Transcript 11 Cuban Missile Crisis.ppt

The Cuban Missile Crisis
(during the Cold War)
“Arms Race” & “Space Race”: Two
VERY Important Cold War Issues
Who’s
racing?
The US & USSR were
racing…
And this “ain’t no jog-a-thon!!!”
M.A.D.
:
An Important Concept

M.A.D. = “Mutually Assured
Destruction”


By 1960, both sides had ability to
completely destroy the earth.
Both the U.S. & U.S.S.R. assured of the
possibility of completely annihilating each
other if war ever broke out.
CMC Background:
Cuba


1959: Revolution led by
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
& Fidel Castro defeats
pro-U.S. Cuban
dictator.
1959-61: Castro seizes
US companies & asks
for USSR assistance in
trade and in buying
arms (weapons).
Che & Fidel
The Cuban Revolution
The guns and hats of Cienfuegos
and Che. Museo de Revolution,
Havana, Cuba, 2011
The Moncado in
Santiago, Cuba
2011
CMC Background:
Cuba

1961: U.S.
sponsored,
CIA-led “Bay
of Pigs”
invasion by
Cuban exiles
fails to kill
Castro.
Humiliating
for U.S.
July, 2011
***Extra Info: Ways the US tried to
kill Castro***

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Led by C.I.A. (Central Intelligence Agency)
who often contacted the Mafia:
Pistols w/silencers
High-powered rifle w/ telescopic sights
Wanted someone to poison Castro’s cigars
Exploding cigar
Poison pills
Poison-tipped pen
Exploding seashell
Contaminated wetsuit
CMC Background


April 1962: Soviet leader Nikita
Khrushchev agreed to send missiles to
Cuba, a country 90 miles from Florida.
Why?



Protect Cuba from another invasion
Balance U.S. missiles in Turkey
Try to intimidate young, new U.S.
President John F. Kennedy
CMC Background

Oct. 15, 1962: A U-2 (U.S. spy plane)
takes photos of nuclear missile site in
Cuba.
Cuban Missile Crisis:
October 16-28, 1962


Oct. 16 - JFK notified of photos
Oct. 16-22 - US leaders debate
options:
1)
2)
3)


Unannounced first strike
Announced first strike
Blockade*
(* = “final answer”)
Oct. 22 - JFK tells US about missiles
in Cuba & the plans to blockade.
Oct. 28 - Agreement reached w/o
Castro/Cuba; between US & USSR.
JFK & Khrushchev
“sizing each other up”
Cuba Blockade Map
Cuban Missile Crisis:
October 16-28, 1962
Agreement:




Blockade of Cuba ended.
USA promises to leave Cuba alone.
US missiles were removed from Turkey (secret
agreement).
Aftermath - Steps taken to prevent this from
happening again:




1963: Telephone “hotline” between White House
(US) & Kremlin (USSR) set up.
1963: Limited Test Ban Treaty signed to stop nuclear
testing above ground.
1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed w/
agreement that US & USSR would not supply nuclear
technology to other countries.
Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962
a.k.a. “Thirteen Days”
The closest
the world
has ever
gotten to
NUCLEAR
WARFARE!
JFK & Khrushchev
Spelling Bee!!!
-Spell “Khrushchev”