How effect i vel ydi dt heUS Acont ai nt he s pr eadofComm mmuni s m? Cambr i dgeI GSCEHi s t or y-Cor econt ent :Opt i onBT opi c5 How effect i vel ydi dt heUSAcont ai nt hes pr eadofCommuni s m? FocusPoi nt s Thi sKeyQu Ques t i onwi l l beexpl or edt hr oughcas es t udi esoft hef ol l owi ng: •Amer i caandevent si nCu Cuba,1959– 62 •Amer i cani nvol veme menti nVi et nam. Speci fi edCont ent •event soft heCol dWar : oAmer i canr eact i onst ot heCubanr evol ut i on,i ncl udi ngt hemi s s i l ecr i s i sandi t saf t er mat h oAmer i cani nvol veme menti nt heVi et nam War .
P as tQues t i onsonCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i s el at i onsbet s ewhenCas Des cr i behow r weent heUS AandCubabecame mewor t r ot ookpowe wer .
Des cr i bet hei mmedi at ei mpactonUS– Cubanr el at i ons( upt oJ an1961)ofCas t r ocomi ngt o powe wer . Des cr i bet her oCa Cas t r ost ak eoverofCuba. es ponseoft heUSA t Des cr i ber el at i onsbet weent heUSAand Cubaf r om 1959t ot heBayofPi gsi nvas i onof1961. I twast ens east heAmer i canbackedr ul erBat i s t awasover t hr ownbyCa Cas t r o,a communi s t .Kennedywa washumi l i at ed.Kennedyf ear edot hercount r i esbecomi ngCommuni s t ( Domi noT heor y) . Cas t r ot ookovers omeAmer i canbus i nes s esi nCuba,es peci al l yagr i cul t ur al bus i nes s es .He t ookt hei rl andanddi s t r i but edi tt ohi ss uppor t er samongCubaspeas antpopul at i on. I twashos t i l ebutt her ewasnodi r ectconf r ont at i on.USAwasunwi l l i ngt ogetdi r ect l yi nvol ved evenwhenCa Cas t r ot ookoverAmer i canownedcompani esandl and.USAr ef us ed t obuy Cubans ugarf r om J ul y1960andi nOc Oct ober1960al l t r adewi t hCu Cubawasended. I n1961,USAbr okeoffdi pl omat i cr el at i onswi t hCubaasi twasunabl et ot ol er at eSovi et i nfluences ocl os e. USAwasdet er mi nedt or emoveCas t r oandt os t ar veCas t r oi nt os ubmi s s i on.I nApr i l 1961T he USs uppor t edadi r ecti nvas i on–t heBayofPi gs .
Kennedys uppor t edt hous andsofCubanexi l esi nUSAwhot r i edt oover t hr ow Cas t r oatt he BayofPi gs . i gsi Des cr i bet heBayofP nci dent .
T heUSAdeci dedt os uppor tani nvas i onbyt hos eCubanexi l esf or cedoutbyCas t r ot o over t hr ow Cas t r o.T heexi l esr ecei vedt r ai ni ngandweaponsf r om t heCI A. Rat hert hanadi r ecti nvas i on,Kennedys uppl i edar ms ,equi pmentand t r ans por tf or1400ant i – Cas t r oexi l est oi nvadeCubaandover t hr ow hi m.I nApr i l 1961t heexi l esl andedatt heBayof Pi gsandwer edef eat edby20, 000Cubant r oops .I tf ai l eddi s as t r ous l y. T her ewasnopopul arupr i s i ngandt heexi l eswer eeas i l yki l l edorcapt ur edbyt hel ar ger Cubanf or ces . Al t houghnotdi r ect l yi mpl i cat ed,Kennedywashumi l i at ed. Whydi dt heBayofPi gsi nvas i ont akepl acei nApr i l 1961?
