Chapter 12 - Confrontation between the Superpowers

Transcript:Chapter 12 - Confrontation between the Superpowers:
Chapter 12 - Confrontation between the Superpowers US attitudes to Cuba and developments leading to the missile crisis The Caribbean was regarded by the USA as its own 'back yard'. As such, America was determined to maintain stability there in order to protect its own national interests. The Cuban constitution gave the USA rights of intervention, and required Cuba to provide land for naval bases hence the US base at Guantanamo Bay today. The USA had a huge influence in the affairs of this apparently independent state but presented its relationship with Cuba as a benign and benevolent one.' The Cuban nationalist, Fidel Castro, after a period in exile, returned to Cuba in December 1956 with his brother Raul Castro, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (an Argentine revolutionary) and 79 supporters. Castro and his followers were dubbed 'los barbudos' — the bearded ones. After a guerrilla campaign conducted against President Fulgencio Batista's regime, Castro's supporters began to swell. On 1 January 1959, Batista's regime collapsed and Castro rode triumphantly into Cuba's capital city, Havana. The immediate question was: How would the USA respond to this revolution, and what impact would the response have on international relations in general? Early developments, 1958-60 America had shown little significant support for the Batista regime during Castro's revolution. While the revolution looked like a home-grown, nationalist, non-communist uprising with no direct external aid from communist states, the USA was willing to let it run its course. In May 1958 Vice President Richard Nixon had conducted a goodwill visit to a number of Latin American states, which led to a shift in US policy towards the region. Economic stability became a target and the USA supported the creation of a regional banking institution, the Inter-American Development Bank, and regional common markets. Dwight D. Eisenhower also agreed not to offer unconditional American support to dictators. He ordered an embargo on further arms shipments to Batista. Castro needed the support of a great power, in order to manage the inevitable US response to his plans to reduce US economic and political influence in post-revolutionary Cuba. He had to maintain his own authority and Cuba's independence, and avoid alienating powerful internal and external allies. TASK 1: Highlight key information in each paragraph, add a title to the left and reduce to 1/2 bullet points or a couple images to the right. Add a title to the paragraph Reduce to images