Why did America become
involved in Cuba?
Containing communism in Cuba
The Treaty of Paris
• Was a treaty in which Cuba gained its independence from Spain
• The USA had a right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances
and foreign relations
The Treaty of Paris
• Was a treaty in which Cuba gained its independence from Spain
• The USA had a right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances
and foreign relations
• Cuba served an Economic purpose for the USA
• ¾ of Cuban imports came from the USA
• 2/3 of all farm land was controlled by USA
• The USA took control of Guantanamo Bay: Used it as a Navy and port.
Cuba and America in the 1950’s
Cuba and America in the 1950’s
Cuba and America in the 1950’s
• Cuba had become a tourist destination for Americans
• Gambling , Hotels, Beaches , and Horse racing were the main attractions
• Soon the US-Mafia controlled many of these industries
How did tension develop between cuba and
the USA
How did tension develop between cuba and
the USA
• 5O years after the Treaty of Paris discontent of American involvement
in Cuba was Spreading
• No government official would be elected unless they had policies favorable
to the US
• In 1959 Cuba underwent a revolution and overthrew the unpopular
president Batista
• Revolution was lead by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
• Wealthy lawyer who overthrew
Batista with Guerilla force
• Was a communist
• Promised to restore power to
people and end American
corruption
• Education, Health Care, Wealth
Redistribution, Closing Casinos,
Integration
• Jailed those who disagreed with
him, homosexuals and any one he
considered a deviant was
imprisoned
How would the USA react to the Cuban
revolution?
How would the USA react to the Cuban
revolution?
• America planned to remove Castro in The Bay of Pigs Invasion
• The CIA encouraged, funded and transported an attempt by anti-Castro
Cuban exiles to invade Cuba
• The 1,400 troops were to land on a remote beach known as the bay of pigs
• Cuban air bases were to be bombed to protect troops: US planes would be
disguised as Cuban aircraft
• The plan was for the soldiers to march into Havana gain support and
overthrow Castro
Failure of the bay of Pigs
• Poor Secrecy: Castro knew the attack was going to happen
• Failure to Control the Air: The air strikes missed targets : Photos of the
US planes became public: Cuban Air force in tact
• Failure to Gain support: The Cuban population sided with Castro
• Response: The troops landing at the bay were met by 20,000 troops
The Cuban Missile Crisis
On 14 October 1962 an American U2 spy-plane took pictures of a
nuclear missile base being built on Cuba. Kennedy’s advisers told him
he had 10 days before Cuba could fire the missiles at targets in
America.
THE Cuban Missile Crisis
Why were their Nuclear missiles in Cuba
Why were their Nuclear missiles in Cuba
• Political Reasons: Castro knew he would not be able to stop the US
from over throwing him: So he used the Missiles as a deterrent to US
invasion
Why were their Nuclear missiles in Cuba
• Political Reasons: Castro knew he would not be able to stop the US
from over throwing him: So he used the Missiles provided by the
Soviet Union as a deterrent to US invasion
• Military Reasons: The Soviet Union did not have a close enough base
to strike America : Cuba was only 90 miles from the USA: This was a
response to USA placing missiles in Turkey
What were the USA’s Options
• No action: The failed Bay of Pigs showed any military action towards
cuba would be dificuly
• Use diplomatic measures: Negotiation rather than fighting
• Threaten Castro
• Naval blockade: US ships would stop any ships coming into the Island
• Air Strikes: Destroy the base by bombing it
• Invasion: Troops would destroy base and remove cuba
How Close was Nuclear War
• October 22: Kennedy announced discovery of Missals to Public and
his intention to quarantine( Naval blockade) the island
• October 23: Air force prepares for attacks on Cuba and USSR 125,000
soldiers begin mobilization
• October 25: Raised military readiness to DEFCON2( 5-1 system 1
being most nuclear war)
How Close was Nuclear War
• October 25: Raised military readiness to DEFCON2( 5-1 system 1
being most nuclear war)
• October 26: Russian ruler Khrushchev sends letter proposing removal
of missiles and personal is USA guarantees not to Invade Cuba
October 27: A US Spy plane is shot down over Cuba
October 28: Khrushcev announces the return of missiles to the USSR,
trusting the USA would not invade Cuba
Quiz
What was the name of the USA’s Invasion to
overthrow Castro?
Quiz
What was the name of the treaty that granted the
US power over Cuba?
Quiz
How did Kennedy deal with the Cuban Missal
Crisis
A.
B.
C.
D.
Air Strikes
Naval Blockade
He did nothing
Full ground invasion
Quiz
Which of the following was not one of Castros
policies
A.
B.
C.
D.
Redistributing land
Expanding tourism
Free health care
Free education
Quiz
Which of the following was not one of Castros
policies
A.
B.
C.
D.
Redistributing land
Expanding tourism
Free health care
Free education
Quiz
Which of the following was not a reason the bay of
pigs failed
A.
B.
C.
D.
Failure to control the air
Failure to gain support
Poor secrecy
Old weapons