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THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

Delve into the events leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s, the Bay of Pigs, USSR-Cuba relations, US response, naval blockade, and the crisis aftermath. Discover how close the world came to nuclear war.

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THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

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  1. THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS Lobj: to consider how close the world came to war in the 1960’s

  2. CUBA • 160 kilometres off the coast of Florida • Before 1959 –a poor country controlled by big American businesses led by Batista • Batista was cruel and was kicked out of power by Fidel Castro • Castro nationalised all industries & made alliances with the USSR • The USA now had an enemy on its doorstep

  3. The Bay of Pigs 1961 • The CIA persuaded President Kennedy that Castro could be overthrown • The rebels (Batista) landed on Cuba’s south coast • The attack was a disaster • The locals supported Castro & Kennedy was massively embarrassed

  4. THE USSR ARMS CUBA • Dec 1961 – Castro declared himself a Communist • This convinced the USA that Cuba was a satellite state of the USSR • USA launched “operation Mongoose” aim to disrupt the Cuban Govt – destroy bridges, power plants, oil refineries • Even consider blowing up a US plane – blaming Cuba & invading

  5. Cuba depended on USSR for help • Sept 1962 – medium range nuclear weapons and bomber planes arrived in Cuba • 14 Oct – US spy planes photographed Soviet launched pads in Cuba • Photo proved these missiles were offensive not defensive • Missiles had a range of 4000km – meant every US city could be destroyed • More ships carrying missiles were on their way from USSR = CRISIS

  6. JFK became President because he promised he would be tough on the Communists • By placing missiles in Cuba – the Soviets were testing how strong he was and how far he was prepared to go • USA was based in Turkey – next to USSR • Khrushchev believed he was doing something similar

  7. NAVAL BLOCKADE • Place boats around Cuba to stop Soviet missiles getting there • If this did not succeed JFK was prepared to use options 5 & 6 • 24th October 1962 – Soviet ships encountered US ones • If USSR defied the blockade there could have been war – Khrushchev ordered the ships to return home

  8. RESULTS OF THE CRISIS • Gave the world a shock – on the brink of nuclear war! • Both the USA & USSR claimed victory • REALITY – Khrushchev was the victor - Cuba stayed Communist & the Turkish missiles were gone • July 1963 – a ‘hot line’ (phone link) was established between Moscow & Washington

  9. What is happening? Who is winning?

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