The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

Late 1950’s: Change in Cuban Late 1950’s: Change in Cuban leadershipleadership

• Fidel Castro becomes dictator of CubaFidel Castro becomes dictator of Cuba

• Castro created the only communist Castro created the only communist country in the Western hemispherecountry in the Western hemisphere

Communist CubaCommunist Cuba

• Declared that all property belonging to Declared that all property belonging to Americans, now belonged to the Cuban Americans, now belonged to the Cuban

government (also claimed all Cuban government (also claimed all Cuban owned property as well)owned property as well)

• Had supporters of the former Had supporters of the former administration arrested (most were administration arrested (most were

executed by firing squad, others spent executed by firing squad, others spent decades in prison)decades in prison)

United States EmbargoUnited States Embargo

Because of Castro’s actions, and the Because of Castro’s actions, and the communist government he had created in communist government he had created in

Cuba, the United States government placed Cuba, the United States government placed an an embargoembargo on Cuban goods on Cuban goods (this meant (this meant that no Cuban goods could be sold in the that no Cuban goods could be sold in the

U.S.)U.S.)

The Soviet Union, (U.S.S.R.), became allies The Soviet Union, (U.S.S.R.), became allies with Cuba with Cuba (Soviet Union was the most (Soviet Union was the most

powerful communist country in the world powerful communist country in the world at this time and America’s greatest at this time and America’s greatest

enemy/threat: enemy/threat: Cold WarCold War))

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

1.1. The Truman DoctrineThe Truman Doctrine

2.2. The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan

3.3. ContainmentContainment

4.4. The Domino TheoryThe Domino Theory

5.5. The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

6.6. The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall

Why are these events so important when trying to understand the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The Bay of Pigs InvasionThe Bay of Pigs Invasion The 1961 The 1961 Bay of Pigs Bay of Pigs

InvasionInvasion was an was an unsuccessful attempt at unsuccessful attempt at invading and invading and overthrowing Fidel overthrowing Fidel Castro.Castro.

It was planned and funded It was planned and funded by the United States by the United States

• The invasion was carried out by armed Cuban exiles.

• This action accelerated a rapid decline in Cuban-American relations (worsened by the Cuban Missile Crisis the following year).

The Cuban Missile Crisis – A The Cuban Missile Crisis – A ChronologyChronology

October 14: U2 recon. flight over Cuba October 14: U2 recon. flight over Cuba spots sites installing nuclear missiles spots sites installing nuclear missiles

October 16-22: President Kennedy is October 16-22: President Kennedy is notified, EXCOMM (notified, EXCOMM (Executive Committee of the National Security Council) is is created and secret deliberations on what created and secret deliberations on what should be done beginshould be done begin

October 22: Kennedy tells the nation of his October 22: Kennedy tells the nation of his plan for blockade and quarantineplan for blockade and quarantine

Range of WeaponsRange of Weapons

Chronology ContinuedChronology Continued October 24: Naval quarantine begins and October 24: Naval quarantine begins and

successfully changes course of many Soviet shipssuccessfully changes course of many Soviet ships

October 25: One Soviet ship challenges naval October 25: One Soviet ship challenges naval quarantine; Kennedy lets it passquarantine; Kennedy lets it pass

October 25: At the UN, Adlai Stevenson directly October 25: At the UN, Adlai Stevenson directly challenges the Soviet ambassador to admit to the challenges the Soviet ambassador to admit to the existence of missilesexistence of missiles

When the ambassador refuses, Stevenson shows When the ambassador refuses, Stevenson shows pictures of the missile sites pictures of the missile sites

The Aerial PhotosThe Aerial Photos

Why Cuba Mr. Krushchev?Why Cuba Mr. Krushchev?

An opportunity to close the An opportunity to close the missile gap—Currently far missile gap—Currently far behind U.S. in terms of behind U.S. in terms of number of missilesnumber of missiles

Protect Cuba – Castro had Protect Cuba – Castro had begun relations with the begun relations with the USSRUSSR

The U.S. has missiles The U.S. has missiles pointing at the Soviets (ie. pointing at the Soviets (ie. Turkey)Turkey)

The American ResponseThe American Response Kennedy and Kennedy and

Congress had already Congress had already passed a resolution passed a resolution stating the placement stating the placement of nuclear weapons in of nuclear weapons in Cuba would no be Cuba would no be toleratedtolerated

They realized they had They realized they had to act quickly before to act quickly before the missiles were the missiles were activeactive

The Escalation LadderThe Escalation Ladder

1.1. Do NothingDo Nothing

2.2. Go to the United Go to the United NationsNations

3.3. Naval BlockadeNaval Blockade

4.4. Strategic Air strikeStrategic Air strike

5.5. Full Invasion of Full Invasion of CubaCuba

Which policy do you think the USA should have employed with the Soviets?In groups of 5 or 6 make a case for your option.

