HOW THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS ALMOST CAUSED A
NUCLEAR WAR
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
CMC perhaps most dramatic between US + USSR. Lasted 13 days. Both sides close nuclear
war. Both leaders under domestic pressure prove themselves. All started with Castro
overthrew Cuba Gov. 1959.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
● 1959
JAN 1st: Castro seizes power.
JAN 7th: Batista's supporters executed + USA recognises Cuban gov.
APRIL: Castro visits the US to negotiate aid for their industrialisation programme.
US would only fund Cuba if it followed the IMF guidelines. Request for loan from
Organisation of American states turned down.
MAY: Agrarian reform law introduced. The USA became convinced Cuba
Communist + hostility increased.
● 1960
FEB: USSR's first deputy minister visits Cuba. 5-year treaty signed (USSR buy 5
mil. tons sugar + give $100 mil. credit to Cuba buy machinery + material) +
secretly agrees send arms.
MARCH: First shipment USSR arms arrives Cuba. Eisenhower orders CIA train
exiles for future Cuba attack.
JUNE: Castro seizes Texaco + Esso oil refineries after refuse accept Russian oil.
JULY: Eisenhower reduces Cuban sugar quota by 700,000 tons. Soviets agree buy
surplus sugar.
AUG: Castro expropriates US industrial property + nationalized banks. USA
presented document to OAS charging Cuba introducing Comm. into W. sphere.
Not supported by OAS.
OCT 7th: Kennedy calls Cuba Communist menace in election speech.
OCT 19th: Cuba expropriates +166 US companies cause of embargo. US
proclaims embargo on Cuba except food + medicine. USSR signed new sugar
quota.
, NOV: US suspends quota for 1961.
• 1961
JAN 2nd: Castro ordered US embassy cut staff to 11. Eisenhower breaks
diplomatic relations.
APRIL 14th: Castro announces his regime is Socialist.
APRIL 15th: US Air strike Cuba
APRIL 17th: Bay of Pigs landing
APRIL 19th: Cubans victorious against Invasion.
NOV 30th: USA begins Operation Mongoose.
DEC 2nd: Castro declares as Marxist/Leninist. For USA Castro's Speech greeted
with enthusiasm by locals. USSR didn't comment on Castro's speech.
• 1962
FEB: US trade embargo (except food + medicine) + Cuba expelled OAS MAY:
Cuba economic situation bad, signs trade agreement with China.
JUNE: For Cuba sugar production 2 million tons lower than 1961. USSR new trade
agreement with Cuba.
OCT 14th: US spy planes photo missile sites.
OCT 16th: ExComm set up
OCT 22nd: Kennedy publicly announced Cuban quarantine.
OCT 24: USSR ships turn back
OCT 26: Khrushchev sends first telegram + US spy plane shot down.
OCT 27th: Secret meeting Robert Kennedy + Anatoly. Khrushchev sends second
telegram.
OCT 28: Khrushchev agrees withdraw missiles.
NOV: Castro refuses UN inspectors into Cuba. In USA Democrats maintain
control mid-term elections.
BACKGROUND TO CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Why was the US opposed to Castro's revolution?
1959 Castro overthrew pro US Batista. Cuba only 145 km from Florida. As Cuba in US sphere
of influence wanted Cuban gov. be pro-US. In Economic arena US companies controlled
most financial, railway, elec, telegraph + sugar industries. Platt Agreement 1902 (USA and
Cuba) gave US rights naval base Guantanamo Bay. Also stipulates US create excuse to
invade. Clear that US administration intend decide whether Cuba acceptable.
NUCLEAR WAR
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
CMC perhaps most dramatic between US + USSR. Lasted 13 days. Both sides close nuclear
war. Both leaders under domestic pressure prove themselves. All started with Castro
overthrew Cuba Gov. 1959.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
● 1959
JAN 1st: Castro seizes power.
JAN 7th: Batista's supporters executed + USA recognises Cuban gov.
APRIL: Castro visits the US to negotiate aid for their industrialisation programme.
US would only fund Cuba if it followed the IMF guidelines. Request for loan from
Organisation of American states turned down.
MAY: Agrarian reform law introduced. The USA became convinced Cuba
Communist + hostility increased.
● 1960
FEB: USSR's first deputy minister visits Cuba. 5-year treaty signed (USSR buy 5
mil. tons sugar + give $100 mil. credit to Cuba buy machinery + material) +
secretly agrees send arms.
MARCH: First shipment USSR arms arrives Cuba. Eisenhower orders CIA train
exiles for future Cuba attack.
JUNE: Castro seizes Texaco + Esso oil refineries after refuse accept Russian oil.
JULY: Eisenhower reduces Cuban sugar quota by 700,000 tons. Soviets agree buy
surplus sugar.
AUG: Castro expropriates US industrial property + nationalized banks. USA
presented document to OAS charging Cuba introducing Comm. into W. sphere.
Not supported by OAS.
OCT 7th: Kennedy calls Cuba Communist menace in election speech.
OCT 19th: Cuba expropriates +166 US companies cause of embargo. US
proclaims embargo on Cuba except food + medicine. USSR signed new sugar
quota.
, NOV: US suspends quota for 1961.
• 1961
JAN 2nd: Castro ordered US embassy cut staff to 11. Eisenhower breaks
diplomatic relations.
APRIL 14th: Castro announces his regime is Socialist.
APRIL 15th: US Air strike Cuba
APRIL 17th: Bay of Pigs landing
APRIL 19th: Cubans victorious against Invasion.
NOV 30th: USA begins Operation Mongoose.
DEC 2nd: Castro declares as Marxist/Leninist. For USA Castro's Speech greeted
with enthusiasm by locals. USSR didn't comment on Castro's speech.
• 1962
FEB: US trade embargo (except food + medicine) + Cuba expelled OAS MAY:
Cuba economic situation bad, signs trade agreement with China.
JUNE: For Cuba sugar production 2 million tons lower than 1961. USSR new trade
agreement with Cuba.
OCT 14th: US spy planes photo missile sites.
OCT 16th: ExComm set up
OCT 22nd: Kennedy publicly announced Cuban quarantine.
OCT 24: USSR ships turn back
OCT 26: Khrushchev sends first telegram + US spy plane shot down.
OCT 27th: Secret meeting Robert Kennedy + Anatoly. Khrushchev sends second
telegram.
OCT 28: Khrushchev agrees withdraw missiles.
NOV: Castro refuses UN inspectors into Cuba. In USA Democrats maintain
control mid-term elections.
BACKGROUND TO CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Why was the US opposed to Castro's revolution?
1959 Castro overthrew pro US Batista. Cuba only 145 km from Florida. As Cuba in US sphere
of influence wanted Cuban gov. be pro-US. In Economic arena US companies controlled
most financial, railway, elec, telegraph + sugar industries. Platt Agreement 1902 (USA and
Cuba) gave US rights naval base Guantanamo Bay. Also stipulates US create excuse to
invade. Clear that US administration intend decide whether Cuba acceptable.
