what were the causes and effects of the cuban missile crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and was the moment when the two superpowers came closest to nuclear conflict. The crisis was unique in a number of ways, featuring calculations and miscalculations as well as direct and secret communications and miscommunications between the two sides. The dramatic crisis was also characterized by the fact that it was primarily played out at the White House and the Kremlin level with relatively little input from the respective bureaucracies typically involved in the foreign policy process.

Tensions were high between the US and Cuba after the american puppet Batista was overthrown by Castro in 1959. 

-The US had invested heavily in Cuba owning a large perecentage of the various industries but Castro Nationalised them with no compensation. The Failed Bay of Pigs invasion obviously did not help relations between the two countries as Castro turned to the USSR for economic support after the US economic embargo earlier. 

USSR acted as they saw Kennedy as indecisive and inexperienced and were wished to get rid of missiles stationed on their border with Turkey; The US had been encirling the USSR with missile bases.The USSR wanted to put missiles on Cuba to threaten the US; and were transferring missiles to Cuba when the US realised what was happening. There was a tense standoff between the two superpowers for 2 weeks in October 1962 before an agreement was reached for the US to withdraw the Turkish missiles in exchange for the removal of missiles so close to American soil. 

Causes

1.    Superpower Tension

       All the tensions that had grown up between Russia’s assertive ‘peaceful competition’ and Kennedy’s promise to be tough on Russia – including the space race, the arms race and nuclear testing, American funding of anti-Communists in Vietnam and Laos, the failed Vienna summit (1961) and the Berlin Wall.

   

2.    Fidel Castro’s Cuba

       In 1959, Fidel Castro took power in Cuba.   This was very threatening to the USA because it was right next to America.   In 1960, Castro made a trade agreement with Russia, whereby Cuba sent sugar to Russia, in return for oil, machines and money.   This frightened the Americans more, and in 1960 they stopped trading with Cuba.   In retaliation, Cuba nationalised all American-owned companies.

   

3.    The Bay of Pigs

       In April 1961 the CIA encouraged, funded and transported an attempt by anti-Castro Cuban exiles to invade Cuba.   It failed miserably, greatly embarrassing Kennedy.   In September 1961, therefore, Castro asked for – and Russia publicly promised – weapons to defend Cuba against America.

     

Effect: Relations improved as they realised how close the world had come to nuclear fallout -- Detente. Agreements over nuclear production/limitation as it seemed as though Kennedy had won to the world.