Higher History Cold War The Cuban Missiles Crisis

Higher History Cold War : The Cuban Missiles Crisis 1962 Why was there a crisis in Cuba in 1962?

We are learning to… Explain why the Cuban Missiles Crisis of 1962 took place I can… Build up notes on the topic Plan a 20 mark essay Pass a 20 mark timed essay

The Cold War 1945 -90 Watch the clip and take notes; What was the Cold War? Who was involved? When did it take place? Why did it take place? https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=X_ap. L--9 Yf 4

What was the Cuban Missiles Crisis? • In 1962, US U 2 Spy planes photographed missiles on the Communist island of Cuba, Cuba 90 miles from the USA • These had been placed there by the Soviet Union, who the USA was engaged in The Cold War with • This created a tense stand off where the US told the USSR to remove the missiles • It was the closest the two Super Powers ever came to Nuclear War and considered one of the most important events of the Cold War • Our job is to explain why this happened • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=X b. KCy. Qn 5 o. Tc

Background (need for intro) • Following the end of WWII in 1945, The USA and The Soviet Union (USSR) were engaged in what became known as the ‘Cold War’ • This was largely based on conflicting ideology; The USA was Capitalist and USSR Communist and the USA would go to any lengths to prevent the spread of Communism (known as the Truman Doctrine) • Since 1823, the Monroe Doctrine said that the role of the USA was to protect South American countries from outside influence • Before 1959, Cuba was run by US Supported General Batista who was corrupt and inept; conditions for most Cubans were terrible • A revolution led by Communist Fidel Castro eventually overthrew Batista, making Cuba (only 90 miles from the USA) a Communist state • This created major tension in the Cold War – the fact that a Soviet backed Communist country was just miles from the US coast. Cuba became an important flash point in the Cold War.

The causes of the 1962 ‘Crisis’ in Cuba ‘The Factors’ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Castro’s Victory in Cuba US Foreign Policy Khrushchev's Domestic Position Khrushchev’s View of Kennedy’s Domestic Context Mistakes by the Leaders Ideological Differences You should aim to cover 4 of these in your essay; but you must know all of them in case it is the isolated factor.

Castro’s Victory in Cuba: Knowledge Castro had come to power in 1959 -60 after overthrowing General Batista • General Batista was hated by the Cuban people because he was corrupt and cruel and they lived in extreme poverty. He was also backed by the USA who were seen as taking advantage of Cuba to become richer. • Castro was hated by the US; He redistributed wealth (gave from rich to poor) and took over sugar plantations controlled by US businesses. Trading broke down and the US refused to sell arms to Cuba. • This meant Cuba turned to the Soviets to buy their main crop of sugar and Khruschev was sympathetic to Castro due to their shared ideology of Communism. The Soviets traded fuel for Sugar. • In 1961 the US had tried to overthrow Castro during the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, meaning Castro looked for ways to defend himself from future attacks. Castro asked the USSR for military assistance. • Operation Mongoose was approved in the USA and saw Cuban Exiles and the CIA attack Cuban industry and farmland even plan to execute Castro himself

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

• https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q. Q 24 jm. I HIUk

Castro’s Victory in Cuba: Analysis • This shows that Castro’s victory in 1959 had created huge tension between Cuba and the US due to their conflicting ideologies when Cuba was so close to the US and the fact that American influence in Cuba was removed by Castro nationalising American businesses (analysis) • This is important because following the USA’s embargo on Cuba and the Bay of Pigs Invasion Castro was convinced that he needed Soviet support, allowing the USSR and Cuba to become closer (analysis) • Some historians argue that Khruschev wanted to befriend Castro and forge links with Castro in order to use Cuba as a launch pad for a Communist Revolution in South America (analysis) • However, many historians have pointed out that Castro did not seek out an alliance with the Soviets and was actually forced into it by the US who cut trading links with them, refusing to sell all goods except medicines which pushed Castro towards the USSR (analysis +)

US Foreign Policy: Knowledge The USA was strongly anti-Communist • US Foreign policy involved containing (STOPPING) Communism at any cost and successive US governments since 1945 had taken firm action in order to stop the spread of Communism i. e. involvement in The Korean War of the 1950 s. • By the late 1950 s the US subscribed to the Domino Theory; if one country was to become Communist then shortly after the neighbouring countries would also become Communist • The US had placed their Jupiter Missiles (nuclear weapons) in Turkey in 1961 because President Kennedy feared the nuclear capabilities of the Soviet Union. • These Jupiter Missiles did pose a very real threat to the USSR as they could be launched into any part of the Soviet Union from Turkey.

