The Cuban The Cuban Missile CrisisMissile CrisisOctober 1962October 1962

Read your book: pg 271 Read your book: pg 271 - 279- 279

Background to the events Background to the events in Cubain Cuba

Cuba, small island, Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of 160 km from coast of FloridaFlorida

US ally, US businesses US ally, US businesses & US military base & US military base (Guantanamo)(Guantanamo)

1959, Fidel Castro 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Battista overthrows Battista (US-backed dictator), (US-backed dictator), establishing establishing CommunistCommunist government.government.

Why was Cuba so important to the

Americans?

US – Cuban relations in the US – Cuban relations in the 60s60s

Castro takes over Castro takes over US businessesUS businesses

January 1961, US January 1961, US breaks off breaks off diplomatic relationsdiplomatic relations

April, 1961, Bay of April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 anti-Pigs – 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles Cuban exiles attempted to attempted to overthrow Castrooverthrow CastroThe 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?

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

Cuba was a new Communist stateCuba was a new Communist state Cuba was launch base for USSR inter-continental Cuba was launch base for USSR inter-continental

(ballistic) missiles (ICMs or ICBMs)(ballistic) missiles (ICMs or ICBMs) 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 US Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US

missiles in Europemissiles in Europe

Why does this cartoonist think that Khrushchev was interested in

Cuba?

13 13 dangerous dangerous

daysdays

14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites on Cubasuspected USSR missile sites on Cuba

US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missiles… the most dangerous 13 days Cuba carrying missiles… the most dangerous 13 days in History start (16 Oct, 1962 – 28in History start (16 Oct, 1962 – 28thth of October 1962) of October 1962)

What happened? (in What happened? (in short)short)

In the summer of 1962, the Soviet Union In the summer of 1962, the Soviet Union dispatched a fleet of commercial cargo ships dispatched a fleet of commercial cargo ships filled with nuclear missiles, launchers and filled with nuclear missiles, launchers and anti-aircraft guns--all under false manifests--anti-aircraft guns--all under false manifests--across the Atlantic Ocean to Fidel Castro's across the Atlantic Ocean to Fidel Castro's Cuba. Cuba.

Forty thousand Soviet soldiers and Forty thousand Soviet soldiers and technicians began clandestinely erecting an technicians began clandestinely erecting an extensive array of armed missile sites, and extensive array of armed missile sites, and aiming their nuclear-tipped medium range aiming their nuclear-tipped medium range ballistic missiles at the United States.ballistic missiles at the United States.

What happened? (in What happened? (in short)short)

Nikita Khruschev and his key military Nikita Khruschev and his key military advisors thought that the missiles would advisors thought that the missiles would remain unnoticed until November, and remain unnoticed until November, and then he planned to suddenly reveal them then he planned to suddenly reveal them to the United States as a fait accompli. to the United States as a fait accompli. They were nearly successful. They were nearly successful.

But in mid-October, with the Soviet But in mid-October, with the Soviet tankers still enroute, American U-2 spy tankers still enroute, American U-2 spy planes and CIA photo analysts detected planes and CIA photo analysts detected several Medium Range Ballistic Missiles several Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) on Cuban soil, their sites still (MRBMs) on Cuban soil, their sites still under construction. under construction.

What happened? (in What happened? (in short)short)

In the weeks that followed, the US In the weeks that followed, the US government decided to do all they could government decided to do all they could to ensure the removal of the missiles. to ensure the removal of the missiles.

Never before in history has the world Never before in history has the world come closer to a general nuclear war. come closer to a general nuclear war.

Homework this week: Read page 271 – Homework this week: Read page 271 – 279.279.

See page 275 – 278 for a day by day See page 275 – 278 for a day by day account of the crisis.account of the crisis.

US Missiles in TurkeyUS Missiles in Turkey

USSR missiles in CubaUSSR missiles in Cuba

Missile sites in Cuba in Missile sites in Cuba in 60s60s

Movies: 13 days + The Fog Movies: 13 days + The Fog of Warof War

What was the outcome of What was the outcome of the crisis?the crisis?

Cuba remained Communist & heavily Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without nuclear missiles)armed (without nuclear missiles)

Both leaders didn’t lose face and came Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away with concessionsaway with concessions

Helped renew the thaw (détente) – world Helped renew the thaw (détente) – world saw the futility of MADsaw the futility of MAD

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

Supported theory of containment & co-Supported theory of containment & co-existence because alternatives existence because alternatives unimaginableunimaginable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YkJxQT_0Yv=P7YkJxQT_0Y

Original footage of Kennedy TV Original footage of Kennedy TV announcementannouncement

MSN Messenger in History MSN Messenger in History - The Cuban Missile Crisis - The Cuban Missile Crisis

““What if JFK and Khrushchev had What if JFK and Khrushchev had negotiated via MSN Messenger? negotiated via MSN Messenger? Thirteen Days becomes Four Thirteen Days becomes Four Minutes. And also, there are more Minutes. And also, there are more laughs. laughs. www.thesomethingorothers.com”www.thesomethingorothers.com”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUzOktgBBrgv=uUzOktgBBrg