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Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

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Page 1: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Cuban Missile Crisis13 Days that Changed the almost

changed World

Page 2: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

The Cuban Missile Crisisbrought the world to the brink of nuclear

war in October 1962.

Page 3: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Lesson overview

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?

Page 4: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World
Page 5: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Setting the Stage

1. The Truman Doctrine2. The Marshall Plan3. Containment4. The Domino Theory5. The Berlin Blockade6. 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.

Page 6: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What was the background to the events in Cuba?

Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of Florida

US ally, US businesses & US military base (Guantanamo)

1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Battista (US-backed dictator), establishing Communist government.

Why was Cuba so important to the

Americans?

Page 7: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

How successful were early attempts at ‘containment’?

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 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?

Page 8: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

The Bay of Pigs Invasion 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.

Page 9: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba? 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?

Page 10: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

The Escalation Ladder

1. Do Nothing2. Go to the United

Nations3. Naval Blockade4. Strategic Air

strike5. 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.

Page 11: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What happened during the October Crisis?

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

Why have some modern historians questioned

the accuracy of these spy plane

pictures?

Page 12: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

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.

Page 13: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

The Missiles: One Site

Page 14: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

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.

Page 15: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

It’s time to discuss military options sir. The Soviets still deny that there are

nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Page 16: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What happened during the October Crisis?

20 October, Kennedy decides to blockade Cuba

22 October, Kennedy publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove weapons

Page 17: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What happened during the October Crisis?

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

Page 18: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What happened during the October Crisis?

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

Page 19: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What happened during the October Crisis?

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?

Page 20: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

The American Decision 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. 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 This objective effectively ruled

out isolated diplomacy, and left two options…

Page 21: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Castro’s Role No real role in

decision making Apparently out of

touch with the situation 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”)

Page 22: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

What was the outcome of the crisis?

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

Page 23: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

Who do you think won the missile crisis? Kennedy, Khrushchev or neither? Explain your answer.

Page 24: Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days that Changed the almost changed World

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.