US Foreign Policy: Analysis • This is important because the USSR wanted to let the United States know what it was like to be surrounded by a deadly threat therefore Khrushchev decided that he would use Cuba to do the same to the United States; give them a ‘taste of their own medicine’ so to speak (analysis) • Many historians argue that the placing of missiles in Cuba was purely reactive to US Foreign Policy and an example of ‘tit for tat’ politics during the Cold War (analysis) • However, it has been pointed out that the Jupiter Missiles were largely obsolete by the 1960 s due the fact they were outdated which reduces the importance of these missiles being placed in Turkey (analysis +)

Practice Paragraph Time Castro’s Victory in Cuba K: Describe events following Castro’s Victory K: Describe why Castro asked USSR for defensive help A: Why did this create the Cuban Missiles Crisis? A: However… US Foreign Policy K: Describe the USA’s Foreign Policy following WWII K: What did the USA do to protect themselves A: Why did this create the Cuban Missiles Crisis? A: However…

Khruschev’s Domestic Position: Knowledge Khrushchev needed a victory overseas to enhance his popularity in the Soviet Union • In the USSR, Khrushchev was experiencing unpopularity and criticism for a number of issues; rising food prices especially on meat and butter, cuts to the armed forces and economic failures • Khruschshev had given his ‘Secret Speech’ in 1956 where he denounced former leader Stalin and criticised Communism, making him very unpopular with many die hard Communists in the USSR • Khrushchev was also gaining negative press over the Soviet’s decision to build the Berlin Wall separating East and West Berlin – the International press made out that the Soviets were imprisoning citizens in the Communist East • The Rise of Communist China also threatened Khrushchev who wanted the USSR to remain the world’s most powerful Communist country; on a visit to China in 1959 he had also received an icy welcome by Mao after his ‘Secret Speech’

Khrushchev had a policy of ‘De. Stalinization’

Nearly 80 people died trying to escape East Berlin

The cooling in relations between the Soviets and Chinese was known as the ‘Sino Soviet’ Split

Khruschev’s Domestic Position: Analysis • This is important because Khrushchev needed a foreign policy success in order to regain popularity and support within the Soviet Unions; gaining a foothold in Latin America would give him the possibility of spreading Communism to a new Continent (analysis) • Many historians argue that after his Secret Speech, there was considerable pressure on Khrushchev from influential Communists in the USSR to assert Soviet leadership and show the power of the Soviets across the world; placing missiles near the USA would be a way to do this (analysis)

Khrushchev’s View of Kennedy: Knowledge Khrushchev underestimated the young President Kennedy • In 1961 Khrushchev and Kennedy met at the Vienna Summit to discuss nuclear proliferation and the Berlin Situation • Khrushchev noted that Kennedy was young and good natured but believed him to be inexperienced. Khrushchev was aware of Kennedy’s ineffective management of the Bay of Pigs. • Also, when the Soviets cordoned off East Berlin in 1961 this had isolated many Germans and kept them prisoner in the East. Although Kennedy criticised this he did not take any military action so Khrushchev may have thought Kennedy was unlikely to make a military response if he had missiles in Cuba

Khrushchev’s View of Kennedy: Analysis • This is important because Khrushchev believed that he could push Kennedy due to his youth and lack of experience and he may have believed that Kennedy was likely to make concessions to him during the Cold War (analysis) • It can be argued that Khrushchev believed that due to Kennedy’s age and lack of military retaliation following the Berlin Crisis, Khrushchev may have been able to ‘get away with’ placing missiles on Cuba with minimal retaliation from Kennedy (analysis) • However, it was unlikely Kennedy would allow himself to be pushed by Khrushchev and Kennedy had already promised to be tough on Russia in his Presidential campaign (analysis +)

Kennedy’s Domestic Context: Knowledge Kennedy needed to strengthen his position as President after some costly mistakes • Kennedy was seen as weak and ineffective after the disastrous Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961; JFK had authorised 1400 Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro and they were defeated within 3 days, strengthening Castro’s position • US interests and investments had also been lost in the Cuban Revolution, leading to many US businessmen losing large amounts of money & trade • Kennedy’s administration did little to hide their intolerance of Castro with the Bay of Pigs Invasion and ‘operation Ortsac’ which planned a further invasion of Cuba in 1962

Kennedy’s Domestic Context: Analysis Kennedy needed to strengthen his position as President after some costly mistakes • This is important because Kennedy’s reputation suffered following the Bay of Pigs disaster in 1961 and he was looking for a way to re-establish the upper hand of the Unites States in the Cold War; a further invasion of Cuba could do this (analysis) • Many historians argue that Kennedy’s administration did little to hide their hatred of Castro and this only had the effect of pushing Castro closer to the Soviets which ultimately prompted the missile crisis in Cuba (analysis) • However, the disastrous Bay of Pigs Invasion was more the fault of the CIA rather than Kennedy himself, as they had misjudged Castro’s popularity in Cuba, claiming he did not have support of the people (analysis +)

