The Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days on the
The Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days on the Brink of Nuclear War
January 1, 1959 • Fidel Castro’s revolutionary forces take control of Cuba. • Overthrew and exiled corrupt U. S. backed President Bautista Significance: Background information. Fidel Castro was Anti-Imperialist/US involvement in Cuban affairs. Felt that Cuba wasn’t controlled by Cubans.
January 3, 1961 • Two Years later, after Castro seized and nationalized many U. S. businesses(oil, banks, etc), Cuba and the U. S. cut diplomatic ties. Significance: Castro is free to pursue the Communist/Socialist ideals he believes in and start an alliance with The Soviet Union. Castro begins to receive military aid from the U. S. S. R. in the form of non-nuclear defensive Missiles.
April 12, 1961 • Though unhappy with how the U. S. interests have been treated in the new Cuba, President Kennedy publicly pledges to not use U. S. military forces to overthrow Castro. • Significance: While technically true, the CIA of the U. S. has been training and arming a group of Anti-Castro, Cuban revolutionaries in Guatemala to start a revolution to overthrow Castro and had given authorization for this to happen 8 days before(April 4).
April 15 -20, 1961 • The Bay of Pigs Invasion is Launched from Guatemala • Significance: -5 days later, Kennedy was proven to have lied when US bombers are used in the Invasion • Cuba/Castro is pushed further toward Soviet influence • It is believed this is the true origin of the Cuban Missile Crisis
June 4, 1961 • President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev meet for the first time at a Summit in Vienna. • Significance: Both had been in contact about trying to deescalate world tension that had built with the Cold War and Nuclear Build-up. • Both realize a world event/situation could get out of control in the future and lead to conflict. • Nothing is accomplished at Vienna
August 10, 1962 • President Kennedy is informed there are possible Nuclear Missiles in Cuba. • Significance: The Kennedy administration is blindsided by this information. • The Soviets have potentially placed Nuclear Missiles into the Western Hemisphere for the first time.
August 31, 1962 • U. S. has evidence that the Soviets have moved missiles to Cuba • Significance: Congress is secretly informed and the U. S. military gets involved • Behind the scenes the U. S. is on high alert-Public doesn’t know
October 14, 1962 • A U. S. U 2 spy plane takes photos of confirmed Nuclear Missile sights in Cuba. • Significance: Visual evidence forces Kennedy to start making plans for a possible war • Meets with Security Council to decide how to proceed.
October 16, 1962 • President Kennedy Meets with Security Council Advisors to decide how to proceed. • Significance: This group usually meets to decide matters of utmost importance, especially related to military action.
October 17, 1962 • Confirmation that Intermediate and Long Range Nuclear Missiles are in Cuba. • Significance: Missiles can reach enough cities to kill 80 million Americans in less than 15 minutes.
October 18, 1962 • President Kennedy meets with Soviet Officials who deny the Missiles are in Cuba. • Significance: The U. S. knows the Soviets are lying and have to move to the next step in escalation.
October 20, 1962 • President Kennedy meets with National Security Council to choose final action. • Significance: Kennedy will pick one of 4 outcomes • Surprise First Strike Nuclear War with Cuba. • Use the United Nations to mediate • Ignore and do nothing • Form a Naval Blockade to restrict any further Soviet involvement
October 22, 1962 • President Kennedy informs public of the Crisis and the U. S. Naval blockade. • Significance: Is a move that stopped the Soviet Union, but was not a direct act of War on either USSR or Cuba. • Entire Country is focused on situation.
October 23, 1962 • Premier Khrushchev accuses the U. S. of piracy. • Significance: Was a weak response to the U. S. but it avoided war. • Caused the Soviets to have to stop their ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
October 26, 1962 • Premier Khrushchev offers to remove missiles if U. S. lifts blockade and promises to not invade Cuba. • Significance: The Soviet are the first to soften and offer a solution. • There is a possible peaceful solution in sight.
October 27, 1962 • A US spy plane is shot down over Cuba. • Khrushchev also secretly demands that the US remove some missiles from Turkey. • Significance: Country raises it’s Nuclear readiness level to Defcon 2, the highest it’s ever been.
Readiness condition DEFCON 1 Exercise term Readiness Nuclear war is imminent Maximum readiness FAST PACE Next step to nuclear war Armed Forces ready to deploy and engage in less than 6 hours ROUND HOUSE Increase in force readiness above that required for normal readiness Air Force ready to mobilize in 15 minutes DEFCON 4 DOUBLE TAKE Increased intelligence watch and strengthened security Above normal readiness measures DEFCON 5 FADE OUT Lowest state of readiness DEFCON 2 DEFCON 3 COCKED PISTOL Description Normal readiness
October 28, 1962 • President Kennedy agrees to lift Blockade and not invade Cuba if USSR removes all missiles. • Significance: Nuclear War is averted. • Secretly Kennedy also agreed to take the missiles out of Turkey.
The Aftermath • The World/US was forever changed because it had never come that close to Nuclear Annihilation. • Kennedy/US appeared stronger. • Even though Khrushchev was the calmer head, he was seen as weak and too Liberal by the Hard-Line Communist back in Russia, and was soon removed from power. • U. S. Sanctions on Cuba were put in place in 1963 and crushed their economy for over 50 years.
The Cold War Review Game!!!
What are the names of the two ideologies that make up the foundation of the Cold War?
What are the names of the two international organizations that formed as a result of The Cold War?
What was the first major conflict of The Cold War?
What was the name of the non-military plan that the U. S. employed to stop the spread of Communism?
Can you name two Cold War era leaders from the former Soviet Union?
What are the names of the two conferences that tried to set up a peaceful Post WWII world?
What type of foreign policy did the U. S. have to give up on in the new Post WWII world that it had relied on in the past?
Name three Cold War era presidents?
What was a main difference with regard to Germany between the US and USSR?
What was the name of the Economic Plan of the Truman Doctrine that helped rebuild War damaged countries?
In which country during the Cold War would you see a concern with meeting everyone’s basic needs?
What ideology strives for a classless society and the equal distribution of wealth?
Which country believes in Lassiez Faire economics in business?
What was the name of the Russian expert who advised the US on the way the Soviet mind works?
What is the name for the paranoia that gripped the U. S. and caused many to be falsely accused?
What Act made it illegal to advocate for the overthrow of the US government?
What does the anacronym M. A. D. stand for?
What is the name of the US Senator who drummed up a lot of the anti-communist fervor in the 1950’s? Bonus Point: What state was he from?
What is the name of the married couple who were tried, convicted, and executed for selling Nuclear secrets to the Soviets?
What kind of spy plane took the pictures of the missiles in Cuba?
Who won the Korean War and when did it end?
What ended the Cold War?
What did Kennedy agree to do if Khrushchev removed the missiles from Cuba?
True or False, the US Military was not involved in the Bay of Pigs Invasion to overthrow Castro. Bonus: What does that mean?
How many US citizens were potentially in danger if the Cuban Nuclear Missiles were launched?
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