Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 5.2.3
Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis
After the Cuban Missile Crisis, there was a move towards a detente (a relaxing of relationships between East and West).
Consequences for the USA
- The Cuban Missile Crisis showed that there was no appetite for a war between the USA and USSR. This strengthened the doves' position politically in the USA.
- A 'hotline' connecting the US President and Leader of the Soviet Union was created so that they could communicate immediately during a crisis.
Consequences for the Soviet Union
- Even after 1962, the Soviets accumulated more and more nuclear weapons. By the year 1965, the USA and USSR had the same number of nuclear missiles.
- The USSR looked weaker than the USA. The USSR had changed its course in response to the blockade, and it was not public knowledge that American missiles had been removed in Europe.
- Krushchev was removed as the leader of the Soviet Union 2 years later.
Consequences for Cuba
- Relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union remained very strong.
- Brezhnev would go on to visit Cuba in 1974 as the relationship blossomed.
Nuclear treaties
- In August 1963, the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed by the USA and USSR.
- Nuclear weapons could no longer be tested above ground.
- The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 agreed not to use nuclear weapons in outer space.
- This seemed like a patch to the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty.
- If nations could not test above the surface of the Earth, there was an incentive to test in space.
Nuclear treaties continued
- In 1968, both countries signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- This stopped the USA and USSR from sharing their nuclear missiles with other nations.
Test yourself on Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Which of the following about the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis are correct?
When was Khrushchev ousted as Russian leader?
Agreements about Nuclear Weapons
Impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the USSR
Which 1963 treaty stopped nuclear weapons being tested above ground?