Summary The Cuban Missile Crisis Study Guide and Notes
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GCSE
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Cambridge IGCSE and O Level History 2nd Edition: Option B
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
Origins of the Cuban Missile Crisis
The Arms Race and Nuclear deterrence
Throughout the 1960’s both the USA and the USSR were stuck in a nuclear arms race
and spent vast amounts of money on new weapons in an attempt to outdo the other side.
They both spied on eachother; the USSR used spies and the USA favoured a hightech
U2 plane that could fly high enough to not be shot down but take extremely detailed
photos.
The Cuban Revolution
Cuba is a large island, 160km away from Florida. It had long been an American Ally.
American’s owned most businesses on the island and there was a huge navy base there.
The Americans also supplied the Cuban ruler, General Batista, with economic and
military support. Batista was a dictator and his rule was corrupt and unpopular. The
Americans supported Batista mainly because he was as opposed to communism as they
were.
Fidel Castro
In 1959, after a three-year campaign, Fidel Bastro overthrew Batista. Castro was
charming, clever and ruthless. Castro was also a clever propagandist and had a better
vision for Cuba, which won over the majority of the Cubans.
The USA was surprised at first and decided to recognise Castro as the new leader of
Cuba. However within a short time, relations between the two countries got worse for
two reasons:
● There were thousands of Cuban exiles in the USA who fled from Castro’s rule.
They formed powerful pressure groups, demanding action against Castro.
● Castro took over some American owned businesses in Cuba, particularly
agricultural businesses. He took their land and distributed it to his supporters
among Cuba’s peasant farmer population.
, The USA Responds
In June 1960, US president Eisenhower authorised the CIA to investigate ways of
overthrowing. The CIA provided support and funds to the Cuban exiles. It also
investigated ways of disrupting the Cuban economy, such as damaging sugar plantations.
American companies in Cuba refused to co-operate with any Cuban businesses that used
oil or other materials which had been imported from the USSR. The American media
also broadcasted a relentless stream of criticism of Castro and his regime.
Castro responded to US hostility with a varied approach. He assured Americans living in
Cuba that they were safe and he allowed the USA to keep its naval base. He said he
simply wanted to run Cuba without interference. However, by summer of 1960, he had
allied Cuba with the Soviet Union. Soviet leader, Kruschev, signed a trade agreement
that gave Cuba $100 million dollars in economic aid. Castro also began receiving arms
from the Soviet Union and American spies knew this.
The Bay of Pigs invasion
In January 1961, the USA’s new president John F Kennedt broke off diplomatic
relations with Cuba. Castro believed the USA was preparing to invade his country and
he was right. Kenedy was no longer prepared to tolerate a Soviet Satellite in the USA’s
sphere of influence. Although the Americans didn't want to invade directly and instead
supplied 1,400 anti-Castro exiles with arms, equipment and transport to invade Cuba.
In April 1961, the exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs. The invasion was a failure and they
were met by 20,000 Cuban troops, armed with tanks and modern weapons. Castro
captured and killed them in a matter of days.
The impact of the invasion
The half-hearted invasion suggested to Cuba that, despite its opposition to communism
in Cuba, the USA was unwilling to get directly involved in Cuba. Kruschev was scornful
of Kennedy’s pathetic attempt to oust communism from Cuba.
Historians also argue that the Bay of Pigs invasion further strengthened Castro’s
position in Cuba. It suggested to the USSR that Kennedy was weak. It also made Castro
and Kruschev very suspicious of US policy.
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