How effectively did the USA contain the

spread of Communism?
Cambridge IGSCE History - Core content: Option B Topic 5
How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism?
Focus Points
This Key Question will be explored through case studies of the following:
America and events in Cuba, 195962
American involvement in Vietnam.
Specified Content
events of the Cold War:
o American reactions to the Cuban revolution, including the missile crisis and its aftermath
o American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Past Questions on Cuban Missile Crisis

Describe how relations between the USA and Cuba became worse when Castro took power.
Describe the immediate impact on USCuban relations (up to Jan 1961) of Castro coming to
power.
Describe the response of the USA to Castros takeover of Cuba.
Describe relations between the USA and Cuba from 1959 to the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.
It was tense as the American-backed ruler Batista was overthrown by Castro, a
communist. Kennedy was humiliated. Kennedy feared other countries becoming Communist
(Domino Theory).
Castro took over some American businesses in Cuba, especially agricultural businesses. He
took their land and distributed it to his supporters among Cubas peasant population.
It was hostile but there was no direct confrontation. USA was unwilling to get directly involved
even when Castro took over American owned companies and land. USA refused to buy
Cuban sugar from July 1960 and in October 1960 all trade with Cuba was ended.
In 1961, USA broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba as it was unable to tolerate Soviet
influence so close.
USA was determined to remove Castro and to starve Castro into submission. In April 1961 The
US supported a direct invasion the Bay of Pigs.

Kennedy supported thousands of Cuban exiles in USA who tried to overthrow Castro at the
Bay of Pigs.
Describe the Bay of Pigs incident.
The USA decided to support an invasion by those Cuban exiles forced out by Castro to
overthrow Castro. The exiles received training and weapons from the CIA.
Rather than a direct invasion, Kennedy supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 anti
Castro exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow him. In April 1961 the exiles landed at the Bay of
Pigs and were defeated by 20,000 Cuban troops. It failed disastrously.
There was no popular uprising and the exiles were easily killed or captured by the larger
Cuban forces.
Although not directly implicated, Kennedy was humiliated.
Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion take place in April 1961?
Large numbers of Cubans, who supported Batista, fled from Cuba when Castro took control.
These exiles hoped to return and therefore they put pressure on the US government to help
them.
The USA did not like Castro, who had been a close ally of the Soviets.
The USA wanted to help Cuban exiles who demanded action.
In 1960, Castro allied himself with the USSR. Khrushchev signed a trade agreement giving
Cuba $100 million in economic aid. This annoyed the US government. Later Castro started to
receive arms from the USSR.
Kennedy was not prepared to tolerate a Soviet satellite in the USAs sphere of influence.
Castro took over many US businesses and distributed land to Cuban peasants.
USA wanted to overthrow Castro because of his communist beliefs, and, therefore the CIA
was authorised to investigate ways to remove Castro.
Pressure groups found support from the American media, who produced a relentless stream
of criticism of the Castro regime. This influenced government.

Why was the Bay of Pigs invasion a failure for the USA?
Why did the Bay of Pigs (April 1961) invasion result in humiliation for Kennedy?
It was badly planned and Kennedy was wrongly advised.
The expected popular uprising of Cubans to support the exiles did not happen, as the CIA
had underestimated the popularity of Castro. The exiles were defeated and the invasion was
a humiliation. Kennedy misjudged Castros defences completely and appeared weak to
Khrushchev.

The 1400 exiles landed in Cuba were outnumbered by 20,000 Cuban troops, with modern
arms, and were killed or captured. This made Castro more popular in Cuba.
Even though Kennedy claimed there was no direct American government involvement in the
invasion, Castro and Khrushchev knew that it had been planned by the CIA. Kennedy had
been humiliated.
The invasion convinced Castro that the USA was an enemy and he looked more to the USSR
for protection.

It suggested to the USSR that Kennedy was weak. It also made Castro and Khrushchev very
suspicious of US policy. In the end, communist Cuba drew closer to the USSR.

The half-hearted invasion suggested to Cuba and the USSR that, despite its opposition to
Communism in Cuba, the USA was unwilling to get directly involved in Cuba.
Khrushchev was scornful of Kennedys pathetic attempt in Cuba.

Why did the Soviet Union place missiles on Cuba?

To defend and give support to Cuba. To bargain with the USA. To defend and extend
communism.
To test the will of Kennedy. To gain the upper hand in the arms race.
Following the Bay of Pigs incident, Castro felt he required more support against possible
American attacks.
Khrushchev wanted to bargain with the USA. If he had missiles in Cuba he could agree to
remove them if the USA removed their missiles from Turkey.
In the context of Cold War, Khrushchev was testing the new President and how strong USA
was.
Khrushchev was so concerned about the missile gap between the USSR and the USA that he
would take every opportunity to close it.
Following the Bay of Pigs incident, Khrushchev was genuinely defending communism in
Cuba.

Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis cause so much alarm?

Why was the USA concerned about Soviet missiles in Cuba?

