US History
April 9, 2014
Cuban Missile Crisis
Warm UP: Where is Cuba in relation to
the US? Why would we care if the
USSR had missiles there?
s. 3; DOK: 1-3; LT: I can explain why the
Russians pulled their missiles out of
Cuba.
Why did the Russians pull their missiles
out of Cuba?
• In 1959, Cuba became a Communist country, led by Fidel Castro. This
development brought the Cold War close to home because Cuba is 90 miles
off the coast of Florida.
*John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and oversaw two major events that
involved Cuba: 1) the Bay of Pigs invasion; 2) the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• The “Hour of Maximum Danger”
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=29DCDDD5-57CA-466096AC-E34EBCEEA4E5&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
• answer the following questions:
• • According to the video, why did the Russians pull the missiles out of
• Cuba?
• • What do you think they mean by “delicate, behind-the-scenes
• negotiations?”
• Today we’re going to look at some of those “delicate” negotiations.
• s. 3; DOK: 1-3; LT: I can explain why the Russians pulled their missiles out of Cuba.
Why did the Russians pull their missiles
out of Cuba?
• Cuban Missile Crisis Documents A-C and
Guiding Questions.
• answer the questions in pairs.
• s. 3; DOK: 1-3; LT: I can explain why the
Russians pulled their missiles out of Cuba.
Why did the Russians pull their missiles
out of Cuba?
• Debrief:
• According to these documents, what deal did the U.S.
strike with the U.S.S.R.?
• Why was this deal kept secret?
• Is this deal mentioned in the classroom textbook?
• Why might the textbook not have mentioned this deal?
• Who seems more scared or on the defensive in this
documents?
• What does this event show you about how people felt
during the Cold War?
s. 3; DOK: 1-3; LT: I can explain why the Russians pulled their
missiles out of Cuba.
Exit
• Why did the Russians pull their missiles out of
Cuba?
• s. 3; DOK: 1-3; LT: I can explain why the
Russians pulled their missiles out of Cuba.