Cuban Civil War & the Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuba: 2 major figures Fulgencio Batista dictator Supported by US Fidel Castro Initially praised by Cubans for bringing social reform and improving economy Harsh dictator No elections Jailed opponents Controlled press Fulgencio Batista dictator Supported by US Unpopular in Cuba

Major Events 1959—1962 Fidel Castro led a revolution overthrowing Batista in 1959 Castro took over economy, including US owned business US president Eisenhower ordered an embargo on trade with Cuba Castro turned to Soviets for economic and military aid 1960, CIA trained anti-Castro Cuban exiles 1961—Bay of Pigs Invasion Easy victory for Castro US didn’t provide air support humiliating defeat for US

Major Events cont’d Cuban Missile Crisis: closest world ever came to Nuclear War After failure of Bay of Pigs invasion—Soviets believed US would not resist 1962—Soviets built 42 missile sites in Cuba American spy plane discovered these JFK declared they were a threat Demanded missiles be removed Ordered a naval blockade of Cuba 13 days between discovery by US and when Soviets agreed to back down (example of brinkmanship) Soviets would remove missiles if US promised not to invade Cuba

Cuba—outcome Fidel Castro established a Communist dictatorship in Cuba 2011 Fidel’s his brother, Raul, succeeded him Legacy: Trade embargo on Cuba still in existence today, Americans aren’t supposed to travel to Cuba

Afghanistan’s Civil War

Afghanistan Mujahadeen Communist Afghan government Aided from 1979 to 1989 by Soviet troops Mujahadeen Anti-communist Muslim guerillas supported by the US

Afghanistan—Major Events 1979—1989 Soviet influence increased in Afghanistan in the 50s. Late ‘70s, a Muslim revolt threatened to topple Afghanistan’s Communist regime  Soviets invaded in 1979 Mujahadeen were supplied with American weapons & fought off Soviets US armed rebels because they saw Soviets as a threat to US oil. President Jimmy Carter stopped grain shipments to Soviet Union and boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics Soviet Union was crippled economically and withdrew in 1989 Soviet’s thought it’d be quick… became “Soviet’s Vietnam”… stuck at war for 10 years, depleted them economically

Afghanistan—outcome Soviet and US forces withdrew in 1989, but Civil War continued for 3 more years Afghan communist gov fell in 1992 By 1996, one of the rebel groups that was part of the mujahadeen called the Taliban, seized power and established an Islamic government Popular at first, became repressive and especially harsh on women. Failed to improve the lives of the people. Became a sanctuary to international terrorists 2001—coalition led by US drove them from power

And the Soviet Union Falls The Cold War Thaws And the Soviet Union Falls

The Thaw: Détente Crises of 1960s made US change policy Cuban Missile Crises, Vietnam War, etc. Fear of nuclear war Nixon changes US policy: From Brinksmanship Détente: policy of lessening Cold War tensions Visited China and Soviet Union Began SALT—talks to limit arms race Pres. Gerald Ford continued détente, but Carter and Reagan were more anti-Communist (Afghanistan was a move away from détente)

The Thaw 1985—Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power Greater political and social freedoms (atmosphere of open criticism) “glasnost and perestroika” Economic pressures from Cold War competition build Scientific research Space race Nuclear proliferation Surrogate wars Soviet Union dissolves through 1991 (E. Euro nations claim independence) THE COLD WAR ENDS