L ar genumber sofCubans ,whos uppor t edBat i s t a,fl edf r om CubawhenCas t r ot ookcont r ol . T hes eexi l eshopedt or et ur nandt her ef or et heyputpr es s ur eont heUSgover nmentt ohel p t hem. T heUSAdi dnotl i keCas t r o,whohadbeenacl os eal l yoft heSovi et s . T heUSAwant edt ohel pCubanex i l eswhodemandedact i on. I n1960,Cas t r oal l i edhi ms el fwi t ht heUSSR.Khr us hchevs i gnedat r adeagr eementgi vi ng Cuba$100mi l l i oni neconomi cai d.T hi sannoyedt heUSgover nment .Lat erCas t r os t ar t edt o r ecei vear msf r om t heUSS R. Kennedywasnotpr epar edt ot ol er at eaSovi ets at el l i t ei nt heUSAss pher eofi nfluence. Cas t r ot ookovermanyUSbus i nes s esanddi s t r i but edl andt oCubanpeas ant s . USAwant edt oover t hr ow Cas t r obecaus eofhi scommuni s tbel i ef s ,and,t her ef or et heCI A wasaut hor i s edt oi nves t i gat ewayst or emoveCas t r o. Pr es s ur egr oupsf ounds uppor tf r om t heAmer i canmedi a,whopr oducedar el ent l es ss t r eam ofcr i t i ci s m oft heCas t r or egi me.T hi si nfluencedgover nment .
Whywast ai l ur ef heBayofPi gsi nvas i onaf ort heUSA?
Whydi dt heBayofPi gs( Apr i l1 96 1)i nv as i onr es ul ti nhumi l i at i onf orK ennedy? I twasbadl ypl annedandKennedywaswr ongl yadvi s ed. T heexpect edpopul arupr i s i ngofCubanst os uppor tt heexi l esdi dnothappen,ast heCI A hadunder es t i mat edt hepopul ar i t yofCas t r o.T heexi l eswer edef eat edandt hei nvas i onwas ahumi l i at i on.Kennedymi s j udgedCas t r osdef encescompl et el yandappear edweakt o Khr us hchev.
T he1400exi l esl andedi nCubawer eout number edby20, 000Cubant r oops ,wi t hmoder n ar ms ,andwer eki l l edorcapt ur ed.T hi smadeCas t r omor epopul ari nCuba. Event houghKennedycl ai medt her ewasnodi r ectAmer i cangover nmenti nvol vementi nt he i nvas i on,Cas t r oandKhr us hchevknew t hati thadbeenpl annedbyt heCI A.Kennedyhad beenhumi l i at ed. T hei nvas i onconvi ncedCas t r ot hatt heUSAwasanenemyandhel ook edmor et ot heUSS R f orpr ot ect i on.
I ts ugges t edt ot heUSS Rt hatKennedywasweak.I tal s omadeCas t r oandKhr us hchevver y s us pi ci ousofUSpol i cy.I nt heend,communi s tCubadr ew cl os ert ot heUSSR.
T hehal f hear t edi nvas i ons ugges t edt oCubaandt heUSSRt hat ,des pi t ei t soppos i t i ont o Communi s mi nCuba,t heUSAwasunwi l l i ngt ogetdi r ect l yi nvol vedi nCuba. Khr us hchevwass cor nf ulofKennedyspat het i cat t empti nCuba.
Whydi dt heSovi etUni onpl acemi s s i l esonCuba?
T odef endandgi ves uppor tt oCuba.T obar gai nwi t ht heUSA.T odef endandex t end communi s m. T ot es tt hewi l l ofKennedy.T ogai nt heupperhandi nt hear msr ace. Fol l owi ngt heBayofPi gsi nci dent ,Cas t r of el ther equi r edmor es uppor tagai ns tpos s i bl e Amer i canat t acks . Khr us hchevwant edt obar gai nwi t ht heUSA.I fhehadmi s s i l esi nCubahecoul dagr eet o r emovet hem i ft heUSAr emovedt hei rmi s s i l esf r om T ur key. I nt hecont extofCol dWar ,Khr us hchevwast es t i ngt henew Pr es i dentandhow s t r ongUSA was . Khr us hchevwass oconcer nedaboutt hemi s s i l egapbet weent heUSS Randt heUSAt hathe woul dt akeever yoppor t uni t yt ocl os ei t . Fol l owi ngt heBayofPi gsi nci dent ,Khr us hchevwasgenui nel ydef endi ngcommuni s mi n Cuba.
Whydi dt heCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i scauses omuchal ar m? Whywast heUSAconcer nedaboutSovi etmi s s i l esi nCuba?
