Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis

Background

• Cuba is only 100 miles from the USA. 
• Since 1952, it had been ruled by Batista, a ruthless and corrupt military dictator. He allowed American businessmen and the Mafia to make huge profits in a country where most lived in poverty. The Americans supported Batista primarily because he was just as opposed to communism as they were.
• In 1953, Fidel Castrol attempted to overthrow the government but he was defeated and imprisoned. After his release in 1955, he fled to Cuba.
• In 1956, Castro returned and began a guerilla war. By 1959, Castro had overthrown the government.
• Castro was a clever propagandist, charismatic and ruthless (he killed or arrested many political opponents). He had a vision for Cuba which won over the majority of Cubans.

Cuba under Fidel Castro: Cuban and American Relations

• Castro made a big impact. He shut down gambling casinos and the brothels. He nationalised American-owned sugar mills.
• The USA eventually cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba and relations were poor. This was because many Cuban exiles had fled to Castro's rule and set up powerful pressure groups demanding action against Castro. Also, Castro had taken over some American owned businesses in Cuba, particularly agricultural businesses. He distributed the land to his supporters.
• Castro began to work with the USSR and by 1960 he had allied Cuba with the USSR (he'd always been influenced by communism)
• The USSR offered to buy Cuba's sugar instead of the USA.
• Soviet leader Khrushchev signed a trade agreement giving Cuba $100M in economic aid. Castro began receiving arms from the Soviet Union and American spies knew this.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

• The Americans did not invade Cuba directly but President Kennedy was no longer prepared to tolerate a Soviet satellite in the USA's 'sphere of influence'. 
• Rather than a direct invasion, President Kenedy supplied arms, equipment and transport to 1,400 anti-Castro exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. In April 1961, the exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs. They were met by 20,000 Cuban troops, armed with tanks and modern weapons. The invasion was failed disasterously. Castro captured or killed them all within days.
• The invasion meant Castro decided that Cuba needed Soviet military assistance. It also suggested to the USSR that Kennedy was weak…