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Cuba is a large island in the Caribbean, about 90 miles from Miami, Florida, USA.
Why do you think that the USA was worried?
Before 1959, the USA had many troops stationed in Cuba and had vast sums of money invested in the country. The Cuban government was seen by many as corrupt.
In 1959, the anti-capitalist Fidel Castro lead a revolution and took power by force.
He asked for economic assistance. When the USA refused, Castro made a deal with the USSR.
In April 1961 US-backed Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The USA thought this would start a revolution against Castro.
Complete your own spider diagram about the Bay of Pigs.
What would this make Castro feel? How might he react?
How did the USA appear after the
event?
What could the USA now do?
Who else might now get involved? What would they want?
The invasion was a total disaster. Cubans were pleased with Castro’s reforms, offering improved living and social conditions. Castro had overwhelming support.
After the Bay of Pigs invasion, Castro was worried about further invasions. He asked for Khrushchev's help – and the USSR promised to help Cuba with weapons.
Why did Khrushchev offer to help?
Think why Khrushchev was only too willing to help!
Opportunity to redress the ‘failure’ over Berlin.
Putting nuclear weapons on Cuba would put pressure on the USA.
USSR nuclear weapon deployment was far inferior to USA.
Would mean USSR had weapons base within 90 miles of US eastern coast.
Khrushchev knew that USA had missiles in Turkey – he wanted the equivalent.
US missiles in Turkey meant USA had ‘total coverage’ of USSR.
President Kennedy organized ExComm (the Executive Committee). This was group of political and military advisors including Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen. They debated what to do day and night for nearly seven days!
On 22 October, Kennedy announced a “strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba”. If Soviet vessels did not stop, US ships had orders to fire.
Why do you think Kennedy took this decision?
At the same time, Kennedy ordered his forces to be ready for war. The world had never been closer to nuclear conflict.
Kennedy stated that if the blockade is ‘forced’, the USA will be at war. The Soviet ships continued to sail towards Cuba.