Cuban Missile Cuban Missile CrisisCrisis

How far is Cuba from How far is Cuba from the coast of Florida?the coast of Florida?

90 miles90 miles

After the Spanish American After the Spanish American War, what country’s War, what country’s

corporations controlled much corporations controlled much of the commerce of Cuba?of the commerce of Cuba?

The United StatesThe United States

BackgroundBackground

Cuba, small island, Cuba, small island, 90 miles from FL90 miles from FL

U.S. businesses U.S. businesses controlled much of controlled much of Cuba, U.S. military Cuba, U.S. military base (Guantanamo)base (Guantanamo)

1959, Fidel Castro 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Batista overthrows Batista (US-backed dictator)(US-backed dictator) Castro enters Havana

1959

What happened that What happened that worsened U.S.-Cuban worsened U.S.-Cuban relations after Castro relations after Castro

took power?took power?

Castro nationalized Castro nationalized U.S. industries, i.e. U.S. industries, i.e.

sugarsugar

Relations WorsenRelations Worsen

Castro takes over U.S. Castro takes over U.S. 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

By Autumn 1962, Cuba has By Autumn 1962, Cuba has received 1000s of USSR received 1000s of USSR missiles, jets, boats & missiles, jets, boats & personnelpersonnel

Kruschev embraces Castro

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

To help a new Communist stateTo help a new Communist state To get a launch base for inter-continental To get a launch base for inter-continental

missiles (ICMs)missiles (ICMs) To test strength of new U.S. president, JFKTo test strength of new U.S. president, JFK Khrushchev wanted to force JFK to bargain over Khrushchev wanted to force JFK to bargain over

U.S. missiles in EuropeU.S. missiles in Europe

Why does this cartoonist think that Khrushchev was interested in

Cuba?

14 October 1962, U.S. U-2 spy plane 14 October 1962, U.S. U-2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR takes photos of suspected USSR

missile sites in Cubamissile sites in Cuba

• Missile sites nearing completion, Missile sites nearing completion, could be ready in 7 dayscould be ready in 7 days

20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missiles!

The Missiles: The Missiles: LocationsLocations

The world holds

its breath….

Pres. Kennedy had 6 Pres. Kennedy had 6 options—what were they?options—what were they?

Option Option #1#1

Air StrikeAir Strike At least against missile sites, and At least against missile sites, and

perhaps against wider targetsperhaps against wider targets May provoke a Soviet response in West May provoke a Soviet response in West

BerlinBerlin

Do NothingDo Nothing Ignore missiles in Cuba. Ignore missiles in Cuba. U.S. had military bases in 127 U.S. had military bases in 127

different countries including Cuba. different countries including Cuba. U.S. had nuclear missiles in several U.S. had nuclear missiles in several

countries close to the Soviet Union. countries close to the Soviet Union. Therefore, only right that the Soviet Therefore, only right that the Soviet

Union should be allowed to place Union should be allowed to place missiles in Cuba.missiles in Cuba.

Option Option #2#2

Option #3Option #3

Diplomacy/NegotiateDiplomacy/Negotiate Offer the Soviet Union a deal Offer the Soviet Union a deal USSR remove missiles in USSR remove missiles in

CubaCubaU.S. withdraw its nuclear U.S. withdraw its nuclear missiles from Turkey and Italy.missiles from Turkey and Italy.

Option #4Option #4

Military BlockadeMilitary Blockade Use the US Navy to block any missiles from

arriving in Cuba Announce that any ships coming into Cuba

would be searched for weapons before entering Soviet ships could decide to not stop when Soviet ships could decide to not stop when

U.S. ships blocked them which could trigger U.S. ships blocked them which could trigger gunfire and possible escalationgunfire and possible escalation

InvasionInvasion Send troops to overthrow Castro Send troops to overthrow Castro Missiles could then be put out of Missiles could then be put out of

actionaction

Option #5

Option #6Option #6

Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons Use nuclear weapons against Use nuclear weapons against

Cuba and/or the Soviet Union. Cuba and/or the Soviet Union.

What would you have done?What would you have done?

1. Air Strike2. Do Nothing3. Diplomacy/Negotiate4. Military Blockade5. Invasion6. Nuclear Weapons

With a partner, rank the options from your most preferred option to your least preferred option

What actually What actually happened?happened?

10/20--JFK decides 10/20--JFK decides to blockade Cubato blockade Cuba

10/22-- Publicly 10/22-- Publicly calls on calls on Khrushchev to Khrushchev to remove weaponsremove weapons

10/24 Soviet ships 10/24 Soviet ships (accompanied by (accompanied by submarine) submarine) approach blockade approach blockade zonezone

10/24, 10:32 am, 10/24, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop & Soviet ships stop & turn roundturn round

What happened next?What happened next?

10/25-- Photos show continued construction of 10/25-- Photos show continued construction of missile sitesmissile sites

10/26--Kennedy receives offer: we’ll remove 10/26--Kennedy receives offer: we’ll remove missiles if you end blockade & promise not to missiles if you end blockade & promise not to invade Cubainvade Cuba

10/27--JFK receives 210/27--JFK receives 2ndnd letter calling for letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey toowithdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

10/28--Khrushchev 10/28--Khrushchev agrees to dismantle agrees to dismantle Soviet missiles in CubaSoviet missiles in Cuba

U.S. publicly declares U.S. publicly declares it will never invade it will never invade Cuba & secretly agrees Cuba & secretly agrees to dismantle missiles in to dismantle missiles in TurkeyTurkey

What is this cartoonist trying to say about the difficulties facing

Kennedy during the Crisis?

OutcomeOutcome Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed, Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed,

but without nuclear missilesbut without nuclear missiles

World saw the futility of the idea of Mutually World saw the futility of the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)Assured Destruction (MAD)

Supported theory of containment & co-Supported theory of containment & co-existence because alternatives unimaginableexistence because alternatives unimaginable

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

U.S. & U.S.S.R Negotiate a nuclear test ban U.S. & U.S.S.R Negotiate a nuclear test ban treatytreaty