The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuba in the 1940’s-50’s Cuba was a close American Ally since the Spanish American War There was large amounts of American investment in Cuba – Agriculture companies – Many real-estate investments(Hotel Industry) – Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Caribbean Playground for Americans – Casino, clubs, beaches

Problems in Cuba Problem major source of the economy was from sugar productions Wealth in Cuba was concentrated in a very small upper-class – High level of unemployment – Deep rooted social and racial divides Slavery had only ended in 1880 – Limited options for impoverished majority

The Dictator Fulgencio Batista- Cuban President – Then led a coup and became leader from – Kept close ties with the US These ties were lost as his regime became more brutal and repressive in the mid 1950’s – Under his leadership status-quo was kept (rich got richer and poor poorer) – Little hope for Democracy

Fidel Castro Wealthy educated Lawyer – Un happy with the lack of democracy and inequality in Cuba – Failed attack on base in years in Prison and exiled to Mexico IN Mexico met with other Marxist revolutionaries to plan an attack on Cuba – Met Ernesto “Che” Guevara- Argentinean Med Student devoted to Marxist revolutions world Wide

The Cuban Revolution 1956 Castro and others land in Cuba – Seek shelter in the highlands (Sierra Maestra) There they gain huge support from rural peasant class They are promised a better future under a Marxist Gov – (equality of land, wealth, social class)

– Used Guerilla tactics, bombings, and attacks on infrastructure – Revolutionaries gained support as Batista became increasingly brutal – 1959 Batista flees and Fidel Castro and his leaders take over Cuba

US Fears Castro slowly becomes more aligned with the USSR creating fear in the US US business also lost millions when Castro took their properties with out compensation

Bay of Pigs Invasion President Eisenhower organized training of Cuban exiles for an attack – President Kennedy inherited this and gave approval for the attack Bay of Pigs Invasion in April of 1961 – Was a complete failure US gave no support to invaders( fear getting into war with Cuba) – This pushed Castro to seek Soviet support against the US

Operation Mongoose Plans to Get Rid of Castro – From starting rebellion to assassination attempts – Increase espionage in Cuba – CIA confirmed 8 plots( Could be more) This led to constant Flights of US spy planes – October 14 a flight found Nuclear Missile Sights in Cuba

The Cuban Missile Crisis Oct 14 th - Oct 28 Initial Plan of actions – Pressure the Soviet Union I the UN – Oct 22 Kennedy Public address to the US – Start a Naval Quarantine (Blockade) of Cuba – Began troop mobilizations in Florida

Soviet Response – Missiles in Cuba only defensive – Khrushchev attack on Cuba= war – Sent Soviet Ships Submarines made it past blockades US Response was to go to Def Con 2 – DefCon 1 prepare for launch fully armed – DefCon 0 NUCLEAR WAR

What each leader want ed KennedyCastroKhrushchev -Wanted Missiles out of Cuba -Give a promise of not invading Cuba -end Naval quarantine -US not attack Cuba -Limit Cuban exile activity in Cuba -Return of Guantanamo Bay -End Economic Blockade -Would take missiles out of Cuba -US Promise not to Invade Cuba -US remove Missiles from Turkey

Agreements Are Made Oct 27 RFK Met USSR Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin – Notice that missiles were leaving Turkey anyways – Soviets needed to remove Missiles or they would be destroyed Khrushchev's Decision – Oct 28 Radio announcement stating Removal of Missiles under UN verifications – US Would not Invade Cuba -US would remove Missiles in Turkey but not made Public -IF this was made public Kennedy would and the US would look weak as making a Missile swap

Why put Missiles in Cuba Soviets lacked numbers and technology of US Nuclear Missiles – This would be pressure to have the US remove some of their Missiles Cuba was used to improve Soviet protection – Blockade of Cuba lasted Nov 20 th 1962 – Economic Sanctions last till today