History > Key Stage 4 > Course Notes and Revision Lists

The Cuban Missile Crisis

The USA wanted to keep all neighbouring countries ‘friendly’. Cuba had been such a country. Ruled since 1940 as a military dictatorship by its leader Batista it had allowed American businessmen to make a profit in a country where most people lived in poverty. In 1956 a communist, Fidel Castro attempted to overthrow the government but was defeated and sent into exile. Three years later he began a guerilla war and defeated Batista.

Castro’s targets were American:

• he shut down American owned casinos and brothels;
• he took over American owned sugar mills;
• he siezed $1,000 million worth of American property.

In retaliation the USA cut off relations with Cuba. Castro reluctantly starts to work with communist Russia, who offered to buy Cuban goods. The USA had imposed sanctions against Cuba.

In America some Cubans who were not happy with Castro planned a revolution against him. They would receive help from the CIA – an American agency. Cuba was attacked at the Bay Of Pigs in Cuba but the American backed force was easily defeated. This was a humiliation for Kennedy and made the young President appear foolish.

Russia and their president, Krushchev persuade Cuba that the USA will attack them and offered to arm Cuba with nuclear weapons capable of destroying much of the USA.

American spy planes, the U2 detect these weapons. The president has choices:

• do nothing – he will look weak amongst his own people. Must do something to restore credibility after Bay of Pigs;
• invade Cuba – he risks starting a full blown nuclear war;
• blockade Cuba – it gives him time to assess all possibilities.

Kennedy chooses the third option by telling the Russians if they were to enter the waters around Cuba their ships would be stopped and searched. He also gives an ultimatum to Krushchev and Castro – withdraw missiles already on Cuba or risk war.

The ball is in Russia’s court – is Kennedy bluffing? Would he go to war? For 10 days the world waited as Russian ships headed towards Cuba. Finally Russsian ships turned back and missiles were withdrawn.

Some say that Kennedy had won especially in the eyes of America; others said Kruschev had put world peace before politics and point to the fact that a secret part of the settlement meant that the Americans had to remove their missiles from Turkey. Whatever the world seemed to have been on the brink of nuclear war (would either side really have 'pressed the button' or was this brinksmanship?)

As a result a hot line was established between Russia and USA in case any thing was to happen like it again to make communications easier.

Pages created by J Reeve, 2006.