Mistakes of the Leaders: Knowledge Both Khrushchev and Kennedy made errors which led to heightened tension by the time of the Missiles crisis. • Kennedy wrongly assumed that the Soviets had adopted a ‘First Strike’ policy rather than that of ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’ (MAD) • The US continued with nuclear tests during the time of the Cuban crisis, leading to heightened tension with the Soviets • Kennedy and his administration appeared oblivious to the hypocrisy of the situation; Cuba could not be allowed to have missiles close to the United States yet the US could have theirs in Turkey

Mistakes of the Leaders Continued: Knowledge • The Soviets underestimated the Kennedy Administration’s reaction to their placing of missiles in Cuba because the Soviets were trying to balance out the nuclear situation between them and the US • Kennedy used the media (TV) extensively during the crisis which was well received in the US but it made it less likely for either leader to back down when international diplomacy was being conducted in the full glare of the world

Mistakes of the Leaders: Analysis • This is important because mistakes made by both sides led to a heightening of tension which deepened mistrust between the USA and Soviet Union and ultimately led to the Cuban Missiles Crisis in 1962 (analysis) • Many historians argue that the fact that speeches and events were broadcast on television led to more belligerence (aggression) between the leaders and certainly made them less likely to make concessions to one another given the criticism both had been facing domestically (analysis) • However, in reality, both Kennedy and Khrsuchev ultimately made concessions to one another (compromised) in the end to avoid Nuclear War with Khruschev diverting Russian ships away from Cuba and Kennedy agreeing to demands too. (analysis +)

Ideological Differences: Knowledge The stark ideological differences between the two states contributed to increased tension. • The entire Cold War was based around conflicting ideologies of Communist and Capitalism and both the Soviets and US were constantly striving to have the ‘upper hand’ in the war i. e. the arms race, the space race etc. • America was so anti-Communist that they were extremely sensitive about the presence of Communism close to Florida which meant they would take the strongest possible action to stop it • The Soviets felt their role was to spread Communism across the world; Cuba was perfect for this due to the fact it was on a new continent plus many Latin American countries were very poor which made them more susceptible to becoming Communist, This was obviously the last thing the US wanted. • Both countries had amassed huge numbers of nuclear weapons (The Arms Race) since the Second World War and were willing to use them and extensive espionage where necessary; this climate increased international tension

Cuba was a key part of the Cold War ‘Arms Race’ – both countries were stockpiling nuclear weapons and wanted to prove they had the upper hand

Mistakes of the Leaders: Analysis • This is important because ultimately both countries in the Cold War were willing to go to any lengths to show the superiority of their ideology and to destroy the other; this made nuclear war over Cuba more likely (analysis) • Many historians argue that every flashpoint of the Cold War (Korea, Berlin, Cuba, Vietnam) was merely an excuse for the US or USSR to assert their ideological supremacy over the other; Cuba just happened to be the location in 1962 where Castro saw an opportunity (analysis) • However, in reality the Soviet’s nuclear capacity was grossly overestimated due to propaganda, and in reality the Soviets had very few compared to the states; some historians say Khrushchev was ‘calling their bluff’ (analysis +)

• • How did it end? The USA found evidence of Soviet missiles on Cuba using U 2 Spy Planes Photographs proved the Russians had placed their missiles 90 miles from the USA. At the same time, Russian merchant ships with more missiles were headed for Cuba Kennedy announced a naval blockade of Cuba on TV on Oct 22 nd. It looked like war would break out; US bombers were on Red Alert, ICBMS were prepared and paratroopers were sent to Florida. Against the odds, a compromise was reached Khrushchev agreed to remove his missiles from Cuba if the US removed theirs from Turkey. Both sides claimed victory in the crisis but popular opinion saw it as a victory for young President Kennedy. Bobby Kennedy said the two leaders were ‘eyeball to eyeball and Khrushchev blinked. ’

Exam Questions

Introduction – 3 step plan • Background (give 2 -3 sentences about the Cold War/ Cuba/ The Revolution) • Factors (what are the factors in the essay? ) There were many important factors which caused the Crisis in Cuba such as…(a list is fine) • Argument (what will you be arguing is most important? ) It can be argued that the most important factor was …because…

Conclusion – 4 step plan • In conclusion, there were many reasons why there was a Crisis in Cuba in 1962. • On the one hand… (you should take one key factor here and explain why it was important) • On the other hand… (now you should do the same with another key factor to balance your argument) • Overall, the most important factor was…This was more important than the other factors because…