Cuban Missile Crisis October 14 th 1962 October
Cuban Missile Crisis October 14 th 1962 – October 28 th 1962
The Cuban Missile Crisis • Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. • Believed having the strongest weapons would keep them safe. • Cold War = Nuclear Arms Race • Development of the Hydrogen Bomb • 10 x more powerful than the atomic bomb
Cuba’s Background • 90 miles off the coast of Florida • U. S. ally; By 1959, 80% of Cuban trade was with the United States. • 1959, Fidel Castro led Cuban Revolution overthrew President Batista
Cuba’s Background: Fidel Castro • Seized power, Nationalized private companies • Taxed American products heavily • By 1961, U. S. broke diplomatic relations
Bay of Pigs • Kennedy Administration executed the Bay of Pigs • CIA’s botched attempt to overthrow Castro using trained Cuban exiles • Result: Cuban government diplomatically aligned itself with Soviet Union
Soviet Union’s interest in Cuba • Political interest • Side with Communist state • Military interest • Cuba serves as launch base for Soviet nuclear missiles • Bargaining over U. S. missiles in Europe
Missiles in Cuba • October 14 th, 1962 • U-2 Spy Plane photographed missile sites • Ready to launch in 7 days
activity You are President Kennedy and have to make a decision about Cuba. You can either: - Bomb Cuba - Attempt to invade Cuba (another Bay of Pigs) - Block more missiles from getting to Cuba For whatever choice you make, provide a positive and negative effects that could occur because of your decision.
ACTIVITY Bomb Cuba Invade Cuba (another Bay of Pigs) Block more missiles from getting to Cuba
What did this mean? • Both the U. S. and U. S. S. R. were in militaristic positions • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=yt 8 SBlx 9 P 9 I&index=3&list =PLhorjka--oj 4 xm 24 OVrd. UNk. P 2 oew. Zh. KUr • Americans feared the results of an attack • Kennedy places a quarantine (naval blockade) around Cuba • Turned away Soviet ships with weapons
- Slides: 10
