The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October 1962 when US spy planes discovered Soviet nuclear missiles being installed in Cuba. President Kennedy imposed a blockade of Cuba and demanded the missiles be removed. For 13 days, the US and USSR brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Khrushchev eventually agreed to dismantle the Cuban missiles in exchange for the US agreeing not to invade Cuba and removing its missiles from Turkey. The crisis highlighted the dangers of the Cold War but also showed both sides' interest in avoiding direct military conflict.

1. The Cuban MissileThe Cuban Missile
Crisis (October Crisis),Crisis (October Crisis),
19621962
Mr. Kurtis WernerMr. Kurtis Werner

2. Lesson objectives/questionsLesson objectives/questions
 What was the background to the events inWhat was the background to the events in
Cuba?Cuba?
 How successful were early attempts atHow successful were early attempts at
‘containment’?‘containment’?
 Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?
 What happened during the October Crisis?What happened during the October Crisis?
 What was the outcome of the crisis?What was the outcome of the crisis?

3. What was the background to theWhat was the background to the
events in Cuba?events in Cuba?
 Cuba, small island, 160Cuba, small island, 160
km from coast of Floridakm from coast of Florida
 US ally, US businesses &US ally, US businesses &
US military baseUS military base
(Guantanamo)(Guantanamo)
 1959, Fidel Castro1959, Fidel Castro
overthrows Battista (US-overthrows Battista (US-
backed dictator),backed dictator),
establishingestablishing CommunistCommunist
government.government.
Why was Cuba so important to the
Americans?

4. How successful were early attemptsHow successful were early attempts
at ‘containment’?at ‘containment’?
 Castro takes over USCastro takes over US
businessesbusinesses
 January 1961, US breaks offJanuary 1961, US breaks off
diplomatic relationsdiplomatic relations
 April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400
anti-Cuban exiles attempted toanti-Cuban exiles attempted to
overthrow Castrooverthrow Castro
 Autumn 1962, Cuba hasAutumn 1962, Cuba has
received 1000s of USSRreceived 1000s of USSR
missiles, jets, boats &missiles, jets, boats &
personnelpersonnel
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?

5. Why was the USSR interested inWhy was the USSR interested in
helping Cuba?helping Cuba?
 Cuba was a new Communist stateCuba was a new Communist state
 Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-continentalCuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-continental
missiles (ICMs)missiles (ICMs)
 Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president,Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president,
JFKJFK
 Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over USKhrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US
missile in Europemissile in Europe
Why does this cartoonist
think that Khrushchev was
interested in Cuba?

6. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of
suspected USSR missile sites on Cubasuspected USSR missile sites on Cuba
 Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could beSites nearing completion, experts believe they could be
ready in 7 daysready in 7 days
 15 October US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships15 October US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships
bound for Cuba carrying missilesbound for Cuba carrying missiles
Why have some
modern historians
questioned the
accuracy of these spy
plane pictures?

7. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 20 October, Kennedy20 October, Kennedy
decides to blockadedecides to blockade
CubaCuba
 22 October, Kennedy22 October, Kennedy
publicly calls onpublicly calls on
Khrushchev to removeKhrushchev to remove
weaponsweapons

8. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 23 October Khrushchev23 October Khrushchev
refuses to acknowledgerefuses to acknowledge
blockade or presence ofblockade or presence of
Soviet missiles on CubaSoviet missiles on Cuba
 24 October, 124 October, 1stst
SovietSoviet
ships (accompanied byships (accompanied by
submarine) approach 800submarine) approach 800
km exclusion zonekm exclusion zone

9. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn round24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn round
 25 October, aerial photos show continued construction25 October, aerial photos show continued construction
of missile sitesof missile sites
 26 October, Kennedy receives another letter offering to26 October, Kennedy receives another letter offering to
negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal ofnegotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of
blockade and US invasion threatblockade and US invasion threat
 27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for
withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey toowithdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

10. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 27 October, US U2 plane27 October, US U2 plane
shot down over Cuba &shot down over Cuba &
pilot killed.Kennedypilot killed.Kennedy
decides to ignore seconddecides to ignore second
letter, but accepts termsletter, but accepts terms
of 1of 1stst
letterletter
 28 October, Khrushchev28 October, Khrushchev
agrees to dismantleagrees to dismantle
Soviet missiles in CubaSoviet missiles in Cuba
What is this cartoonist trying to say about the
difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?

11. What was the outcome of the crisis?What was the outcome of the crisis?
 Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (withoutCuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without
nuclear missiles)nuclear missiles)
 Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away withBoth leaders didn’t lose face and came away with
concessionsconcessions
 Helped renew the thaw – world saw the futility ofHelped renew the thaw – world saw the futility of
MADMAD
 Permanent hotline between White House & KremlinPermanent hotline between White House & Kremlin
set upset up
 Supported theory of containment & co-existenceSupported theory of containment & co-existence
because alternatives unimaginablebecause alternatives unimaginable