The Cuban The Cuban Missile Crisis Missile Crisis

(October Crisis), (October Crisis), 19621962

Mr. Kurtis WernerMr. Kurtis Werner

Lesson Lesson objectives/questionsobjectives/questions

What was the background to the What was the background to the events in Cuba?events in Cuba?

How successful were early attempts How successful were early attempts at ‘containment’?at ‘containment’?

Why was the USSR interested in Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?helping Cuba?

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

What was the outcome of the crisis?What was the outcome of the crisis?

What was the background What was the background to the events in Cuba?to the events in Cuba?

Cuba, small island, Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of 160 km from coast of FloridaFlorida

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

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

Why was Cuba so important to the

Americans?

How successful were early How successful were early attempts at ‘containment’?attempts at ‘containment’?

Castro takes over US Castro takes over US businessesbusinesses

January 1961, US breaks January 1961, US breaks off diplomatic relationsoff diplomatic relations

April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow attempted to overthrow CastroCastro

Autumn 1962, Cuba has Autumn 1962, Cuba has received 1000s of USSR received 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?

Why was the USSR Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?interested in helping Cuba?

Cuba was a new Communist stateCuba was a new Communist state Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-

continental missiles (ICMs)continental missiles (ICMs) Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US

president, JFKpresident, JFK Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining

over US missile in Europeover US missile in Europe

Why does this cartoonist think that Khrushchev was interested in

Cuba?

What happened during the What happened during the October Crisis?October Crisis?

14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites on photos of suspected USSR missile sites on CubaCuba

Sites nearing completion, experts believe they Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be ready in 7 dayscould be ready in 7 days

15 October US spy planes identify 20 Soviet 15 October US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missilesships bound for Cuba carrying missiles

Why have some modern

historians questioned

the accuracy of these spy

plane pictures?

What happened during the What happened during the October Crisis?October Crisis?

20 October, 20 October, Kennedy decides Kennedy decides to blockade Cubato blockade Cuba

22 October, 22 October, Kennedy publicly Kennedy publicly calls on calls on Khrushchev to Khrushchev to remove weaponsremove weapons

What happened during the What happened during the October Crisis?October Crisis?

23 October 23 October Khrushchev refuses Khrushchev refuses to acknowledge to acknowledge blockade or presence blockade or presence of Soviet missiles on of Soviet missiles on CubaCuba

24 October, 124 October, 1stst Soviet Soviet ships (accompanied ships (accompanied by submarine) by submarine) approach 800 km approach 800 km exclusion zoneexclusion zone

What happened during the What happened during the October Crisis?October Crisis?

24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and 24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn roundturn round

25 October, aerial photos show continued 25 October, aerial photos show continued construction of missile sitesconstruction of missile sites

26 October, Kennedy receives another letter 26 October, Kennedy receives another letter offering to negotiate over missiles in Cuba offering to negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of blockade and US invasion with removal of blockade and US invasion threatthreat

27 October, Kennedy receives second letter 27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey tooTurkey too

What happened during the What happened during the October Crisis?October Crisis?

27 October, US U2 27 October, US U2 plane shot down over plane shot down over Cuba & pilot Cuba & pilot killed.Kennedy killed.Kennedy decides to ignore decides to ignore second letter, but second letter, but accepts terms of 1accepts terms of 1stst letterletter

28 October, 28 October, Khrushchev agrees to Khrushchev agrees to dismantle Soviet dismantle Soviet missiles in Cubamissiles in Cuba

What is this cartoonist trying to say about the difficulties facing

Kennedy during the Crisis?

What was the outcome of What was the outcome of the crisis?the crisis?

Cuba remained Communist & heavily Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without nuclear missiles)armed (without nuclear missiles)

Both leaders didn’t lose face and came Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away with concessionsaway with concessions

Helped renew the thaw – world saw the Helped renew the thaw – world saw the futility of MADfutility of MAD

Permanent hotline between White House Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin set up& Kremlin set up

Supported theory of containment & co-Supported theory of containment & co-existence because alternatives existence because alternatives unimaginableunimaginable

Your taskYour task

President John F Kennedy was faced President John F Kennedy was faced with a number of extremely difficult with a number of extremely difficult decisions that could decide the fate decisions that could decide the fate of the world! Look in your envelope. of the world! Look in your envelope. Place the events of the Cuban Place the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis in order. Good luck, Missile Crisis in order. Good luck, you have five minutesyou have five minutes….….

Extension taskExtension task

Divide into student A or B. Student A Divide into student A or B. Student A must produce a short press release must produce a short press release explaining the background, key explaining the background, key events & outcome for the Soviet events & outcome for the Soviet news agency ‘Pravda’. Student B news agency ‘Pravda’. Student B must do the same for the White must do the same for the White House spokesmen’s speech to House spokesmen’s speech to journalists.journalists.