Why was Why was “Do Nothing” not an option?“Do Nothing” not an option?

1.1. The Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine prevented itprevented it

2.2. The weapons were too The weapons were too dangerous to dangerous to American safetyAmerican safety

3.3. Kennedy would be Kennedy would be perceived as weak by perceived as weak by the Soviets – This the Soviets – This could empower them could empower them to make another to make another move on Berlin or move on Berlin or another contentious another contentious European locationEuropean location

4.4. Kennedy would be Kennedy would be committing political committing political suicide at homesuicide at home

Go to the UN?Go to the UN?

PROSPROS

Using the United Using the United Nations for diplomacy Nations for diplomacy which is goodwhich is good

Validates the United Validates the United Nation’s role in global Nation’s role in global politicspolitics

CONSCONS

Takes too longTakes too long Could appear Could appear

indecisiveindecisive Too many interest Too many interest

groupsgroups Russia and the United Russia and the United

States both have veto States both have veto powers on the powers on the Security Council – Security Council – hard to reach a hard to reach a consensus consensus

Good option in conjunction with another choiceGood option in conjunction with another choiceDECISION:

Naval BlockadeNaval Blockade

PROSPROS

Its not war and it is a Its not war and it is a show of strength show of strength without missileswithout missiles

A Naval quarantine is A Naval quarantine is an effective way of an effective way of turning away missilesturning away missiles

CONSCONS

Puts the United States Puts the United States in direct confrontation in direct confrontation with the USSRwith the USSR

Sinking a soviet ship is Sinking a soviet ship is an act of waran act of war

Safer than an air strike or full invasionSafer than an air strike or full invasionDECISION:

Strategic AirstrikeStrategic Airstrike

PROSPROS

Will effectively Will effectively knock out Soviet knock out Soviet missilesmissiles

Good show of Good show of American strengthAmerican strength

CONSCONS

When Soviet When Soviet missiles are missiles are destroyed it is destroyed it is likely that Soviet likely that Soviet soldiers will die as soldiers will die as well – this is an act well – this is an act of warof war

DECISION: Option number two but would prefer not to use itOption number two but would prefer not to use it

InvasionInvasion

PROSPROS

The United States The United States secures Cuba and secures Cuba and ensures nuclear safety ensures nuclear safety from the countryfrom the country

The United States The United States sends a clear message sends a clear message to the Soviets to stay to the Soviets to stay out of the westout of the west

CONSCONS

A full invasion would A full invasion would surely kill Soviet surely kill Soviet soldiers which would soldiers which would be considered an act be considered an act of warof war

The nuclear The nuclear consequences could consequences could be disastrousbe disastrous

DECISION: Too risky, can only be used as a last resortToo risky, can only be used as a last resort

What Happened?What Happened?October 26-27October 26-27

• The Soviet Union offered to withdraw the missiles in return for a The Soviet Union offered to withdraw the missiles in return for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba or support any invasion. U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba or support any invasion.

• The USSR called for the withdrawal of U.S. missiles from TurkeyThe USSR called for the withdrawal of U.S. missiles from Turkey• The crisis peaked on the 27th, when a US U2 was shot down over The crisis peaked on the 27th, when a US U2 was shot down over

Cuba and another U-2 flight over Russia was almost intercepted Cuba and another U-2 flight over Russia was almost intercepted when over Siberia all the while Soviet ships were nearing the when over Siberia all the while Soviet ships were nearing the quarantine zone. quarantine zone.

• Kennedy responded by publicly accepting the first deal and then Kennedy responded by publicly accepting the first deal and then sent Robert F. Kennedy to the Soviet embassy to privately accept sent Robert F. Kennedy to the Soviet embassy to privately accept the second deal. the second deal.

The Soviet ships turned back, and on October 28 The Soviet ships turned back, and on October 28 Khrushchev announced that he had ordered the Khrushchev announced that he had ordered the removal of the Soviet missiles in Cuba. removal of the Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Satisfied that the Soviets had removed the missiles, Satisfied that the Soviets had removed the missiles, President Kennedy ordered an end to the quarantine of President Kennedy ordered an end to the quarantine of Cuba on November 20.Cuba on November 20.