Transcript The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBBYXt9Uyk0
 In the late nineteenth century (1898), during
the Spanish-American War, the U.S.A. had
gained control of Cuba.
 By the 1950’s the Americans were supporting the
Fulgencio Batista Regime in Cuba (seized power
illegally in 1933, a dictator President).
 More importantly, the Americans totally controlled
the Cuban economy.
 Before January 1, 1959 = Various attempts
had been made to recapture the country of
Cuba but by the 1950’s it was clear that no
social or economical progress would be made
unless their was a violent revolution.
 Fidel Castro, organized a guerrilla force,
which would overthrow Batista on
January 1, 1959.
 At first it was only a slightly left-wing
government made up of a mixture of
Marxists and Liberals.
 After the revolution the relationship between
the U.S.A. and Cuba did not change; yet,
once Castro nationalized the American
owned factories the US and Cuba
became enemies.
 In July 1960 the United States stopped
buying Cuban sugar.
 After this Cuba signed an agreement
with the U.S.S.R in which they would
buy Cuban sugar and provide aid to the
nation.
 In January 1961 the U.S.A. broke off all
diplomatic relations with Cuba.
 In April 1961, President Kennedy
devised a plan in which the United
States would help Cuban patriots
recapture Cuba.
 This ill-planned invasion (no air
support) was put down by the
Cuban forces and the U.S.A. suffered
a severe blow of embarrassment.
 After this event, Castro
announced that Cuba was,
indeed, a Marxist state.
 The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation
in 1962, during the Cold War, between the
Soviet Union and the United States
regarding the Soviet deployment of nuclear
missiles in Cuba.
 The missiles were apparently placed to protect
Cuba from further planned attacks by the
United States.
 The missiles were
apparently placed to
protect Cuba from
further planned
attacks by the United
States.
1) The Soviet Union was
now behind in the
space race. The United
States was already
capable of launching
ICBM’s, while the Soviet
range was limited to
targets in Europe. So if
Khrushchev could get
missile bases in Cuba he
could equalize this
situation.
2) Cuba and the USSR
feared an American
invasion. So now with
the missiles in range to
hit American soil directly,
Cuba could enjoy the fact
that an American
invasion was unlikely to
occur.
3) Perhaps if the Soviets
were to put missiles
next door to the United
States, Khrushchev
could convince the U.S.A.
to remove their
missiles in Turkey.
 In August, 1962 U-2
spy planes saw and
photographed surface
to air missiles in Cuba.
 These were for sure
Soviet missiles.
 Also there were Sovietbuilt war planes capable
of carrying nuclear
bombs along the launch
pads in Cuba.
 The United States of America was
left with three options:
1) To draw up a solution where the
U.S.A. would negotiate with the
Soviets.
2) To set up for a conventional attack
and invasion.
3) To set up a naval blockade not
allowing Soviet ships to enter Cuba.
 Eventually, President
Kennedy chose to have
the naval blockade
(quarantine) which
would be very close as
the starter to a worldwide nuclear war.
Video: JFK + Cuban Missile Crisis
Announcement
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YkJxQT_0Y
 This was the decision
made by President
Kennedy.
 The United States Navy
set up a blockade around
Cuba, thereby defying
Soviet ships to
attempt to steam by
and continue the build
up of weapons.
 The crisis heightened as the
Soviet ships approached
the blockade.
 It was at this time that the
whole world knew that if a
conflict was to occur at the
blockade, it would spark a
world wide nuclear war.
 During this crisis it was clear that both Kennedy
and Khrushchev wanted a clear victory and
both of them did not want to back down.
 On the day Kennedy went public with the crisis,
he placed the military on a DEFCON three rating.
 Two days later he changed that to DEFCON two.
 Note: DEFCON stands for Defensive
Readiness Condition and a DEFCON one
rating would be a state of war.
 On Wednesday, October 24 the Soviet ships
that were heading towards the blockade turned
back.
 Although this occurred, by no means was the
crisis between the two superpowers over.
 After that Khrushchev sent two letters to
Kennedy stating that the United States must
promise not to invade Cuba and the second
letter stating that the US missiles in Turkey
must be removed.
• Kennedy wanting his victory decided to totally
ignore the second letter and obey the first.
• This was done and Khrushchev accepted
Kennedy’s word on Cuba. Interestingly,
Khruschev did not speak about Turkey.
 The Cuban Missile Crisis was very significant
due to the fact that two superpowers who each
possessed a nuclear arsenal came eye to eye
and almost created a war which in the end
could have ended life on earth.
 For 14 days in 1962 the United States and
the Soviet Union faced each other in a struggle
that brought the world to the brink of a nuclear
war.
 As one leader waited for the other to back
down, the world was at a stage where one
small encounter could cause the world to come
to an end.
 As you see, not only in this conflict but through
out the Cold War, both countries had the
power to destroy the opponent but both
countries were afraid to start a war that
would see not only the world come to an
end but both countries lose.
 In simpler form, this crisis was significant
because the United States and the Soviet
Union both knew that if this nuclear war was to
start, in the end both countries would lose
and that is why both superpowers did not want
to use their nuclear arsenal.
1.
Why do you think the Soviet Union became very close
with Cuba once the United States declared Cuba it’s
enemy?
2.
Why do you think President Kennedy devised a plan
that wasn’t very thought out if he wanted control of
Cuba?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFmaY&feature=related
3.
Do you think it was fair that the United States had
missiles in Turkey but did not allow Soviet missiles in
Cuba?
4.
Do you think using the naval blockade was the best
solution in stopping the Soviet missiles from reaching
Cuba?
5.
Do you believe that if Khrushchev did not back down a
nuclear war would occur?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFmaY&feature=related