet aid Large exile community grows in Miami, Florida

Bay of Pigs Failure to oust Castro Embarrassment Ransom for captured March 1960, President Eisenhower gives permission to CIA to train Cuban exiles April 17,1961- over 1,000 Cuban exiles land on southern coast 25,000 Cuban soldiers with Soviet tanks, jets were waiting Failure to oust Castro Embarrassment Ransom for captured JFK distrust of CIA?

Cuban Missile Crisis October 14, 1962- photos taken by American planes reveal Soviet missile bases in Cuba October 22, 1962- JFK informs America of missiles and states intention to have them removed U.S. Navy prepares to quarantine Cuba extending up to 500 miles Soviet ships approach U.S. Navy blockade and………

Kennedy and Khrushchev Take the Heat Could have resolved conflict without threat of nuclear war Passed up a chance to oust Castro Cuban exiles blame Democrats for losing Cuba Khrushchev Loses prestige Be replaced in a few years

Crisis over Berlin Berlin Wall – concrete wall that separated East Berlin and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, built by the Communist East German government to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West

The Berlin Wall became the iconic image and the hated symbol of the Cold War The “death strip” stretched like a barren moat around West Berlin, with patrols, floodlights, electric fences, and vehicle traps between the inner and outer walls Walls and other barriers 10–15 feet high surrounded West Berlin. The length of the barriers around the city totaled about 110 miles

Crisis over Berlin cont. Almost 3 million East Germans had fled Communist rule These refugees spoke out against Comm. Rule and weakened E. German economy The wall raised tensions between the 2 superpowers However, it did greatly slow down the flood of refugees leaving E. Germany Became the symbol of Communist oppression In 1961, Khrushchev threatened to cut off access to West Berlin (like Stalin’s blockade in 1948)

Ways to Ease Tension (1963) Hot line – communication link allowing leaders of U.S. and Soviet Union to contact each other in times of crisis Limited Test Ban Treaty – U.S. and Soviet Union agreed not to conduct nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere