NBSS HY Sec 4 Chapter 3 Kite Notes 2018

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2018 1 Chapter 3: Manifestation of the Cold War outside Europe – Cuban Missile Crisis Section Section Title You should be able to explain: 3.1 How did tensions arising between Cuba and the USA become part of the Cold War? • Cuba’s strategic importance to the USA • Tensions between USA and Cuba: Castro’s policies and American responses 3.2 Why did the USA and the Soviet Union go to the brink of nuclear war in 1962? • The role of external powers in the conflict: USA and USSR (Kennedy and Khrushchev) 3.3 Who was the ‘victor’ in the Cuban Missile Crisis: The USA, the Soviet Union or Cuba? • To what extent did the USA, the Soviet Union and Cuba achieve their aims? Name: Class: Date Received: Teacher’s Name:

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2018 2 OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER 3: MANIFESTATION OF THE COLD WAR OUTSIDE EUROPE – CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS Reasons that drew American-Cuban tensions into the Cold War Significance of Cuba to the USA Strategic importance of the Caribbean islands Safeguarding economic interests in Cuba Tensions between the USA and Cuba American political intervention in Cuba Cuban Revolution overthrew pro- American government Castro's new policies that threatened American investments in Cuba Castro's friendship with Khrushchev Escalating tensions due to American retaliation against Cuba Economic pressure on Cuba American attempts to remove Castro from power Cuba's formal alliance with the Soviet Union Reasons why the USA and the Soviet Union went to the brink of nuclear war over Cuba Soviet installation of missiles in Cuba Soviet and Cuban considerations for missle deployment in Cuba American discovery of the missile deployment Escalating of tensions during the Cuban Missile Crisis American strategy of brinkmanship US naval blockade of Cuba Mobilisation of Soviet and Cuban forces

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2018 3 Key Focus: How did tensions arising between Cuba and the USA become part of the Cold War? Identify Factor (what were the tensions?) Tell the story (what were the tensions about?) Explain the story (how did these tensions lead to the Cold War?) Significance of Cuba to the USA - Strategic importance of the Caribbean islands to USA Cuba was geographically close to the USA and the gateway to the Caribbean islands. • As a growing nation, USA was concerned with expanding its own territory and guaranteeing its security. • The USA viewed the Americas as its own sphere of influence. • Cuba was geographically close to the US and being the gateway to the Caribbean, was important to the security of the USA I – Thus, due to Cuba’s proximity to the US and a s the gateway to the Caribbean islands, Cuba could pose a threat to USA’s security. R – This led to US intervention in the Cuban War of Independence by setting up of a pro- American government in Cuba which was not allowed to make alliances with other countries without the USA’s approval. O – This in turn made Cubans unhappy about USA’s political dominance in Cuba, leading to tensions that led to the Cold War. Significance of Cuba to the USA - Safeguarding economic interests in Cuba Cuba was a major producer of sugar and tobacco, which were in high demand in Europe and the USA. • US set up a pro -American government in Cuba to encourage American companies to invest heavily in Cuba’s sugar and tobacco industries and to safeguard their interests there. • By 1926, American companies owned 60% of the Cuban sugar industry. I – Thus, American dominance of the Cuban economy led to reliance on the sugar and tobacco industries. R – This led to resentment among the Cubans as American economic interests led to a wide income gap to emerge between the rich and poor in Cuba , and also made Cu ba’s economy vulnerable to changes in the prices of these products. O – This in turn created great Cuban resentment for the USA , creating tensions which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tensions between USA and Cuba - American political intervention in Cuba To safeguard its strategic and economic interests, US frequently intervened in Cuban politics. • US installed and supported President Batista who was corrupt and dictatorial, used secret police to repress the Cuban people and exploited Cuban economy for his own interests. • In return, President Batista guarded American economic interest in Cuba. • US was reluctant to stop supporting Battista as it did not want the communists to take advantage of conflict in Cuba and installed a communist-inclined government. I - Thus, the American political intervention in Cuba led to Cuban repression and exploitation for USA’s own interests. R – This led to growing Cuban resentment for the USA, as the Cubans perceived the USA to be self -interested and neglect ed Cuba’s interests. O – This in turn created Cuban hatred for the USA, creating tensions which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tensions between USA and Cuba - Castro’s victory in the Cuban Revolution During the Cuban Revolution in 1956 • Cuban exile Fidel Castro overthrew President Battista. • On 1 January 1959 Castro established a new government. • Castro did not immediately identify himself as Communist. • The US only agreed to recognise the new government if elections were held for democratic government. I - Thus, Castro’s victory in the Cuban Revolution led to his appointment as President of Cuba and the removal of a Batista’s US-inclined government. R - This led USA to become suspicious of and threatened by the new Cuban President, which soured their relations. O – This in turn led to the USA strengthening its resolve to remove Castro from power, creating even more tension which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

@Naval Base Secondary School, Humanities Department 2018 4 Tensions between USA and Cuba - Castro’s new policies that threatened US investments Castro’s government actively looked for new markets for Cuban sugar • Aware that Cuba was overly reliant on USA for exporting sugar, Cuba decided to look for alternative markets. • Castro made agreements with Khrushchev to sell half a million tonnes of Cuban sugar and barter more sugar for Soviet oil. I - Thus, Castro’s policies reduced USA’s dominance of Cuba’s economy by selling sugar to the Soviet Union and other countries. R - This led the USA to become more suspicious of Castro, whom the USA perceived to be aligning himself to the Communist bloc. O – This in turn, led to souring relations between the Cuba and the USA, which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Castro passed the Land Reform Law • Castro wanted to redistribute private land among the poorer farmers to solve the problem of inequality. • All large estates were to be handed over to the state, and farms over 3,333 acres and all private estates over 1,000 acres were run as communes by a new state agency. • Foreign companies were not allowed to own any sugar plantation in Cuba. I - Thus, Castro’s policies threatened USA’s economic interests in Cuba by redistributing large private estates, many of which were owned by American companies, to poor farmers. R - This led the USA to become even more suspicious of Castro, whom the USA perceived to be aligning himself to the Communist bloc with his socialist-like policy of aggressive redistributive policies. It also affected American businesses and USA’s economy adversel