Presentation Transcript

1. CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

   By Greg Zabrodskiy
2. World in 1960s Cold War Ideological war between the West and the Communism Proxy wars (Korea) and stand-offs (Czechoslovakia, Berlin) Nuclear threat Both the US and the Soviet Union possessed nuclear arsenal “Balance of power” was unclear
3. Cuban Revolution Cuban revolt against dictator Fulgencio Batista lead to Communists taking over Cuba in January 1959 Fidel Castro lead the revolutionary government CIA failed to overthrow Castro regime in the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961 The US was not ready to tolerate a communist state so close to its borders
4. Cuban – Soviet Alliance Cuba, under imminent threat of new invasion, was looking for protection from the US Soviet Union wanted to get a communist ally near American borders The two country reached strategic alliance against the US
5. Nuclear Cuba SovietUnion offered to install nuclear missiles on Cuba Cuba: receives protectionfrom further US threats Soviet Union: gainsstrategic advantage against the US Castro approved the Soviet proposal
6. Nuclear Plan Building nuclear base was scheduled to late-summer/early autumn About 60 missiles were to be delivered Secret transport – delivering missiles by civil carriers
7. Looming disaster CIA warns JFK about possible nuclear site in Cuba (Aug 10 1962) U-2 spy flight reveals Surface-to-Air missiles (Aug 23-29 1962) JFK to public: Only defensive missiles are discovered (Sep 4 1962) Another U-2 flight is scheduled for October
8. Crisis Begins New U-2 flight reveals nukes (Oct 15 1962) First day of Crisis JFK is alerted (Oct 16 1962) Keeps information secret Creates Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM) to advise him during the crisis
9. American Response EXCOMM worked on the strategy for 7 days Was not clear if Soviet Union aware of America’s discovery Naval Quarantine The US warship stopped all the incoming vessels to Cuba JFK publicly announces the Quarantine (Oct 22 1962)
10. Quarantine American ships prepared for quarantine (Oct 23 1962) Quarantine starts at 500 mile line from Cuba (Oct 24 1962) Military is on the highest alert level in the US history JFK to EXCOMM: Only invasion can resolve the crisis (Oct 26 1962)
11. Secret Negotiations John Scali (ABC News) meets with the Soviet spy Fomin who asks for contacts in the US government (Oct 26, 1962) The State Department receives 2 offers from Khrushchev 1st letter: Demands freedom for Cuba (Oct 26 1962) 2nd letter: Demands taking US missiles from Turkey (Oct 27 1962)
12. Crisis Peaks Averted The worst day of crisis, “Black Saturday” (Oct 27 1962) U-2 plane shot down from Cuba US dropped small charges on the Soviet nuclear submarine (unaware of the its nuclear weapons) Another U-2 plane makes accidental flight over Soviet territory EXCOMM considers Khrushchev’s offers Agrees on terms of the 1st letter Agrees “informally” on terms of the 2nd letter Khrushchev announces termination of the missile plan for Cuba (Oct 28 1962) American missiles removed from Turkey on Apr 24 1963 PHEW!
13. Crisis Summary Closestthe world ever been to nuclear war Lasted from October 14 to October 28, 1962 Major players JFK – American president Nikita Khrushchev – Soviet leader Fidel Castro – Cuban leader America and Soviet Union had to negotiate to avert new World War
14. Aftermath Since the second part of agreement was secret, the result was looked as a retreat by the Soviets Khrushchev lost his position 2 years later Cuba considered to be betrayed by the Soviets Cuba received its protection from the US Moscow-Washington telephone hotline was established Nuclear containment: banning air testing of nukes Temporary improvement in the US-Soviet relationship

15. QUIZLET

16. A. In 1960 the Western world andthe Communist blocwere engaged in… Nuclear war Cold war World Cup competition Disarmamentdialogue
17. B. The Soviets were interested in Cuba because… It was the best vacation spot for Politburo members It was the world’s leader in sugar production It was located close to American border It could prove that communism could survive in the Western Hemisphere
18. C. Americans learned about the Cuban nuke site from… Khrushchev’s letter to the State Department The Soviet spy, Fomin U-2 photos Cuban emigrants
19. D. Americans tried to defeat the Cuban revolution by… Invasion at the Bay of Pigs Killing all Cuban pigs Embargo on Cuban pork Building a nuclear site at Guantanamo Bay
20. E. During the Cuban Crisis JFK was looking for advice from… EXCOMM Ex-wife X-MEN ABC News
21. F. The US established the naval quarantine to… Keep the Soviet missiles away from Cuba Prevent the spread of swine flu that started at the Bay of Pigs Destroy Cuban economy by keeping the tourists off Prevent Cuba to send sugar to the Soviet Union
22. G. Khrushchev offered to stop nuclear shipment in exchange for assurance that… Cuba is not going to be invaded Castro has the first pick in the baseball draft America stops nuclear testing in the air The US frees Fomin, the Soviet spy
23. H. Khrushchev’s second letter demanded removal American nukes from Turkey. It was relevant because… Turkey was a great vacation spot, just as Cuba Turkey was trying to establish communistic government similar to Cuba’s Turkey was as close to the Soviet border as Cuba to American Turkey’s size is very close to Cuba’s
24. I. One of the consequences of the Cuban Crisis was… A direct flight was established between Washington and Havana America started trading with Cuba A direct telephone line was build between Moscow and Washington Cuban government denounced communism
25. J. Of the most dangerous incidents during the Cuban Crisis was… Americans’ bombing the Soviet nuclear submarine Castro’s being put in charge of launching nuclear missiles The Soviet spy Fomin’s breaking into the ABC News building JFK’s decision not to alert the public about the quarantine
26. Short Essay. Imagine Khrushchev did not write his letters to JFK. How do you think the crisis would have ended?