Russian missiles were close and therefore a threat to the USA and her supremacy in the arms
race.
A nuclear attack could be imminent. There was a threat to world peace. It gave strength to
Cuba.
It was a challenge to Kennedy. It was a threat to world peace. Communism could spread.
If the bases became operational much of the USA would be brought in range of a Soviet
missile attack.
It increased the fear of the spread of Communism in the region where Cuba had already
become Communist.
It seemed that Khrushchev was gaining the upper hand being so close and that the missile
gap was closing.
The USSR wanted bargaining power to get the USA to remove its missiles from Turkey.
In the context of Cold War America was concerned that the USSR was trying to draw them
into nuclear war.
Cuba was gaining in USSR military strength in Americas backyard and they were concerned
about the USSR putting missiles on Cuba.
Khrushchev wanted to test the USA to see how strong they really were. USSR wanted the
missiles as bargaining power to get the USA to remove its missiles from Turkey.
There was potential for a war and for over a week the world was on the brink of nuclear war.

8-mark questions
Khrushchev gained a victory in the Cuban Missile Crisis. How far do you agree?
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a success for the US policy of containment. How far do you
agree?
Which leader, Kennedy or Khrushchev, handled the Cuban Missile Crisis better? Explain your
answer
Khrushchev handled the Cuban Crisis better than Kennedy. How far do you agree?
Khrushchev claimed that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a victory for the Soviet Union.
The USA gained more than the USSR from the Cuban Missile Crisis. How far do you agree?

USA victory:
The USA avoided a nuclear war.

The USA had remained superior in the nuclear arms race.

The direct threat of Soviet missiles and Soviet influence was removed from Cuba. Nuclear
weapons were removed from USAs doorstep and, therefore, removed the danger from a
nuclear attack on major cities.
Kennedy had shown Khrushchev that he would not accept the expansion of direct Soviet
military action and influence near the USA.
Kennedy increased his reputation at home and worldwide by avoiding war and forcing
Khrushchev to back down. This was the beginning of Khrushchevs fall from power, but it also
made Soviet leaders wary of their actions which might offend the USA.
The crisis damaged Khrushchevs prestige. Some leading Soviet politicians were angry that
their country had been forced to back down. They played a significant part in Khrushchevs
defeat by his opponents in 1964.
Kennedys reputation rise tremendously in USA and throughout the West. He had stood up to
Khrushchev and forced him to back down and his decisive action removed the threat of a
nuclear base in Cuba.

Communist victory:
Khrushchev ended the crisis and became the peacemaker who was willing to make the first
move to compromise.
Cuba remained a Communist state despite the removal of missiles. USAs containment policy
failed in Cuba, and later other communist groups appeared in Central America, such as
Nicaragua and El Salvador.
The Soviets maintained significant influence on Cuba. Cuba remained a strong ally of USSR
and could depend on it for protection and aid.
The price the USA had to pay for the removal of Soviet missiles was the removal of US missiles
in Turkey.

Both:
Both sides came to agreements to keep peace and avoid a nuclear war.
Both sides realised the danger of a nuclear war and were willing to compromise to avoid it.
It was agreed to set up a hot line between Washington and Moscow to enable direct
communication to take place. In 1963 a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was never a threat to world peace. How far do you agree?

Yes it was as everybody was worried what might happen. The missiles were just for protection.
Behind the scenes neither leader wanted war. Neither leader wanted to lose face.
Advisers were recommending war.
If as he stated, Khrushchev wanted just to protect Cuba following the Bay of Pigs incident,
then it might be argued that he did not intend war.
Khrushchev was not impressed with the advice from Castro about getting in the first strike and
instead wrote an urgent letter to Kennedy.
Kennedy bought time in delaying his reply to the first letter in the hope that any war could be
avoided and the Russians would back down.
Quietly the USA agreed that they would remove their missiles in Turkey to avoid conflict. The
Americans wanted the warheads on Cuba to be dismantled immediately or else they would
attack Cuba. At this stage there was a real fear of a nuclear war starting. Castro actually
suggested that Khrushchev should get in the first strike.
Following the first letter from Khrushchev the Americans did not know what to do. The military
leaders recommended an immediate air attack on Cuba and Robert Kennedy gave the
Soviet Ambassador an ultimatum that if the missiles were not removed the US would attack
Cuba. Both leaders realised how close to war they had come. To prevent such as crisis again
they set up a direct telephone hot line.

Past Questions on Vietnam War

What was the Domino Theory?
It was something the Americans believed. It was related to the USAs Cold War containment
policy.
The Americans believed that if one country in South East Asia turned communist all the
others would fall to communism, one after another, like a row of dominoes. (2)
They were afraid that if communists took over South Vietnam, communism would go on to
take over the world. In addition to Vietnam, the countries under threat were Laos, Cambodia,
Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia.
Who were the Vietcong?
The National Liberation Front - North Vietnamese communists under Ho Chi Minh, as well as
opponents of the South Vietnamese government.
They fought against both the South Vietnam government and the American armed forces
between 1959-75. Initially a group of communist guerrilla fighters, it increased in numbers over
the course of the conflict.
They were backed by the USSR and China.

