Transcript Kennedy`s Foreign Policy

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy
1960-1963
Essential Question
• What were the key foreign policy
challenges the United States faced during
the Kennedy administration?
What new directions did JFK
take in dealing with
communism?
Main Idea: President John F. Kennedy
sought new ways to deal with the challenges
and fears of the Cold War.
What new direction did JFK take
in dealing with communism?
• JFK continues anti-communist policies
• JFK increased spending on nuclear arms
What was strength Through
Flexibility?
• Communist countries start using guerrilla
warfare tactics. (small bands of soldiers
using sudden ambushes)
• U.S. introduces flexible response:
Special Forces Units such as the Green
Berets ( troops that were ready to fight
guerrilla warfare anywhere around the
world)
How did the U.S. gain strength
through aid?
• U.S. spends money in various regions of
the world to attack poverty & to make
communism seem less attractive
• In 1961 JFK signed an executive order
(presidential directive) creating the Peace
Corps (volunteers work in other countries
in order to provide them with help)
Cold War Confrontations
• Main Idea: The Kennedy administration
responded to Cold War crises in Cuba and
Berlin
Cuba
• 1959 Fidel Castro takes control in Cuba
and set up a communist dictatorship.
• Cuba became allies with the Soviet Union
worrying the U.S. since it was only 90
miles south of Florida
• The U.S. was determined to make Cuba
democratic that they supported a coup
(overthrow of government)
What was the Bay of Pigs?
• A CIA supported attempt to overthrow
Castro’s government.
• CIA trained Cuban rebels attacked Cuba &
were defeated when JFK refused to
provide them with air support
The Bay of Pigs was a disaster
& had 3 long term effects
1. Kennedy never completely trusted military
& intelligence advice
2. Nations in Latin America lost trust in
Kennedy
3. Soviet Premier Khrushchev concluded
that Kennedy was not a strong leader and
could be bullied
What was the Berlin Wall?
• 16 years after WWII the city of Berlin is
still divided.
• Soviets want U.S. out of Berlin JFK says
no & sends even more troops to Berlin
• Soviets build a concrete wall separating
East & West Berlin to keep people from
leaving East Berlin.
• The Berlin Wall symbolizes communist
oppression
What was the Cuban Missile
Crisis?
• Main Idea: The United States forced the
Soviet Union to withdraw Soviet missiles
that had been placed in Cuba.
Cuban Missile Crises
• Oct. 1962 U.S. spy plane discovers
launching sites for nuclear missiles being
built in Cuba
• JFK orders a blockade (close off Cuba)
of Cuba until missile sites were destroyed
• U.S. threatened to destroy any Soviet
ship attempting to break the blockade
Cuban Missile Crisis
• Any missile attack from Cuba against any
Western country would be considered an attack
by the Soviet Union & U.S. would respond with a
nuclear attack against Soviet Union
• After a 5 day showdown the Soviets agree to
dismantle the nuclear missile sites & leave Cuba
• The U.S. agrees not to invade Cuba
• Kennedy stands up to the Soviets and shows
Premier Khrushchev that he cannot be bullied
What was the Rivalry in Space?
• Kennedy promised to put a man on the
moon by the end of the 1960’s
• N.A.S.A. (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration) was given extra funding to
lead the program
• In 1962 John Glenn becomes 1st
American to orbit the Earth
• July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong becomes 1st
person to ever walk on the moon