The Causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis (Gsce/Standard Grade)
What were the causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
There is believed to be three major causes that contributed to the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
‘The Bay Of Pigs’ Invasion - Considered to have contributed greatly to the Cuban Missile Crisis is the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April, 1962. It was essentially an illegal attempt which was encouraged and funded by the CIA/Cuban Exiles to invade Cuba. The Americans felt it necessary to invade when Fidel Castro came to rule, turned his country into a communist nation and nationalized all American companies. This process of nationalization ensured that Cuba gained the benefits from privately owned American companies.The Americans failed miserably, and as a result of this attack Cuba felt they needed more protection. Therefore they asked the Soviet Union for weapons to defend Cuba against America. If the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion hadn’t failed or furthermore ever been attempted, Cuba would not have the nuclear missiles they were threatening America with throughout the entire missile crisis. However, it was not only the Bay of Pigs invasion that made the leaders of Cuba nervous. For example, the U.S conducted a mock invasion of the Caribbean to overthrow a fake dictator called Ortsac, (Castro spelled backwards). This military exercise and the failed ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion were all an attempt to keep Fidel Castro very nervous. As a result of these attacks Castro was completely convinced that the U.S were serious about launching an attack on Cuba and therefore went to the Soviet Union for military protection.
The Soviet Union’s Power Play - Before and throughout the duration of the Cuban Missile Crisis the U.S were against communist European nations. The U.S preferred to view the Latin/American nations as their allies. Therefore any Soviet/Latin alliance was viewed by the Americans as a direct threat to their safety and protection. When the country of Cuba adopted Communism under the rule of Castro, the Americans
There is believed to be three major causes that contributed to the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
‘The Bay Of Pigs’ Invasion - Considered to have contributed greatly to the Cuban Missile Crisis is the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in April, 1962. It was essentially an illegal attempt which was encouraged and funded by the CIA/Cuban Exiles to invade Cuba. The Americans felt it necessary to invade when Fidel Castro came to rule, turned his country into a communist nation and nationalized all American companies. This process of nationalization ensured that Cuba gained the benefits from privately owned American companies.The Americans failed miserably, and as a result of this attack Cuba felt they needed more protection. Therefore they asked the Soviet Union for weapons to defend Cuba against America. If the ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion hadn’t failed or furthermore ever been attempted, Cuba would not have the nuclear missiles they were threatening America with throughout the entire missile crisis. However, it was not only the Bay of Pigs invasion that made the leaders of Cuba nervous. For example, the U.S conducted a mock invasion of the Caribbean to overthrow a fake dictator called Ortsac, (Castro spelled backwards). This military exercise and the failed ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion were all an attempt to keep Fidel Castro very nervous. As a result of these attacks Castro was completely convinced that the U.S were serious about launching an attack on Cuba and therefore went to the Soviet Union for military protection.
The Soviet Union’s Power Play - Before and throughout the duration of the Cuban Missile Crisis the U.S were against communist European nations. The U.S preferred to view the Latin/American nations as their allies. Therefore any Soviet/Latin alliance was viewed by the Americans as a direct threat to their safety and protection. When the country of Cuba adopted Communism under the rule of Castro, the Americans