Cuban Missile Crisis
13 Days that Changed the almost changed World
The Cuban Missile Crisis
brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962.
Lesson overview
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What was the background to the events in
Cuba?
How successful were early attempts at
‘containment’?
Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?
What happened during the October Crisis?
What was the outcome of the crisis?
Setting the Stage
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Truman Doctrine
The Marshall Plan
Containment
The Domino Theory
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Wall
Why are these
events so important
when trying to
understand the Cold
War?
Based on your knowledge of the Cold War, outline the reasons why your historical
policy or event helped increase the tension at the outset of the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
What was the background to the
events in Cuba?
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Cuba, small island, 160
km from coast of Florida
US ally, US businesses &
US military base
(Guantanamo)
1959, Fidel Castro
overthrows Battista (USbacked dictator),
establishing Communist
government.
Why was Cuba so important to the
Americans?
How successful were early attempts
at ‘containment’?
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The US committed $100 million to
overthrowing Castro, the CIA tried to sabotage
the economy, they even planned to send him an
exploding cigar! Why did they go to such lengths
after April 1961?
Castro takes over US
businesses
January 1961, US breaks off
diplomatic relations
April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400
anti-Cuban exiles attempted to
overthrow Castro
Autumn 1962, Cuba has
received 1000s of USSR
missiles, jets, boats & personnel
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
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The 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion
was an unsuccessful attempt at
invasion following the Cuban
Revolution that saw Fidel Castro
come to power
It was planned and funded by the
United States
The invasion was carried out by
armed Cuban exiles in southwest
Cuba.
This action accelerated a rapid
deterioration in Cuban-American
relations worsened by the Cuban
Missile Crisis the following year.
Why was the USSR interested in
helping Cuba?
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Cuba was a new Communist state
Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-continental
missiles (ICMs)
Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president,
JFK
Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US
missile in Europe
Why does this cartoonist
think that Khrushchev was
interested in Cuba?
The Escalation Ladder
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Do Nothing
Go to the United
Nations
Naval Blockade
Strategic Air strike
Full Invasion of Cuba
Which policy do you think the USA should have employed with the Soviets?
In groups of 5 or 6 which I will choose – make a case for your option.
What happened during the October
Crisis?
Why have some
modern historians
questioned the
accuracy of these spy
plane pictures?
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14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of
suspected USSR missile sites on Cuba
Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be
ready in 7 days
US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba
carrying missiles
One of our U-2 flights over Cuba has revealed what
analysts believe to be nuclear missiles. Sir, the
missiles look to be from the Soviet Union.
The Missiles: One Site
 Your task
You are about to find out what actually happened during
the Cuban Missile Crisis. Complete a timeline in your
notes. There are 10 key events to include.
It’s time to discuss military options sir. The Soviets
still deny that there are nuclear missiles in Cuba.
What happened during the October
Crisis?
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20 October, Kennedy
decides to blockade
Cuba
22 October, Kennedy
publicly calls on
Khrushchev to remove
weapons
What happened during the October
Crisis?
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23 October Khrushchev
refuses to acknowledge
blockade or presence of
Soviet missiles on Cuba
24 October, 1st Soviet
ships (accompanied by
submarine) approach 800
km exclusion zone
What happened during the October
Crisis?
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24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn round
25 October, aerial photos show continued construction
of missile sites
26 October, Kennedy receives another letter offering to
negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of
blockade and US invasion threat
27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for
withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too
What happened during the October
Crisis?
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27 October, US U2 plane
shot down over Cuba &
pilot killed.Kennedy
decides to ignore second
letter, but accepts terms
of 1st letter
28 October, Khrushchev
agrees to dismantle
Soviet missiles in Cuba
What is this cartoonist trying to say about the
difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?
The American Decision
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In September Kennedy had stated
and Congress had passed a resolution
saying that if the Soviet Union placed
offensive weapons in Cuba we would
not tolerate it.
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Could we then rely solely on diplomacy?
Kennedys thought John could be
“impeached” if he didn’t act in
accordance with his prior warnings
Determined in first 48 hours of crisis
that the removal of missiles was the
primary objective
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This objective effectively ruled out
isolated diplomacy, and left two
options…
Castro’s Role
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No real role in decision
making
Apparently out of touch
with the situation
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Oct. 26: “Aggression
imminent/imperialists
disregarding world
opinion”—Clearly not the
case
Khrushchev plays along to
some extent but it is clear he
disagrees with him (“your
suggestion would have
started a thermonuclear
world war”)
What was the outcome of the crisis?
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Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without
nuclear missiles)
Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away with
concessions
Helped renew the thaw – world saw the futility of
MAD
Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin
set up
Supported theory of containment & co-existence
because alternatives unimaginable
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Who do you think won the missile crisis?
Kennedy, Khrushchev or neither? Explain your
answer.
Homework
Write a short press release explaining the
background, key events & outcome for the
Soviet news agency ‘Pravda’ and for the
White House spokesmen’s speech to
journalists.