Rus s i anmi s s i l eswer ecl os eandt her ef or eat hr eatt ot heUSAandhers upr emacyi nt hear ms r ace. Anucl earat t ackcoul dbei mmi nent .T her ewasat hr eatt owor l dpeace.I tgaves t r engt ht o Cuba. I twasachal l enget oKennedy .I twasat hr eatt owor l dpeace.Communi s m coul ds pr ead. I ft hebas esbecameoper at i onal muchoft heUSAwoul dbebr oughti nr angeofaSovi et mi s s i l eat t ack . I ti ncr eas edt hef earoft hes pr eadofCommuni s mi nt her egi onwher eCubahadal r eady becomeCommuni s t . I ts eemedt hatKhr us hchevwasgai ni ngt heupperhand bei ngs ocl os eandt hatt hemi s s i l e gapwascl os i ng. T heUSSRwant edbar gai ni ngpowert ogett heUSAt or emovei t smi s s i l esf r om T ur key. I nt hecont extofCol dWarAmer i cawasconcer nedt hatt heUSS Rwast r yi ngt odr aw t hem i nt onucl earwar . Cubawasgai ni ngi nUSS Rmi l i t ar ys t r engt hi nAmer i casbacky ar dandt heywer econcer ned aboutt heUSS Rput t i ngmi s s i l esonCuba. Khr us hchevwant edt ot es tt heUSAt os eehow s t r ongt heyr eal l ywer e.USS Rwant edt he mi s s i l esasbar gai ni ngpowert ogett heUSAt or emovei t smi s s i l esf r om T ur key. T her ewaspot ent i alf orawarandf oroveraweekt hewor l dwasont hebr i nkofnucl earwar .
8mar kques t i ons ct or yi Khr us hchevgai nedavi nt heCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i s .How f ardoyouagr ee?
TheCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i swasas i cyofcont ai nment .How f ardoyou ucces sf ort heUSpol agr ee? Whi chl eader ,KennedyorKhr us hchev,handl edt heCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i sbet t er ?Expl ai nyour ans wer Khr us hchevhandl edt heCubanCr i s i sbet t ert hanKennedy .How f ardoyouagr ee? Khr us hchevcl ai medt hatt heCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i swasavi ct or yf ort heSovi etUni on. T heUSAgai nedmor et hant heUSS Rf r om t heCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i s .How f ardoyouagr ee?
USAvi ct or y: T heUSAavoi ded anucl earwar .
T heUSAhadr emai neds uper i ori nt henucl earar msr ace. T hedi r ectt hr eatofSovi etmi s s i l esandSovi eti nfluencewasr emovedf r om Cuba.Nucl ear weaponswer er emovedf r om USAsdoor s t epand,t her ef or e,r emovedt hedangerf r om a nucl earat t ackonmaj orci t i es . Kennedyhads hownKhr us hchevt hathewoul dnotacceptt heexpans i onofdi r ectSovi et mi l i t ar yact i onandi nfluenceneart heUSA. Kennedyi ncr eas edhi sr eput at i onathomeandwor l dwi debyavoi di ngwarandf or ci ng Khr us hchevt obackdown.T hi swast hebegi nni ngofKhr us hchevsf al l f r om power ,buti tal s o madeSovi etl eader swar yoft hei ract i onswhi chmi ghtoffend t heUSA. T hecr i s i sdamagedKhr us hchevspr es t i ge.Somel eadi ngSovi etpol i t i ci answer eangr yt hat t hei rcount r yhadbeenf or cedt obackdown.T heypl ayedas i gni ficantpar ti nKhr us hchevs def eatbyhi sopponent si n1964. Kennedysr eput at i onr i s et r emendous l yi nUSAand t hr oughoutt heWes t .Hehads t oodupt o Khr us hchevandf or cedhi mt obackdownandhi sdeci s i veact i onr emovedt het hr eatofa nucl earbas ei nCuba.
