Cuba & Vietnam

1. Cuba & Vietnam Source paper revision – KEY POINTS

2. Cuba – the background • Cuba is 160km south of the USA • It had long been an American ally • The USA had a huge naval base there • The USA had long supported the Cuban leader, Batista • The USA had strong business and trade links with Cuba

3. Enter Fidel Castro… • In 1959, Castro overthrew Batista • Castro quickly eliminated opposition in Cuba • Castro had great charisma and a clear vision for a better Cuba – the majority of Cubans supported him and celebrated the revolution • Castro started to establish communism in Cuba

4. Why did the USA need to take action? • The USA was obviously concerned that a communist government was being established “in their back yard” • The Truman Doctrine stated that the USAs should try and contain communism • Cuban exiles, who had fled Castro’s rule, put pressure on the US government • Castro also seized American businesses and land in Cuba and distributed them to the peasants

5. The USA’s initial response • President Eisenhower asked the CIA to investigate responses in 1960. • Cuban exiles received funding and support. • The USA worked on ways to weaken the Cuban economy • The USA media launched attacks on Castro

6. Castro’s response to the USA • Castro allowed the USA to keep its naval base • He assured the USA that any Americans in Cuba were safe • He allied with the USSR • He signed a trade and aid agreement with the USSR • He secretly started to receive weapons (not nuclear) from the USSR

7. The Bay of Pigs • The new President, Kennedy, authorised the CIA’s plan to overthrow Castro • The USA supplied arms and transport for 1,400 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba • In theory the exiles would quickly grow in support and overthrow Castro • In reality, they instantly met 20,000 well armed Cuban troops • It was a disaster, with all exiles killed or arrested within days

8. The impact of the invasion • The USA was humiliated • Kennedy seemed weak • It strengthened Castro’s position • It increased Castro’s popularity in Cuba • It made Castro & Khrushchev suspicious of the USA • It brought the USSR and Cuba closer together • It made Castro think he needed more protection

9. The Missile Crisis • Soviet arms started flooding into Cuba • In May 1962 this was publicly announced • The USA was willing to tolerate normal weapons, but not nuclear • Kennedy warned the USA he would not tolerate nuclear weapons in Cuba • The USSR said it had no intention of putting nuclear weapons there • On 14th October American spy planes took the first photos of nuclear missile sites in Cuba • More photos confirmed – some sites were nearly finished, more were being started and missiles were on there way • The estimate was that in 7 days the first sites would be ready

10. Kennedy’s options • Kennedy discussed the possibilities with EX COMM • Kennedy was pressured to take the missiles out by air, or launch a full scale invasion, by ‘HAWKS’ • Kennedy was advised to try diplomatic means (going to the United Nations and negotiating) by DOVES • Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba and call on the USSR to withdraw the missiles

11. The blockade • The USA would stop any ships bringing weapons into Cuba • They would do this by enforcing a ‘quarantine’ and stopping and searching any ships which broke the line • It would show the USA was serious, not be too provocative and give Khrushchev the responsibility of solving the crisis • It did not solve the main problem – the missiles already in Cuba were still there, and would soon be operational

12. The timeline 16th October – Kennedy informed 20th October – Kennedy decides on a blockade 22nd October – Kennedy announces the blockade 23rd October – Kennedy receives a letter denying the missiles 24th October – Blockade begins 26th October – Khrushchev writes to Kennedy and offers to pull the missiles out if the USA leaves Cuba alone 27th October – Khrushchev’s 2nd letter adds the condition that the USA pulls out their Turkish missiles Kennedy accepts the first letter and ignores the 2nd 28th October – Khrushchev agrees to dismantle and return the missiles

13. Why were the missiles there? • To bargain with the USA? (get a deal) • To test the USA? (how strong was JFK?) • To trap the USA? (start a war) • To defend Cuba? • To protect the USSR? (close the ‘missile gap’ and get a ‘first strike’ deterrent)

14. Who won? • Cuba – Stayed Communist, Castro stronger than ever, safe from the USA • USA – Kennedy seemed strong and had got rid of the nuclear threat ‘in their back yard’ • USSR – Khrushchev still had a Communist ally near the USA and was seen as a peacemaker • The world – the hotline and Test Ban Treaty

15. Vietnam – the background • Vietnam is in South East Asia • China and Korea had already fallen to communism in this area • The USA was scared of the ‘domino theory’ • They believed in containment • Before WWII it was ruled by France • After World War II they drove the French out, led by Ho Chi Minh

16. Vietnam – the division • Once France was driven out, the north was mainly ruled by Ho Chi Minh but the south was largely anti-Communist • In 1954 Vietnam was split into north and south • The plan was that elections would be held to decide its future

17. Vietnam – US initial involvement • The USA prevented the elections as they feared Communists would win • In 1955 the Americans helped Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam • Diem was Christian, a landlord and anti-Communist • He was also anti-Buddhist, unfair to peasants and corrupt • The USA gave him $1.6 billion

18. Vietnam – the birth of the VietCong • The NLF (National Liberation Front) was set up in 1960 • It wanted to free South Vietnam from Diem’s rule • It was led by Communists (although at first it did not openly admit this) • It included North and South Vietnamese fighters under the orders of Ho Chi Minh • It was nicknamed the VietCong

