1. The Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis

2. I. The Cuban Revolution Background to Castro
Fidel Castro - Born August 13, 1926
Son of a wealthy Spanish sugar cane farmer and a domestic servant
He attended the University of Havana to study law and started a law office after graduation.
Castro was a supporter of the democratic system in Cuba (he wanted to run for parliament)

3. 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

4. White Boards
What type of economic situations lead to Communsim?

5. 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

6. The Dictator Fulgencio Batista- Cuban President 1934- 1944
Then led a coup and became leader from
Kept close ties with the US to protect and support US industry in Cuba

7. US stops support of Batista
Pro democracy student groups
and protests erupted against Batista
regime became more brutal and repressive in the mid 1950’s
US stopped supporting his regime
Under his leadership status-quo was kept
(rich got richer and poor poorer)
Little hope for Democracy

8. White Boards
Why would the US protect Batista?

9. Fidel Castro
Un happy with the lack of democracy and inequality in Cuba
Failed attack on Moncada Barracks in 1953
2 years in Prison and exiled to Mexico after a very public trial

10. The revolution starts in 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
/watch?v=f3UwlmQn0ks

11. The Cuban Revolution
1956 Castro and others land in Cuba boat named “Granma”
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)

12. Tactics in winning the War
Began launching raids on small army posts
Through out Cuba used sabotage and Guerrilla warfare against Batista
Blow up roads, power, rail lines…
Began educating the poor with their socialist viewpoints
Gained huge support amongst urban and rural poor

13. Tide turns in Castro’s Favor
Batista became more repressive pushing more people to Castro's side
Became so repressive that the US no longer supported him
By 1958 Revolutionaries controlled schools, hospitals, farms, and many factories on the Eastern part of the Island

14. Discuss
Why did these educated men decide to embark on socialist Revolutions?

15. With these heavy losses Batista resigned on 31 December 1958
Castro Takes Cuba
With these heavy losses Batista resigned on 31 December 1958
Fled with his family and closest advisors to the Dominican Republic
A temporary group of generals took control
Castro continued his fight against the Military
January 8th 1959 Castro enters HAVANA and begins to take control of the nation

16. 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

17. II. US Cuba Tensions and the Cuban Missile Crisis

18. President Eisenhower organized training of Cuban exiles for an attack
Bay of Pigs Invasion
President Eisenhower organized training of Cuban exiles for an attack
Exiles were trained in Central America and given weapons by the US
Goal to start an uprising and kick Castro out of Power

19. Discuss
What was the socio-economic group of the first wave of migrants from Cuba and WHY?

20. 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

21. Operation Mongoose https://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=ytfCYBZXBHA
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
tch?v=ytfCYBZXBHA

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

23. Missiles in Cuba only defensive Khrushchev attack on Cuba= war
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

24. Phone search WHITE BOARD
What was the range of the missiles in Cuba?

25. What each leader wanted
Kennedy
Castro
Khrushchev
-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

26. 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

27. Soviets Agree 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

28. White Board
Who got the worst deal out of the situation?
Discuss why

29. 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 20th 1962
Economic Sanctions last till today
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