Containment and brinkmanship:
The Cuban Crisis
Contents
1. Background to the Crisis
2. The cuban missile crisis, 1962
3. SWOT analysis of the leaders
4. Question and answers
5. Essay questions amd answers
Grade 11/12 notes
1
, Another tactic developed during the Cold War was brinkmanship. This is the practice
Of pushing dangerous events to the edge (or brink) of disaster in order to gain an
Advantage. Posturing and discrediting the opponent was used to portray the enemy in
A negative light. These strategies were applied during the events in Cuba that led to the
Extension of the Cold War beyond Europe.
Background to the Crisis
Until 1959 US commercial farmers and businessmen had interests in Cuba. It was
A poor country, dependent on US sugar imports. The US turned a blind eye to the
Brutality of the Cuban dictator, Batista.
In 1959, Castro led a revolution and overthrew Batista’s regime
Castro announced plans to nationalise land in Cuba and indicated that he needed
Loans from the USA
The US refused to lend money to Castro as he was viewed to be Marxist. The US
Threatened to cut sugar imports from Cuba.
Cuba turned to the USSR and signed a trade agreement with Russia.
In retaliation to US trade cuts, Cuba nationalised all American-owned companies
The CIA assisted a group of exiles with planning a counter-revolution against
Castro’s government.
This invasion was a disaster and an embarrassment for Kennedy’s administration
Castro asked for weapons from the USSR to defend itself against the USA and he
Declared himself a Marxist.
The US viewed Cuba as another Soviet satellite state.
In June 1962, Cuba received shipments of arms and MIG-21 fighter jets from the USSR.
Medium range missiles and bombers arrived.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
On 14 October 1962, an American spy plane detected a nuclear missile base on
The island.
Kennedy set up a special committee to advise him on the way forward.
On 22 October, Kennedy announced a blockade of the island, which placed the
Island under quarantine until the missile sites were removed,
Khrushchev defended Soviet actions as an act of self-defence on Cuba’s side due to
The role of the USA in the Bay of Pigs disaster.
Khrushchev accused the US of piracy and did not turn the warships around that
Were en route to Cuba.
Letters were exchanged between the two leaders and the world waited anxiously to
See what would happen
Khrushchev offered to dismantle the Soviet nuclear missile bases in Cuba in return
For the dismantling of US missile bases in Turkey.
2
The Cuban Crisis
Contents
1. Background to the Crisis
2. The cuban missile crisis, 1962
3. SWOT analysis of the leaders
4. Question and answers
5. Essay questions amd answers
Grade 11/12 notes
1
, Another tactic developed during the Cold War was brinkmanship. This is the practice
Of pushing dangerous events to the edge (or brink) of disaster in order to gain an
Advantage. Posturing and discrediting the opponent was used to portray the enemy in
A negative light. These strategies were applied during the events in Cuba that led to the
Extension of the Cold War beyond Europe.
Background to the Crisis
Until 1959 US commercial farmers and businessmen had interests in Cuba. It was
A poor country, dependent on US sugar imports. The US turned a blind eye to the
Brutality of the Cuban dictator, Batista.
In 1959, Castro led a revolution and overthrew Batista’s regime
Castro announced plans to nationalise land in Cuba and indicated that he needed
Loans from the USA
The US refused to lend money to Castro as he was viewed to be Marxist. The US
Threatened to cut sugar imports from Cuba.
Cuba turned to the USSR and signed a trade agreement with Russia.
In retaliation to US trade cuts, Cuba nationalised all American-owned companies
The CIA assisted a group of exiles with planning a counter-revolution against
Castro’s government.
This invasion was a disaster and an embarrassment for Kennedy’s administration
Castro asked for weapons from the USSR to defend itself against the USA and he
Declared himself a Marxist.
The US viewed Cuba as another Soviet satellite state.
In June 1962, Cuba received shipments of arms and MIG-21 fighter jets from the USSR.
Medium range missiles and bombers arrived.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
On 14 October 1962, an American spy plane detected a nuclear missile base on
The island.
Kennedy set up a special committee to advise him on the way forward.
On 22 October, Kennedy announced a blockade of the island, which placed the
Island under quarantine until the missile sites were removed,
Khrushchev defended Soviet actions as an act of self-defence on Cuba’s side due to
The role of the USA in the Bay of Pigs disaster.
Khrushchev accused the US of piracy and did not turn the warships around that
Were en route to Cuba.
Letters were exchanged between the two leaders and the world waited anxiously to
See what would happen
Khrushchev offered to dismantle the Soviet nuclear missile bases in Cuba in return
For the dismantling of US missile bases in Turkey.
2