Communi s tvi ct or y: Khr us hchevendedt hecr i s i sandbecamet hepeacemak erwhowaswi l l i ngt omak et hefi r s t movet ocompr omi s e. Cubar emai nedaCommuni s ts t at edes pi t et her emovalofmi s s i l es .USAscont ai nmentpol i cy f ai l edi nCuba,andl at erot hercommuni s tgr oupsappear edi nCent r al Amer i ca,s uchas Ni car aguaandEl Sal vador . T heSovi et smai nt ai neds i gni ficanti nfluenceonCuba.Cubar emai nedas t r ongal l yofUSS R andcoul ddependoni tf orpr ot ect i onandai d. T hepr i cet heUSAhadt opayf ort her emovalofSovi etmi s s i l eswast her emoval ofUSmi s s i l es i nT ur k ey .
Bot h: Bot hs i descamet oagr eement st ok eeppeaceandavoi danucl earwar . Bot hs i desr eal i s edt hedangerofanucl earwarandwer ewi l l i ngt ocompr omi s et oavoi di t . I twasagr eedt os etupahotl i nebet weenWas hi ngt onandMos cow t oenabl edi r ect communi cat i ont ot akepl ace.I n1963aNucl earT es tBanT r eat ywass i gned.
TheCubanMi s s i l eCr i s i swasneverat .How f ardoyouagr ee? hr eatt owor l dpeace
Yesi twasasever ybodywaswor r i edwhatmi ghthappen.Themi s s i l eswer ej us tf orpr ot ect i on. Behi ndt hes cenesnei t herl eaderwant edwar .Nei t herl eaderwant edt ol os ef ace. Advi s er swer er ecommendi ngwar . I fashes t at ed,Khr us hchevwant edj us tt opr ot ectCubaf ol l owi ngt heBayofPi gsi nci dent , t heni tmi ghtbear guedt hathedi dnoti nt endwar . Khr us hchevwasnoti mpr es s edwi t ht headvi cef r om Cas t r oaboutget t i ngi nt hefir s ts t r i keand i ns t eadwr ot eanur gentl et t ert oKennedy. Kennedyboughtt i mei ndel ayi nghi sr epl yt ot hefir s tl et t eri nt hehopet hatanywarcoul dbe avoi dedandt heRus s i answoul dbackdown. Qui et l yt heUSAagr eedt hatt heywoul dr emovet hei rmi s s i l esi nT ur keyt oavoi dconfli ct .T he Amer i canswant edt hewar headsonCubat obedi s mant l edi mmedi at el yorel s et heywoul d at t ackCuba.Att hi ss t aget her ewasar eal f earofanucl earwars t ar t i ng.Cas t r oact ual l y s ugges t edt hatKhr us hchevshoul dgeti nt hefir s ts t r i ke. Fol l owi ngt hefir s tl et t erf r om Khr us hchevt heAmer i cansdi dnotknow whatt odo.T hemi l i t ar y l eader sr ecommendedani mmedi at eai rat t ackonCubaandRober tKennedygavet he Sovi etAmbas s adoranul t i mat um t hati ft hemi s s i l eswer enotr emovedt heUSwoul dat t ack Cuba.Bot hl eader sr eal i s edhow cl os et owart heyhadcome.T opr events uchascr i s i sagai n t heys etupadi r ectt el ephonehotl i ne.
Pas tQues t i onsonVi et nam War Whatwast heDomi noT heor y? I twass omet hi ngt heAmer i cansbel i eved.I twasr el at edt ot heUSAsCol dWarcont ai nment pol i cy . T heAmer i cansbel i evedt hati fonecount r yi nSout hEas tAs i at ur nedcommuni s tal lt he ot her swoul df al l t ocommuni s m,oneaf t eranot her ,l i kear ow ofdomi noes .( 2) T heywer eaf r ai dt hati fcommuni s t st ookoverSout hVi et nam,communi s m woul dgoont o t akeovert hewor l d.I naddi t i ont oVi et nam,t hecount r i esundert hr eatwer eLaos ,Cambodi a, T hai l and,Mal aya,I ndones i a. Whower et heVi et cong? T heNat i onalLi ber at i onFr ont-Nor t hVi et names ecommuni s t sunderHoChi Mi nh,aswel l as opponent soft heS out hVi et names egover nment . T heyf oughtagai ns tbot ht heS out hVi et nam gover nmentandt heAmer i canar medf or ces bet ween195975.I ni t i al l yagr oupofcommuni s tguer r i l l afight er s ,i ti ncr eas edi nnumber sover t hecour s eoft heconfli ct . T heywer ebackedbyt heUSS RandChi na.