19. Vietnam – the work of the VietCong • It started a guerilla war against the South Vietnamese government • It used the Ho Chi Minh trail to send reinforcements and supplies from the north to the south • It attacked government buildings and army bases, and American supply bases • It intimidated peasants that did not support it

20. Vietnam – increasing US involvement • The USA needed to contain communism and help Diem • Now US bases were under threat • Kennedy helped Diem set up ‘Strategic Hamlets’ in 1962 • Between 1962 and 1964 the US sent more and more military ‘advisers’ into Vietnam • Kennedy was clear the USA would not ‘blunder into war’ • The USA was concerned about Diem’s extremism – but even when Diem was overthrown, they supported equally corrupt leaders.

21. Vietnam – full US involvement • In 1963 Kennedy was assassinated • Johnson was more prepared to go to war • In 1964 North Vietnamese boats fired on US ships in the Tonkin Gulf • Soon after, the US Congress gave Johnson the power to go to war • In 1965, Johnson sent the first official soldiers into Vietnam

22. Vietnam – VietCong tactics • Use of booby traps and tunnels • ‘Hit and run’ • “The people are the water. Our soldiers are the fish.” • Respect and use Vietnamese peasants • Terrorise opponents • Ho Chi Minh trail

23. Vietnam – US tactics • Rolling Thunder – military and industrial targets • By mid 1960s, cities and the Ho Chi Minh trail were also bombed including parts of Laos and Cambodia • Agent Orange and napalm • Search and destroy

24. Why didn’t US tactics work? • Bombing couldn’t defeat guerillas • Guerillas use of environment • Inexperienced soldiers • Civilian casualties/public opinion • Mistakes (wrong targets) • Friendly fire

25. Mai Lai • Charlie Company search and destroy in 1968 • Believed most villagers would be at market • Killed 400 civilians • No VietCong found, only 3 weapons • 12 months later the government found out via a veteran • Life magazine aquired photos • Calley, their leader, went on trial for murder • He was imprisoned for 20 years but released after 4

26. Tet Offensive • A major VietCong offensive in 1968 • Attacked 100 cities and other military targets • Saigon directly attacked • Hoped South Vietname would rise and join them but didn’t • Embarrassed US – live pictures of their embassy under attack • Ancient city of Hue destroyed and many civilians dead – was it worth it?

27. Tet Offensive • A major VietCong offensive in 1968 • Attacked 100 cities and other military targets • Saigon directly attacked • Hoped South Vietname would rise and join them but didn’t • Embarrassed US – live pictures of their embassy under attack • Ancient city of Hue destroyed and many civilians dead – was it worth it?

28. Nixon’s plan • After Tet, Johnson slowed down the bombing and said the war could not be won • He started to negotiate • The new President, Nixon, and his advisors Kissinger worked to get the US out of Vietnam • He bombed North Vietnam hard to show he wasn’t weak • He started ‘Vietnamisation’ – taking out US troops but building up South Vietnamese soldiers • He worked closely with the USSR and China so they could put pressure on North Vietnam • He negotiated with North Vietnam

29. Why did US fail? • Guerilla tactics • Failed US tactics • Public opinion • Strength of North Vietnam

30. The end in Vietnam • In 1972 the North tried one last time to conquer the south and failed • In 1973 a treat was signed • There was an immediate cease fire • All POWs would be released in 60 days • US soldiers would go home • South Vietnam would stay independent • Nixon called it “peace with honour”

31. Motivations: Kennedy will tend to speak/write in a way where he does not want to be seen as weak, naïve or indecisive, but where he is naturally cautious about too much aggression.

32. Motivations: Castro will be concerned about Cuba’s position and his own personal standing. He will not want to provoke the USA, but he often writes/speaks for propaganda purposes, portraying himself as the ‘freedom fighter’ and Cuba as an independent country defending itself from foreign intervention.

33. Motivations: Khrushchev will not want to seem weak. He may be hiding things – either by simply denying the missiles are in Cuba, or by suggesting they are there purely to defend Cuba when we know Khrushchev had more selfish aims.

34. Motivations: Johnson will look to justify military action. He will not want to highlight the problems the war is creating and will most likely be optimistic about its outcome.

35. Motivations: Nixon (or his main ally, Kissinger) will be looking for a way out of the war but will most likely continue to justify it. He will want to seem strong, even though he really knows America is in a weak position, so that he can get a way ou of the war ‘on America’s terms.’

36. American attitudes: In Cuba, look out for the different opinions of hawks and doves within the government. In Vietnam, look out for media criticism of the war as it continues to escalate. In Vietnam, be aware of the peace movement but also that the majority of American still supported the war into the 1970s. Look for sources on Vietnam that suggest it is a war that cannot be won

37. Soviet/Cuban/VietCong attitudes: Look for criticism of the American actions. America will often be accused of being hypocrites (fighting for democracy while trying to push their will on others, or worrying about missiles in Cuba when they are just as aggressive elsewhere) American may also be accused of over-reacting in Cuba.