Chapter 3_CMC

Chapter 3: The Cuban Missile Crisis 3.1: How did tensions between the USA and Cuba become part of the Cold War? 3.2: Why did the USA and the Soviet Union go to the brink if a nuclear war in 1962? 3.3: How did the Superpowers resolve the crisis? 3.4: What was the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis? 3.1: How did tensions between the USA and Cuba become part of the Cold War? Cuba’s significance to USA 1. Strategic importance • Cuba is the largest and most populous of the Caribbean Islands. It was the gateway to the Caribbean Islands, was therefore seen to be extremely important to the security of USA. • Cuba was the major producer of sugar and tobacco which were in high demand in Europe and later in the USA. • USA created the Monroe Doctrine in 1823: The Americas should not be colonised by any other European powers or it would be viewed as ‘acts of aggression’ against the American government. • Thus, the American government viewed the Americas as its own sphere of influence. • Cuba, being very near the USA and being the gateway to the Caribbean Islands, was therefore seen to be extremely important to the security of the USA. 2. Economic importance • American companies heavily invested in Cuba’s sugar and tobacco industries. They set up plantations, buy land and even invested in the infrastructure of Cuba. • By 1926, American companies owned 60% of the Cuban Sugar industry. • However, majority of the Cubans were generally unhappy over its economy being largely reliable on that of the USA. Cubans resented the economiy dominance of USA over Cuba. • Huge income gap as the investments were made mostly between rich Cubans and the Americans à neglecting the economic welfare of the lower middle class and the poor. 3. Tensions between the USA and Cuba • USA often intervened in Cuban politics and made changes to the officials within the government that suited their needs.

• This angered Cubans as the Americans installed a series of ‘puppet President’ to guard their needs. • They hated Batista the most, as he was corrupt and dictatorial. • He used the secret police to repress the people and his opponents. • Americans supported Batista as they feared the communists taking over. 4. The Cuban Revolution • Castro, returned to Cuba with armed rebels and conducted guerrilla warfare against Batista’s government. • His popularity grew and he had many supporters. • By January 1959, Castro led his armed rebels into Havana and established a new government. • Castro did not immediately align himself with the Communists • USA was still highly suspicious, but still agreed to recognise the new Cuban government on the conditions that elections were held soon to establish a new democratic government. 3.2: Why did the USA and the Soviet Union go to the brink if a nuclear war in 1962? Why Khrushchev installed the missiles in Cuba a) Military and Strategic gains: • Turkey allowed USA to place 15 nuclear missiles in Western Turkey. • It was only 149