T heyhadt hes uppor toft hepeas ant sast heyt r eat edt hem wel l . Whatwast heHoChiMi nhT r ai l ? -Ar out enamedaf t ert hel eaderofNor t hVi et nam. -As uppl yl i nkr out ebet weenNor t handSout hVi et nam,pas s i ngt hr oughLaosand Cambodi a. -Anet wor kofj ungl et r ack sf orbi cy cl es ,t r uck sandt ank s . -I twasus edt omovet r oopsf r om Nor t hVi et nam af t er1964. Whydi dt heUSAgeti nvol vedi nt hewari nVi et nam? f ear edt heexpans i onofcommuni s m Af t ert heSecondWor l dWart heUSA acr os sEur opeand As i a.T heybel i evedt hef ut ur eofUSpr os per i t yanddemocr acywasatr i s ki fcommuni s m was al l owedt os pr ead.
I n1954t heF r enchwer edr i venf r om t hei rcol onyandt heUSf ear edt hatcommuni s m woul d s pr ead. na,eas t er nEur opeandNor t h Communi s m wass pr eadi ngandby195 6t heSovi etUni on,Chi Kor ea al l hadcommuni s tgover nment s .Amer i cansf el ti ncr eas i ngl yt hr eat enedbyt hes pr ead ofcommuni s m.
T hi sf earwasbas edont he“ ei fonecount r ybecamecommuni s tot her s domi not heor y”wher hVi et nam f el li twoul dbef ol l owedbyLaos ,Cambodi a,T hai l and,Bur woul df ol l ow.I fSout ma, I ndi aandPaki s t an. Becaus eoft heT onki ni nci dent ,i n1964t heNor t hVi et names eopenedfir eont heUSnavy andt heUSCongr es sgavet henew Pr es i dent ,Johns on,t heneces s ar ypower st odeal wi t h t hepr obl em.
mpos s i bl et odef eatt Whydi dt heUSAfindi ti heVi et cong? arwi Whydi dt heVi et nam Warbecomei ncr eas i ngl yunpopul t ht hepeopl eofAmer i ca? ucces s f uli r i l l at act i cs T heUSAwasuns nVi et nam becaus eoft heoppos i t i onsus eofguer .
8-Mar kquest i onsf orVi et nam l i t ar yf ai l ur e? How f arcant heAmer i canwi t hdr awal f r om Vi et nam bebl amedonmi
How f arwast heUSpubl hemos ti mpor t antr eas onf orAmer i caswi t hdr awalf r om i copi ni ont Vi et nam? Di fficul t yt er r ai n+Guer r i l l a+Mi l i t ar yf ai l ur e
Amer i canf or ceswer enomat chf ort heVi et congi nguer r i l l at act i cs .T hepr i nci pl eswer e s i mpl e.Ret r eatwhent heenemyat t acks ,r ai dwhent heenemycamps ,at t ackwhent he enemyt i r esandpur s uewhent heenemyr et r eat s .T het act i cswer eani ght mar e.Guer r i l l as hadnouni f or m andnobas ecamps/headquar t er s .T heywer ehar dt ot el l f r om t hepeas ant s i nt hevi l l ages .T heyat t ackedandt hendi s appear edi nt ot hej ungl e.T heycameoutoft he j ungl eandcar r i edoutact sofs abot ageors uddenambus hesorboobyt r aps .T hei rai m was t oweardownt heenemys ol di er sandr educemor al e.USs ol di er sl i vedi ncons t antf earof at t ack. T heAmer i canswer eunabl et odi s t i ngui s hbet weenvi l l ager sandVi et congmember s . Guer r i l l at act i csbr oughtl ow mor al e. I nt hej ungl e,t heVi et congbui l text ens i venet wor ksofunder gr oundt unnel swi t hs t or ehous es , wor ks hops ,ki t chensandhos pi t al s .T hes ewer ever ydi fficul tt ofindanddes t r oy. T hedi fficul t yoft het er r ai nmeantyoungAmer i cans ol di er scoul dnotgetus edt ofight i ngi na f or ei gnj ungl e. T heguer r i l l asmer gedwi t ht hepeopl eandt hej ungl e.Amer i cans ol di er swer ei nexper i enced andunabl et ocopewi t hguer r i l l awar f ar ebecaus ei twasdi ffer entt owhatt heywer eus ed t o. S t r engt hofVi et cong
T heVi et congwer efight i ngi nt hei rowncount r y.T heyknew t hei rownt er r ai nwel l T heVi et congcont i nuedt or ecei ves uppl i esf r om Nor t hVi et nam andChi nadownt heHoChi Mi nhT r ai l . T heyhadt hes uppor tofmanyVi et names epeopl eandwer eeas i l yabs or bed backi nt o vi l l agel i f e. Vi et congwer ebackedbyUS SR& Chi na. T heVi et congbas eswer ewel l hi ddeni next ens i veunder gr oundbunk er smaki ngi tver y di fficul tt odes t r oy .
