The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis

I. The Cuban Revolution Background to Castro �Fidel Castro - Born August 13, 1926 �Son of a wealthy Spanish sugar cane farmer and a domestic servant �He attended the University of Havana to study law and started a law office after graduation. �Castro was a supporter of the democratic system in Cuba (he wanted to run for parliament) �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q. Q 24 jm. IHIUk

Cuba in the 1940’s-50’s �Cuba was a close American Ally since the Spanish American War �There was large amounts of American investment in Cuba �Agriculture companies �Many real-estate investments(Hotel Industry) �Guantanamo Bay Naval Base �Caribbean Playground for Americans �Casino, clubs, beaches

White Boards �What type of economic situations lead to Communsim?

Problems in Cuba �Problem major source of the economy was from sugar productions �Wealth in Cuba was concentrated in a very small upper-class �High level of unemployment �Deep rooted social and racial divides �Slavery had only ended in 1880 �Limited options for impoverished majority

The Dictator �Fulgencio Batista- Cuban President 1934 -1944 �Then led a coup and became leader from 1952 -1959 �Kept close ties with the US to protect and support US industry in Cuba

US stops support of Batista �Pro democracy student groups and protests erupted against Batista �regime became more brutal and repressive in the mid 1950’s �US stopped supporting his regime �Under his leadership status-quo was kept �(rich got richer and poorer) �Little hope for Democracy

White Boards �Why would the US protect Batista?

Fidel Castro �Un happy with the lack of democracy and inequality in Cuba �Failed attack on Moncada Barracks in 1953 � 2 years in Prison and exiled to Mexico after a very public trial

The revolution starts in Mexico �In Mexico met with other Marxist revolutionaries to plan an attack on Cuba �Met Ernesto “Che” Guevara- Argentinean Med Student devoted to Marxist revolutions world Wide �https: //www. youtube. co m/watch? v=f 3 Uwlm. Qn 0 ks

The Cuban Revolution � 1956 Castro and others land in Cuba boat named “Granma” �Seek shelter in the highlands (Sierra Maestra) �There they gain huge support from rural peasant class �They are promised a better future under a Marxist Gov �(equality of land, wealth, social class)

Tactics in winning the War �Began launching raids on small army posts �Through out Cuba used sabotage and Guerrilla warfare against Batista �Blow up roads, power, rail lines… �Began educating the poor with their socialist viewpoints �Gained huge support amongst urban and rural poor

Tide turns in Castro’s Favor �Batista became more repressive pushing more people to Castro's side �Became so repressive that the US no longer supported him �By 1958 Revolutionaries controlled schools, hospitals, farms, and many factories on the Eastern part of the Island

Discuss �Why did these educated men decide to embark on socialist Revolutions?

Castro Takes Cuba �With these heavy losses Batista resigned on 31 December 1958 �Fled with his family and closest advisors to the Dominican Republic �A temporary group of generals took control �Castro continued his fight against the Military �January 8 th 1959

US Fears �Castro slowly becomes more aligned with the USSR creating fear in the US �US business also lost millions when Castro took their properties with out compensation

II. US Cuba Tensions and the Cuban Missile Crisis �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Wj 2 K 1 c 9 N-B 4

Bay of Pigs Invasion �President Eisenhower organized training of Cuban exiles for an attack �Exiles were trained in Central America and given weapons by the US �Goal to start an uprising and kick Castro out of Power

Discuss �What was the socio-economic group of the first wave of migrants from Cuba and WHY?

President Kennedy inherited this and gave approval for the attack �Bay of Pigs Invasion in April of 1961 �Was a complete failure �US gave no support to invaders( fear getting into war with Cuba) �This pushed Castro to seek Soviet support against the US

Operation Mongoose �Plans to Get Rid of Castro �From starting rebellion to assassination attempts �Increase espionage in Cuba �CIA confirmed 8 plots( Could be more) �This led to constant Flights of US spy planes �October 14 a flight found Nuclear Missile Sights in �https: //www. youtube. com/

The Cuban Missile Crisis Oct 14 th- Oct 28 �Initial Plan of actions �Pressure the Soviet Union and the UN �Oct 22 Kennedy Public address to the US �Start a Naval Quarantine (Blockade) of Cuba �Began troop mobilizations in Florida

Response �Missiles in Cuba only defensive �Khrushchev attack on Cuba= war �Sent Soviet Ships �Submarines made it past blockades US Response was to go to Def Con 2 �Def. Con 1 prepare for launch fully armed �Def. Con 0 NUCLEAR WAR

Phone search WHITE BOARD �What was the range of the missiles in Cuba?

What each leader wanted Kennedy Castro Khrushch ev -Wanted Missiles out of Cuba -Give a promise of not invading Cuba -end Naval quarantine -US not attack Cuba -Limit Cuban exile activity in Cuba -Return of Guantanamo Bay -End Economic Blockade -Would take missiles out of Cuba -US Promise not to Invade Cuba -US remove Missiles from Turkey

Agreements Are Made �Oct 27 RFK Met USSR Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin �Notice that missiles were leaving Turkey anyways �Soviets needed to remove Missiles or they would be destroyed

Soviets Agree �Khrushchev's Decision �Oct 28 Radio announcement stating Removal of Missiles under UN verifications �US Would not Invade Cuba -US would remove Missiles in Turkey but not made Public -IF this was made public Kennedy would and the US would look weak as making a Missile swap � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xb. KCy. Qn 5 o. Tc

White Board �Who got the worst deal out of the situation? �Discuss why

Why put Missiles in Cuba �Soviets lacked numbers and technology of US Nuclear Missiles �This would be pressure to have the US remove some of their Missiles �Cuba was used to improve Soviet protection �Blockade of Cuba lasted Nov 20 th 1962 �Economic Sanctions last till today �http: //cloudsovercuba. com/ Show later