The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
The Cuban Missile Crisis was probably the hot spot in the Cold War. For 13 days in October 1962 the world stood on the brink of nuclear war.
Background
Cuba is an island just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Until 1959, it was closely allied to the United States under the leadership of the right-wing dictator, General Batista. There was considerable American When a country invests in another country. in Cuba and the USA was the chief consumer of Cuba鈥檚 sugar and tobacco.
In 1959 Batista was overthrown in a Supporters of the communist movement or party. revolution led by Fidel Castro. Castro An industry or business being taken over by the government. all American-owned companies in Cuba, and refused to pay A sum of money paid to make up for suffering, injury or loss.. The USA now had a communist state 鈥榠n its own backyard鈥.
The US response to the Cuban Revolution
- Trade embargo: The US imposed a trade embargo on Cuban goods, depriving Cubans of a market for their sugar and tobacco and the income to import oil and other essential goods.
- The Bay of Pigs: In April 1961, just after he was installed as President of the USA, John F Kennedy approved a plan to invade Cuba and overthrow communism. The CIA landed 1,400 Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba with the aim of provoking an anti-communist uprising. They were met by 20,000 heavily armed Cuban troops and all were captured or killed.
Discovery of the missiles
On 14 October 1962, a US spy plane flying over Cuba took pictures that showed the construction of Soviet missile launch sites. Experts estimated that they would be ready to fire in seven days. Meanwhile, another American spy plane discovered 20 Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles in the Atlantic Ocean heading for Cuba.
The threat to the USA
Cuba was only 90 miles from the coast of Florida meaning that the US, including many of its biggest cities like Washington DC and New York, would be well within range of these missiles. The lives of 80 million Americans were at stake.
Nuclear missiles on Cuba
- To close the missile gap: The Soviet leader, Khrushchev, knew the USA had medium and long range nuclear missiles aimed at the USSR based in Western Europe and Turkey.
- Domestic politics: Khrushchev wanted to strengthen his political position in the USSR and show his government that he wasn鈥檛 soft on America.
- To protect Cuba: Khrushchev wanted to support the new communist country in 鈥楿ncle Sam鈥檚 backyard鈥. The failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 helped to justify the argument that Cuba needed protection.