Cuban Missile Crisis
Events
Causes
The Cuban Revolution
Bay of Pigs, April 1961
Military build-up in Cuba
In 1959 there was a revolution in Cuba that saw the overthrow of the dictator Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro. Castro nationalized all American property that was located in Cuba. Castro's revolution moved to take greater care of the people and veered to a communist like rule, angering the American's deeply.
In 1961 the CIA sent in an armed group of Cuban exiles called La Brigada, set to land in the Bay of Pigs, the task force was to create a national uprising against the Castro rule. However, Castro was aware of the invasion and met the small force with 20,000 soldiers from his army. This solidified Castro's support from his people and showed he was far more popular than the Americans thought.
After a huge American failure the Cuban's distanced themselves with the American's and became closer with the USSR who liked Castro declaring himself Communist. As a result deals between the two countries were made, this included the shipping of IRBMs and warheads to Cuba and the setting up of missile bases on the island.
Withdrawal of Nuclear Bases
US Naval Blockade of Cuba
To prevent the Russians from importing any more offensive weapons into Cuba, Kennedy issued a naval cordon around Cuba, all ships were checked, if they were just carrying supplies then they were allowed through. The standoff for 13 days.
Consequences
The final event of the crisis was the final agreement of withdrawal of the American nuclear bases in Italy and Turkey as well as the Soviet withdrawal of nuclear installments in Cuba
The 'hotline'
Treaties
After the crisis was averted there was a dramatic relief in tension, one of the measures put into place to prevent the superpowers from reaching the near destruction of the world, was the 'hotline'. This was a direct line of communication established between the Kremlin and the White House.
Limited Test Ban Treaty
Outer Space Treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Signed in 1968 this treaty was made between all nuclear states to stop the development of nuclear weapons.
Signed in August 1963, between the USSR and USA this enacted a policy whereby they agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
In 1968 a treaty between the superpowers with Britain and other states, which was to ensure that the use of outer space was for only peaceful purposes and not to place nuclear weapons in outer space.