Transcript Cuba: impact of crisis - presentation

On 25 October 1962 the Americans demanded an emergency meeting of the UN to challenge the
Soviets over their intentions in Cuba. The Soviets had categorically denied there were missiles on the
island until US Ambassador Adlai Stevenson stepped forward and did this … (extract from ‘13
Days’). What does the clip tell us about the US response to the crisis? Does this provide any more
evidence it was a domestic or an international crisis?
 LOs
Who ‘won’ the Cuban
missile crisis?
TBAT explain the results of Cuba
To assess its impact on superpower
relations during the Cold War
 Your task
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Read p. 109-111 (top 2 paragraphs). Divide your
page in half and list the evidence on one side
which suggests that Kennedy’s actions helped
resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis
In the other column, list evidence that other
individuals or factors were responsible
Who or what do you think was responsible
for resolving the Crisis
 Your task
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Read p.110-111 and note down the positive
effects outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis in
one colour. In a different colour note down the
problems with these solutions
Extension. What does Philips mean, the CMC
was ‘less about missiles than it seemed’?
ExComm, 1962
Results of CMC (1962)
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Gave Kennedy a foreign-policy success –
removal of Soviet weapons from USA’s
‘backyard’
Kennedy assured USSR he wouldn’t remove
Castro from Cuba
Removal of US weapons from Turkey
Use of ‘flexible approach’ – brinkmanship &
diplomacy
‘Hot line’ telephone link
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963)
Long-term effects
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Threat of nuclear retaliation led to ‘tacit cooperation
among bitter antagonists’ (Gaddis)
Alternative military strategies developed, ‘limited war’,
e.g. Korea & Vietnam
Brinkmanship & threat of massive retaliation
MAD
Continuing need for conventional weapons & military
superiority
Technological advances, e.g. computer technologies
Economic costs – civilian sector held back
 Your task
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Divide into two groups. Using evidence from your
notes and sources F-I on p.113, make a list of points
that could be used to support or challenge the
argument that the CMC led to a significant
improvement in superpower relations.
Write a short judgement in answer to the question,
‘How far would you agree with the view that the CMC
was a hinge that produced the possibility of a changed
direction in the arms race?’ Use evidence from the
sources & your own knowledge.
This house believes that the CMC led to a significant improvement in superpower
relations. Discuss
 Plenary
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Give 3 positive & 3 negative outcomes from
Cuba
How far would you agree with the view that
Cuba was a turning point in Cold War politics?
 Plenary
How accurate is this depiction of the Cuban missile crisis? Who or
what else would you add to the picture? Extension. How
different was Cuba different from the Berlin Blockade?
 Homework
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Produce a detailed essay plan in answer to the
question:
To what extent did the nuclear arms race make
the world a more dangerous place in the years
1949-63.
Include notes on your Introduction,
Development & Conclusion as well as key
evidence you would discuss