Weaknes soft heAmer i cant r oops
Amer i cant r oopshadl ow mor al e.T heaver ageagewasni net eenandi nex per i enced.T hey becamef r us t r at edatnotbei ngabl et ofightbackandwer ef r i ght enedi ns uchahos t i l e count r y. L os sofMor alSuppor tathome+t hei mpactoft hemedi a a TheMedi hadas i gni ficanti mpact .Ast heWarwast hefir s tt el evi s edwar ,Amer i canpubl i c eal i t yofwar becameawar eofwhatwashappeni ng.Amer i cansr eal i z edt hes t ar kr andwer e
hor r i fied att hebar bar i cnat ur eofAmer i canat t acks .I ts howedchi l dr enbei ngbur nedby acr ed napal m andvi l l agesmass e. g.MyLai . USat i nt heus eofhor r i ficweaponss uchasnapal m agai ns tci vi l i ansandt heuseof r oci t i es chemi cal def ol i ant swhi chdes t r oyed veget at i on,pol l ut edt hel andandpoi s onedpeopl e andt hi shor r i fiedpeopl e. T heAmer i cansl os ts uppor tathomewheni tbecamecl earaf t ert heT etOffens i vet hatt he dnotwi n USAcoul t hewarands t ar t edt ous eunconvent i onal t act i cs . ycos t l y Publ i copi ni onwaschangi ng.T hewarwasver i nt er msofmi l i t ar ys u ppl i esandy ett he T etOffens i vepr ovedVi et congcoul ds t i l lat t ackSai gon. ugs Asmor eandmor es ol di er sr et ur nedi nbodybags orwer econs i der edt obeondr ,publ i c opi ni ont ur ned.
I tl edt oopencr i t i ci s m ofJohns on–“Hey ,Hey,LBJ,how manyki dsdi dyouki l l t oday”. uppor toft heVi et names e T heUSAhadnos peas ant s .T heygener al l yvi ewedt heAmer i cans asi nvader sandchos et os uppor tt heVi et congwhooffer edt oi mpr ovet hei rl i ves .
Johns onhadt ochanget hepol i cyaf t ert heT etOffens i veasher eal i s edwarcoul dnotbe et nami s at i on wonmi l i t ar i l y .Pol i cyofVi wasadopt ed. T hehumanandeconomi ccos twast oohi gh
Cas ual t i eswer ehi gh.Over50, 000t r oopswer et ol os et hei rl i ves .By1968,300wer edyi ngeach week.Mos tAmer i cansknew ar el at i veorf r i endwhohaddi ed. T heeconomi ccos tofwarwashi gh.By1968t hewarcos t ed$30, 000mi l l i onayear .T hi smeant cut backsathomeons pendi ngons oci al r ef or m.T hecos twashi ghl i ght edbyt heT et Offens i ve.T her ewer e500, 000t r oopsi nVi et nam andAmer i cawass pendi ng$2030bi l l i ona yearyetl i t t l ei mpr es s i onwasmadeandt heVi et congwer eabl et ol aunchmaj oroffens i ves . T hi shuges pendi ngmeantcut backsi ns pendi ngons oci al r ef or m. I n1967Li f eMagaz i necal cul at edi tcos t$400, 000f oreachVi et congguer r i l l aki l l ed.
