1.Reasons for the Cuban Missile Crisis – the Background

2.Who is to be blamed – US, USSR, Cuba?

3.The actual proceeding of the crisis – What happened?

4.The outcome/impact - Concept of victory vs failure

1. Who won? – US, USSR, Cuba?2. Who lost? – US, USSR, Cuba?

Key Things to note for this topic: Possible SBQ directions

How would you characterise the difference between the Communist and the democratic system?

Try to think of one reason why someone will be attracted to communism and one reason why one might be attracted to capitalism?

List at least one reason each why one would hate communism or capitalism.

Historical Background

Where is Cuba?

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What was the background to the events in Cuba?Cuba, small island, 160 km from coast of Florida

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

1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Battista (US-backed dictator),

establishing Communist government. Why was Cuba so Why was Cuba so

important to the important to the Americans?Americans?

The main characters of this event

Nikita KhruschevNikita Khruschev

Fidel CastroFidel Castro

John F KennedyJohn F Kennedy

Anti- castro

Castro government using seizure of american business to fatten themselves

fat castro govt vs skinny malnourished cubans

American people trying to get the Cubans to think what will happen when they run out of foreigners

Will target the local company next

discredit the castro govt

Source published in the washington post 1960

What happens when they run out of foreigners?

Public show of unity and friendship during the UN Conference

Castro and Khrushchev at the UN conference

NO

America did not respect self determination

YES

1)Castro Government – not legitimate : Gain control through revolution

2)Domino effect – fear of Latin american countries falling into communist hands

3)Anger over nationalisation of am coys

Did the US have the right to try to change the government in Cuba by force?

Bay of Pigsunsuccessful April 1961 invasion to overthrow the government of

President Fidel Castro.United States CIA-backed invasion by 1,400 Cuban exiles and a

number of American citizens formed into Brigade 2506 Claimed to be directed by President John F. Kennedy

Khrushchev’s view

Kennedy’s view

American Perspective

Castro government illegitimate and unpopular

Need to ensure self determination and protect West from communist encroachment.

Soviet Perspective

US actions threaten world peace

Need to protect Cuba

Differences in viewpoints

SS-4 SANDAL MRBM on parade in Red Square, Moscow. It could launch a 3 megaton warhead in an estimated range of 1020 nautical miles.

The story unfolds…

What happened during the October Crisis?

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

Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be ready in 7 days

US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missiles

Events – The danger of Cuba

Kennedy’s advisers told him he had 10 days before Cuba could fire the missiles at targets in America. Kennedy realised he had to act

The danger of Cuba

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The video you are about to see is a reenactment of the White House Meeting in 1962, from the movie “Thirteen Days” (2000)

It depicted the various options available for John F Kennedy with regards to the Cuban Missile Crisis

Watch the video and write down the options available in the worksheet and discuss the possible implications of his actions

Video

Response Likely outcome

Least aggressive response

Moderate aggressive response

?? ??

Most aggressive response

Full scale war to invade Cuba • Image of US? – Act of war

• USSR into the picture to help Cuba – full scale war – WW3?

• Nuclear weapons to be used on both sides – M.A.D?

What happened during the October Crisis?20 October, Kennedy decides to blockade Cuba

22 October, Kennedy publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove weapons

What happened during the October Crisis?

23 October Khrushchev refuses to acknowledge blockade or presence of Soviet missiles on Cuba

24 October, 1st Soviet ships (accompanied by submarine) approach 800 km exclusion zone

What happened during the October Crisis?

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

25 October, aerial photos showed continued construction of missile sites

26 October, Kennedy receives a letter offering to negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of blockade & US invasion threat

27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

What happened during the October Crisis?

27 October, US U2 plane shot down over Cuba & pilot killed. Kennedy decides to ignore second letter, but accepts terms of 1st letter

28 October, Khrushchev agrees to dismantle Soviet missiles in Cuba

THE USSR HONOURS ITS AGREEMENT

A U2 photo on November 5 shows Soviet military equipment being reloaded for transportation back to the USSR.

What was the outcome of the crisis?

Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without nuclear missiles)

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

Helped renew the thaw – world saw the futility of MAD• In 1963, they agreed a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. • Cuba was the start of the end of the Cold War. Moscow-Washington permanent hotline between White

House & Kremlin set up•Supported theory of containment & co-existence because

alternatives were unimaginable