They had the support of the peasants as they treated them well.
What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
- A route named after the leader of North Vietnam.
- A supply link route between North and South Vietnam, passing through Laos and
Cambodia.
- A network of jungle tracks for bicycles, trucks and tanks.
- It was used to move troops from North Vietnam after 1964.
Why did the USA get involved in the war in Vietnam?
After the Second World War the USA feared the expansion of communism across Europe and
Asia. They believed the future of US prosperity and democracy was at risk if communism was
allowed to spread.
In 1954 the French were driven from their colony and the US feared that communism would
spread.
Communism was spreading and by 1956 the Soviet Union, China, eastern Europe and North
Korea all had communist governments. Americans felt increasingly threatened by the spread
of communism.
This fear was based on the domino theory where if one country became communist others
would follow. If South Vietnam fell it would be followed by Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma,
India and Pakistan.
Because of the Tonkin incident, in 1964 the North Vietnamese opened fire on the US navy
and the US Congress gave the new President, Johnson, the necessary powers to deal with
the problem.

Why did the USA find it impossible to defeat the Vietcong?

Why did the Vietnam War become increasingly unpopular with the people of America?
The USA was unsuccessful in Vietnam because of the oppositions use of guerrilla tactics.

8-Mark questions for Vietnam

How far can the American withdrawal from Vietnam be blamed on military failure?
How far was the US public opinion the most important reason for Americas withdrawal from
Vietnam?
Difficulty terrain + Guerrilla + Military failure

American forces were no match for the Vietcong in guerrilla tactics. The principles were
simple. Retreat when the enemy attacks, raid when the enemy camps, attack when the
enemy tires and pursue when the enemy retreats. The tactics were a nightmare. Guerrillas
had no uniform and no base camps / headquarters. They were hard to tell from the peasants
in the villages. They attacked and then disappeared into the jungle. They came out of the
jungle and carried out acts of sabotage or sudden ambushes or booby traps. Their aim was
to wear down the enemy soldiers and reduce morale. US soldiers lived in constant fear of
attack.
The Americans were unable to distinguish between villagers and Vietcong members.
Guerrilla tactics brought low morale.
In the jungle, the Vietcong built extensive networks of underground tunnels with storehouses,
workshops, kitchens and hospitals. These were very difficult to find and destroy.
The difficulty of the terrain meant young American soldiers could not get used to fighting in a
foreign jungle.
The guerrillas merged with the people and the jungle. American soldiers were inexperienced
and unable to cope with guerrilla warfare because it was different to what they were used
to.
Strength of Vietcong
The Vietcong were fighting in their own country. They knew their own terrain well
The Vietcong continued to receive supplies from North Vietnam and China down the Ho Chi
Minh Trail.
They had the support of many Vietnamese people and were easily absorbed back into
village life.
Vietcong were backed by USSR & China.
The Vietcong bases were well hidden in extensive underground bunkers making it very
difficult to destroy.

Weakness of the American troops

American troops had low morale. The average age was nineteen and inexperienced. They
became frustrated at not being able to fight back and were frightened in such a hostile
country.
Loss of Moral Support at home + the impact of the media
The Media had a significant impact. As the War was the first televised war, American public
became aware of what was happening. Americans realized the stark reality of war and were

horrified at the barbaric nature of American attacks. It showed children being burned by
napalm and villages massacred e.g. My Lai.

US atrocities in the use of horrific weapons such as napalm against civilians and the use of
chemical defoliants which destroyed vegetation, polluted the land and poisoned people
and this horrified people.
The Americans lost support at home when it became clear after the Tet Offensive that the
USA could not win the war and started to use unconventional tactics.

Public opinion was changing. The war was very costly in terms of military supplies and yet the
Tet Offensive proved Vietcong could still attack Saigon.
As more and more soldiers returned in body bags or were considered to be on drugs, public
opinion turned.
It led to open criticism of Johnson Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today.
The USA had no support of the Vietnamese peasants. They generally viewed the Americans
as invaders and chose to support the Vietcong who offered to improve their lives.
Johnson had to change the policy after the Tet Offensive as he realised war could not be
won militarily. Policy of Vietnamisation was adopted.
The human and economic cost was too high
Casualties were high. Over 50,000 troops were to lose their lives. By 1968, 300 were dying each
week. Most Americans knew a relative or friend who had died.
The economic cost of war was high. By 1968 the war costed $30,000 million a year. This meant
cutbacks at home on spending on social reform. The cost was highlighted by the Tet
Offensive. There were 500,000 troops in Vietnam and America was spending $20-30 billion a
year yet little impression was made and the Vietcong were able to launch major offensives.
This huge spending meant cutbacks in spending on social reform.
In 1967 Life Magazine calculated it cost $400,000 for each Vietcong guerrilla killed.