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The Cuban Missile Crisis. Alex Zabrodskiy. Soviet – Cuban Alliance. The Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union Missiles near the US would bring Soviets advantage in arms race. Cuba became communist in 1959 US tried to overthrow Cuban Gov’t Castro felt new invasion was imminent.
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The Cuban Missile Crisis Alex Zabrodskiy
Soviet – Cuban Alliance • The Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union • Missiles near the US would bring Soviets advantage in arms race • Cuba became communist in 1959 • US tried to overthrow Cuban Gov’t • Castro felt new invasion was imminent • Placing Soviet missiles in Cuba would help Cuba stay independent and give the Soviets strategic advantage in the arms race
Soviet –Cuban Alliance • Soviet Union and Cuba strategic alliance against the US • Khrushchev offered installing missiles to Cuba • Cuba – protected from the US • Soviets – can now have Nukes near US • Fidel Castro of Cuba approved the plan
Arming Cuba • Nuke base plan: late-summer to early-fall of 1962 • Civil carriers would be used to transport supplies in secret • Total of 60 missiles and warheads would be transported to Cuba
Warning signs Aug 10, 1962 • CIA warned the President of possibility of Nukes in Cuba Aug 23-29, 1962 • U-2 flight revealed Surface-to-Air missiles Sep 4, 1962 • JFK announcement: only defensive missiles are present • Another U-2 flight is scheduled for October
Crisis Begins Oct 15, 1962 • Day 1 of Crisis • U-2 flight photos reveal Nukes Oct 16, 1962 • JFK alerted of findings • Executive Committee (EX-CONN) created to handle the crisis • JFK keeps info in secret from Americans
America Takes Action • EX-CONN considers choices from ignoring to invasion • 7 days of debates • Naval Quarantine started • The US surrounded Cuba with ships to stop missile shipment • The US weren't sure whether the Soviets know of their discovery
Tension Escalates Oct 22, 1962 • JFK acknowledges quarantine plan to public Oct 23, 1962 • American ships prepared for quarantine Oct 24, 1962 • Quarantine starts at 500 mile line • Military alert raised to the highest level in history
Crisis resolution Oct 27, 1962 • Worst day of crisis –Highest tension between sides • US U-2 plane shot down • Kennedy received 2 letters of negotiations • Accepts terms of 1st letter (freedom for Cuba) • Agreed secretly on the 2nd (removing missiles from Turkey) Oct 28, 1962– End of Crisis • Khrushchev agreed to terminate missile plan in Cuba • America promised to keep Cuba independent
Summary • Closest the world came to nuclear war • Lasted from Oct 14, 1962 to Oct 28, 1962 • Key people: JFK (US President), Castro (Cuban leader), Khrushchev (Soviet leader), EX- COMM (JFK’s advisers) • Fate of millions depended on whether JFK and Khrushchev could agree
Effects of the Crisis • A telephone connection set up between US & Soviet capital for better communication • Led to agreement limiting Nuclear weapons for both sides (including the ones in Cuba) • Leaders signed agreement banning Nuclear testing in air • Improved relationship between the US and the Soviet Union (temporary)
