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Cuban Missile Crisis
10X1 - Who will emerge as master of the stack?!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How did the arms race develop in the 50s up to 1961 | America was the clear winner of the arms race in the 1940s and 50s. America took an early lead by dropping the first atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. By 1949, the USSR also had the atomic bomb but then America developed the hydrogen bomb. |
| How many nuclear weapons did the two sides have by 1960 | USA: ICBMs - 450 Mid-range ballistic missiles - 250 Nuclear submarines - 32 Long-range bombers - 2,260 USSR: ICBMs - 76 Mid-range ballistic missiles - 700 Nuclear submarines - 12 Long-range bombers - 1,600 |
| What strategic advantages did America have over the USSR in the arms race | The USA had missiles much closer to the USSR than its missiles were to America; in 1958, The USA arranged to have missiles at their UK bases. In 1961, American bases in Italy and Turkey also received nuclear missiles. |
| What was Sputnik 1 | in 1957, The Russians launched the world's first man-made satellite - Sputnik 1. By 1960, the USSR had even landed a robotic spacecraft on the moon. The sophistication of this technology alarmed the USA. |
| Why was Cuba geographically important | Cuba is only 90 miles off the coast of America and therefore was seen by America as within its 'sphere of influence'. |
| What was the relationship like between America and Cuba before the Cuban revolution | Friendly. Much of the land in Cuba was owned by American businesses: 90% of the phone and electric supply 50% of the railways 40% of all sugar production 100% of oil refineries |
| What happened in 1959 in Cuba | Revolution. The pro-American government led by Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by communist Fidel Castro. Castro wanted more independence from the USA so he took over all American property and businesses in Cuba. |
| What were the short-term effects of the Cuban revolution | President Eisenhower refused to meet Castro. Castro took over all American property and businesses. America banned the import of Cuban sugar. In February 1960, Castro made a deal to sell the USSR sugar and buy its oil. |
| What was the Bay of Pigs incident | This was a plan by the CIA to launch an invasion of Cuba to dislodge Castro's government and put Batista back in charge. |
| What was the plan for the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 | The CIA promised Kennedy that the invasion would look like a Cuban revolt, not an American invasion - they had been training Cuban exiles for over a year and they planned to disguise American planes to look lie Cuban ones for bombing. |
| Why did the CIA think the Bay of Pigs invasion would work | They thought that Castro's hold on the country was weak and that most Cubans would join in against Castro once the invasion began. |
| Why was the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 such a disaster | It was supposed to be a secret, but Castro knew about it. 15th April, 1961, the first airstrike and US involvement made public. 17th April, the Cuban-exile army of 1,400 invaded but faced heavy air attacks and 20,000 Cuban troops led by Castro himself. |
| Why was the Bay of Pigs important | Ended any chance that the USA and Cuba might negotiate a friendly relationship and it put Soviet nuclear missiles close to the USA. This reduced America's strategic advantage in the arms race and made the USA vulnerable to attack. |
| Why did Khrushchev want to place nuclear missiles in Cuba | Khrushchev claimed that placing the missiles on Cuban soil would deter the Americans from trying another invasion like the Bay of Pigs. It also placed the missiles within striking distance of America, balancing the US presence in Turkey. |
| Who were the leaders during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 | Khrushchev and Kennedy. |
| Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen | On the 25th September 1962, Khrushchev sent 114 Soviet ships to Cuba carrying a secret cargo of nuclear warheads and long-range missiles to construct nuclear bases on Cuba. In October, American U2 spy planes spotted the bases. |
| What were the 'Thirteen Days' of 1962 | The 'Thirteen Days' of 1962 was the period at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis during which there seemed to be the greatest threat of nuclear war. |
| What happened on the 16th October | JFK is told about the missiles in Cuba. |
| What happened on the 22nd October | JFK decides to impose a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent more missiles being delivered. |
| What happened on the 23rd October | Khrushchev sends a letter to JFK saying that Soviet ships will break through the blockade. |
| What happened on the 24th October | Soviet ships approach the blockade. At 10.32 am, the closest ships suddenly stop and turn around. Khrushchev issues a statement that the USSR is prepared to launch nuclear weapons if America goes to war. |
| What happened on the 25th October | American and Soviet forces are on the highest level of alert - they are told to prepare for war. Kennedy writes to Khrushchev asking him to remove missiles from Cuba. |
| What happened on the 26th October | Khrushchev replies, saying he will withdraw missiles in return for a promise that the USA will not invade Cuba. |
| What happened on the 27th October | Khrushchev hears that the USA is planning to invade Cuba. His deal: USSR will take all missiles from Cuba if America will agree never to invade Cuba AND withdraw its missiles from Turkey. JFK accepts the deal as long as Turkey is kept secret. |
| What happened on the 28th October | Khrushchev accepts the secret deal. |
| What were the short-term consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis | A reduction in Khrushchev's authority. In June 1963, a 'hot line' was set up to improve communications between Washington and Moscow;In August 1963, the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed |
| What was the Test Ban Treaty | In August 1963, the USA and USSR agreed to ban the testing of all nuclear weapons in space, in the sea and above ground. Underground nuclear tests were still permitted. |
| Why was the Test Ban Treaty important | The Test Ban Treaty was important because it was the first step taken to control the use of nuclear weapons.. It could be seen as the beginning of the period known as 'detente'. |
| What were the long-term consequences of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis | The leaders of the Soviet Union were determined never again to be pushed around by America. MAD gave both sides an excellent reason for avoiding war. France left NATO. |
| What was MAD | Mutually Assured Destruction. The idea that any nuclear war was bound to destroy both sides - therefore nuclear weapons acted as a 'deterrent' to prevent a hot war breaking out. |
Created by:
General Rawlinson