Case Study

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Case Study

• Cuban Missile Crisis

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Cuba
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Cuba
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Really old background info

• Late 19thC Spanish colonies in America were
  seeking independence
• 1898- Spanish-American civil war
• US became ruling power in Cuba
• US agreed to leave but only if Cuba accepted
  conditions of Platt Amendment (1901)

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Platt Amendment

• Cuba could not transfer territory to anyone other
  than US
• US had the right to intervene in Cuban affairs
  for the sake of Cuban Independence

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Another Historical Document

• Munroe Agreement 1823
• President James Munroe
• any attempt by a European power to control any
  nation in the western hemisphere would be
  considered as a hostile act towards the US

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Background

• 1901-1950s
• Ruled by pro-American Fulgencio Batista
• Ruled by small group of rich and powerful (mostly
  foreign, especially US)
• Vast majority- peasantry

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Cuba under Batista

• Cuba as Americas Playground
• Investments in sugar, ENTERTAINMENT
• Examples
• Dirty Dancing Havana Nights
• Godfather

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Cuban Revolution

• 1959- Fidel Castro led forces in revolution
  (aided by Che
• Guevara)
• Goal overthrow Batista
• -fought via guerrilla warfare
• -supported by peasants

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Castros Reforms

• 1959-1960 Nationalizes previously owned US sugar
  estates and cattle ranches
• Planned to redistribute Cuban wealth
• Began promoting anti-American sentiments
• Cubans who oppose Castro flee to US

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Problems

• 1960- Castro signs treaty with USSR (does not
  formally declare communist)
• Castro nationalized oil refineries (America had
  refused to refine Soviet crude oil)
• US refuses to sell military hardware to Cubans
• Castro goes to USSR for assistance

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• 1961- Eisenhower ends diplomatic relations with
  Cuba

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During the Revolution

• Cubans fled to US
• Refugees thought stay in US temporary and would
  return to Cuba once Castro fell
• Eisenhower invested to help Cubans plan a
  counter-revolution

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Operation Pluto

• Eisenhower trained 1500 Cubans to attack Cuba
  with assistance of CIA
• Thought if they attacked, would spark a popular
  revolution and others would join

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While this is happening

• Cubas relationship with USSR growing, Castro
  formally declares hes a communist in 1961
• 1961- Kennedy takes over from Eisenhower

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Bay of Pigs

• Planned attack on Cuba by Cuban refugees
• April 10, 1961
• Lasted 3 days
• Poorly equipped, poorly planned
• Did not receive promised air support from America

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Why didnt Kennedy send support?

• Wanted to claim plausible deniability
• Did not want to get directly involved

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Mini-Assignment

• To be completed and handed in by the end of class
• From what you just learned about Cuba
• PREDICT
• what will Castro do next and why?
• What will Kennedy do next and why?
• What will Kennedy use to justify this?

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Cuban Missile Crisis

• After Bay of Pigs Castro approaches Khrushchev
  for more weapons (p. 68)
• February 1962- America launches an economic
  embargo against Cuba
• Wont trade with them, high taxes on those that
  do

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Whats Happening

• 1- Changes to Guantanamo
• 2- Cuba obtains weapons

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Guantanamo Bay

• American naval base since 1903 (American-Cuban
  Treaty gave perpetual lease)
• Cuban government opposes base
• Once Castro in power refuses to cash rental
  cheques

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Guantanamo continued

• Oct 22, 1962- military families evacuated
• US troops placed 75 000 landmines to protect area
  (1996- Clinton replaces with motion sensors)

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Cuba Obtains Weapons

• June 17-October 22 1962 USSR transfers 24
  launching pads, rockets, 45 nuclear warheads,
  bombers, aircraft, and 47000 troops
• Cuba denies
• YouTube - Kennedy addresses the nation on the
  Cuban Missile Crisis
• What action will Kennedy take?
• What will become the policy of the US regarding
  the Cubans launching a missile?

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Result of Tension

• America puts up Quarantine of Cuba
• To stop weapons from entering Cuba
• Lasts 13 days
• Referred to as October Crisis

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Crisis Ends

• After tense negotiations it was decided between
  Khrushchev and Kennedy
• USSR would remove troops and weapons
• US would remove missiles from Turkey