Section 3
Foreign Policy in the Early 1960s
Think about how the
United States purses
relationships with other
countries. Create a list
of what you think
should be our foreign
policy goals.
The
failed
invasion of Cuba
by a group of
Anti-Castro forces
In 1961.
Barrier
built by the
East German
government in 1961, to
prevent East Germans
from escaping to West
Berlin.
1962
crisis that arose
between the United
States and the Soviet
Union over a Soviet
attempt to deploy
nuclear missiles in Cuba.
Treaty
signed in
1963, in which the
US and Soviet Union
agreed not to test
nuclear weapons
above ground.
President
Kennedy's
proposal for
cooperation among
nations of the Western
Hemisphere to meet the
basic needs of people.
Federal
program
established to send
volunteers to help
developing nations
around the world.
President Kennedy acted
boldly in response to a
series of dramatic cold
war crises in Cuba and
Berlin. Johnson
continued many of
Kennedy’s foreign
policies.
“Let every nation know,
whether it wishes us well or
ill, that we shall pay any
price, bear any burden,
meet any hardship, support
any friend, oppose any foe
to assure the survival and
the success of liberty”.
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address
Bay of Pigs
Invasion
The
US backed dictator
Fulgencio Batista was
overthrown by
revolutionary Fidel
Castro in 1959
America
broke off
diplomatic relations
with Cuba after Castro
seized American
owned property in
Cuba.
Cuba
began to
develop relations
with the Soviet Union
The US feared that
this would bring
rebellion throughout
Latin America.
Under
Eisenhower, the
CIA planned to train
Cuban opponents of
Castro in Guatemala.
After the training was
complete, they would
invade Cuba and
overthrow Castro.
Although
Kennedy
faced resistance
about the mission,
he decided to go
ahead and in 1961
they invasion took
place.
The
(5:35 minutes)
Invasion
United
States participation
in the invasion was exposed
to the world
Latin American countries
were angered that the US
violated non-interference
agreements
European leaders were
concerned about Kennedy’s
leadership
Construction of the
Berlin Wall
After
WWII, Germany was divided
among the United States, Great
Britain, France, and the Soviet
Union.
 The
capital city of Berlin was
divided as well.
 West Berlin (West Germany) was
controlled by the Allies: US, Britain,
and France
 East Berlin (East Germany) was
controlled by the Soviets.
The
Soviets failed to
cut off access to Berlin
in 1948 (Berlin Airlift
prevented it).
In
1961, Soviets
demanded a treaty that
would permanently
divide the city.
Kennedy
met with
Nikita Khrushchev in
Vienna, Austria to
discuss the proposal.
The
Soviets made a
public ultimatum and
Kennedy felt bullied.
Kennedy
increased
defense spending,
the number of men
drafted and built
fallout shelters across
the country in case of
nuclear war.
To
build the
Berlin Wall in
August 1961.
Construction
(2:23 minutes)
The Cuban Missile
Crisis
October
16, 1962, an
American spy plane
photographed the Soviets
building missile bases on
Cuba.
 Although
this didn’t change the
nuclear threat as the Soviets
could already bomb the US,
Kennedy needed to respond.
Kennedy
ordered the US
forces at full alert.
Bombers and missiles
were armed with nuclear
weapons.
The fleet was ready to
move.
Soldiers were prepared
to invade Cuba.
Kennedy
addressed the
nation and told the
Soviets to remove the
missiles form Cuba.
He authorized a naval
“quarantine” around
Cuba
The purpose was to stop
the Soviets from bringing
more missiles to Cuba.
Timeline of events
 October 24, 1962 -
the
“quarantine” went into
effect.
 October 25, 1962 - a Soviet
ship crossed the line.
 It was only an oil tanker and
was allowed to proceed.
 Several other Soviet ships
were heading to Cuba, but
suddenly turned back.
October
26, 1962 –
Khrushchev sent a
letter to Kennedy
asking him to end the
quarantine. If he did,
the Soviets would
remove their missiles.
October
27, 1962 –
Khrushchev sent a
second letter to Kennedy
demanding the US to
remove its missiles from
Turkey in exchange for
the removal of Soviet
missiles from Cuba.
The
US accepted the
terms of the first letter
and ignored the second.
The
two countries were
never so close to
nuclear war and haven’t
been that close since.
On
the Brink of
Nuclear War
(5:30 minutes)
Outcomes:
A
“hot line” was established
between the two countries so
that they could discuss issues
at a moment’s notice.
 The Limited Test Ban Treaty
was signed in the summer of
1963, which eliminated above
ground testing of nuclear
weapons.
Kennedy’s
Plan
 It included cooperation
among nations of the
Western Hemisphere to meet the
basic needs of people: shelter,
work, land, health, and schools.
 To encourage developing nations
to ally themselves with the
democratic countries of the
West.
 He
pledged $20 billion to
support the work of the
Alliance.
 Latin countries believed he
was simply trying to stop the
spread of communism and
therefore it didn’t live up to
expectations.
Established
in 1961
 Federal program established to send
volunteers to help developing
nations around the world.
 They work as educators, health
workers, and technicians.
When
Johnson became
President, he had his own
foreign policy problems.
 They
included threats of the
spread of communism in Latin
America and Asia.
The
Dominican Republic
 The island was attacked by
rebels.
 Johnson believed
Communists were the cause.
 He sent 22,000 marines to
the island
 Their
presence tipped the
balance away from the
rebels.
 The provisional government
backed by the US was
installed and elections were
held the next year.
Vietnam
 There
was an on-going
conflict in Southeast Asia
between the Communistic
North Vietnam and nonCommunist South Vietnam.
 By 1963, 16,000 military
advisors were already in
South Vietnam.
 The US was providing aid to
them as well.
 In
the 1964 election,
Johnson opposed more
direct involvement.
 By 1965, he could no longer
wait and the US became
more involved in propping
up the South Vietnamese
government with troops and
money.