1. Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
Andrew Wood and Dave RyanAndrew Wood and Dave Ryan

2. The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

3. Lesson overviewLesson overview
 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?

4. 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?

5. 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 & personnelmissiles, jets, boats & personnel
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?

6. 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?

7. 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
 US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for CubaUS spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba
carrying missilescarrying missiles
Why have some
modern historians
questioned the
accuracy of these spy
plane pictures?

8. Castro’s RoleCastro’s Role
 No real role in decision makingNo real role in decision making
 Apparently out of touch with theApparently out of touch with the
situationsituation
 Oct. 26: “AggressionOct. 26: “Aggression
imminent/imperialists disregardingimminent/imperialists disregarding
world opinion”—Clearly not theworld opinion”—Clearly not the
casecase
 Khrushchev plays along to someKhrushchev plays along to some
extent but it is clear he disagreesextent but it is clear he disagrees
with him (“your suggestion wouldwith him (“your suggestion would
have started a thermonuclearhave started a thermonuclear
world war”)world war”)

9.  Your taskYour task
President John F Kennedy was faced with a number ofPresident John F Kennedy was faced with a number of
extremely difficult decisions that could decide the fate ofextremely difficult decisions that could decide the fate of
the world! Read through the list of options on your taskthe world! Read through the list of options on your task
sheet. Reduce the options to 2 and explain your reasonssheet. Reduce the options to 2 and explain your reasons
to the class.to the class.
Problem-solving task

10. One of our U-2 flights over Cuba has revealed whatOne of our U-2 flights over Cuba has revealed what
analysts believe to be nuclear missiles. Sir, theanalysts believe to be nuclear missiles. Sir, the
missiles look to be from the Soviet Union.missiles look to be from the Soviet Union.

11. The Missiles: One SiteThe Missiles: One Site

12.  Your taskYour task
You are about to find out what actually happened duringYou are about to find out what actually happened during
the Cuban Missile Crisis. Complete a timeline in yourthe Cuban Missile Crisis. Complete a timeline in your
notes. There are 10 key events to include.notes. There are 10 key events to include.

13. It’s time to discuss military options sir. The SovietsIt’s time to discuss military options sir. The Soviets
still deny that there are nuclear missiles in Cuba.still deny that there are nuclear missiles in Cuba.

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. The American DecisionThe American Decision
 In September Kennedy had stated andIn September Kennedy had stated and
Congress had passed a resolution sayingCongress had passed a resolution saying
that if the Soviet Union placed offensivethat if the Soviet Union placed offensive
weapons in Cuba we would not tolerate it.weapons in Cuba we would not tolerate it.
 Could we then rely solely on diplomacy?Could we then rely solely on diplomacy?
Kennedys thought John could beKennedys thought John could be
“impeached” if he didn’t act in accordance“impeached” if he didn’t act in accordance
with his prior warningswith his prior warnings
 Determined in first 48 hours of crisis thatDetermined in first 48 hours of crisis that
the removal of missiles was the primarythe removal of missiles was the primary
objectiveobjective
 This objective effectively ruled outThis objective effectively ruled out
isolated diplomacy, and left two options…isolated diplomacy, and left two options…

18. 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?

19. 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

20.  Your taskYour task
 Read source 1 & 2 and discuss how they differRead source 1 & 2 and discuss how they differ
in their interpretation of the crisis.in their interpretation of the crisis.
 Read all 3 sources and discuss how useful theyRead all 3 sources and discuss how useful they
are to students studying the results of the Cubanare to students studying the results of the Cuban
Missile Crisis.Missile Crisis.
 Who do you think won the missile crisis?Who do you think won the missile crisis?
Kennedy, Khrushchev or neither? Explain yourKennedy, Khrushchev or neither? Explain your
answer.answer.
Sources

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

22. Congratulations Mr. President, Khrushchev isCongratulations Mr. President, Khrushchev is
removing the missiles from Cuba. We made theremoving the missiles from Cuba. We made the
right choices.right choices.