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The Cuban Missile Crisis. You Make the Call. Political Cartoons. What is a political cartoon? Drawings that express the artist’s point of view about a situation or event Can criticize, show approval, or draw attention to an issue Can be serious or funny
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The Cuban Missile Crisis You Make the Call
Political Cartoons • What is a political cartoon? • Drawings that express the artist’s point of view about a situation or event • Can criticize, show approval, or draw attention to an issue • Can be serious or funny • Use symbols & other visual clues to communicate their message
Growing Tensions • 1945 America successfully tests world’s 1st atomic bomb • 1949 Soviet Union developed • Both sides compete in a race to build enough nuclear weapons to defeat the other & more powerful • Both test ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missiles)
Uh-oh…Sounds like Trouble • 1958-U.S. spy plan shot down while taking photos of Soviet military instillations • 1961-Soviets build the Berlin Wall to divide democratic West Berlin, communist East Berlin • 1961-Communist Revolution in Cuba • Fidel Castro suspends elections, jails & executes opponents, controls media, takes over economy • Soviet Union & China are allies & provide aid • Bay of Pigs-we helped Cubans try to overthrow Castro…huge disaster
There are Missiles!!! • 1962- A U.S. spy plane photographed Soviet offensive nuclear missile sites in Cuba. The site at the top right hand corner is labeled MRBM (medium range ballistic missile) with a range of 2,200 miles.
Task A • You are an advisor to President Kennedy. What do you advise the president to do?
Task A • The president asks you to assess these 5 possible responses. How would you prioritize these possible response? What are the positives and negatives of each? • 1. Ignore the missiles. • 2.Initiate a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from bringing further supplies to the island. • 3. Invade Cuba. • 4. Launch an airstrike against the missile sites. • 5. Send an diplomat to discuss the matter with Soviet leader Krushchev
Task B • Respond to the 3 situations the President might face and offer your recommendation for what the president should do if: • 1. The soviets fire on American naval vessels enforcing the blockade. • 2. Cuban commanders launch one of the missiles already in Cuba toward the U.S. • 3. The Soviets wait it out for a few weeks or months until the crisis ends.
Your Assignment • The Cuban Missile Crisis is the perfect example of brinkmanship: the willingness to go to the brink or edge of war. • Create your own political cartoon that expresses brinkmanship during the Cold War. Make sure the visuals and symbols you use help express a clear message.