1. COLD WAR – LECTURE 4
Case Study: The Cuban Missile Crisis
2. LESSON AGENDA
By the end of the lesson, students should be able
to:
Appreciate the background to the Cuban Crisis
Analyse the roles of the key players in the crisis (namely
the US, USSR and Cuba)
The outcomes of the crisis and its effect on the Cold
War.
3. CAUSES
The USA had been plotting to overthrow Cuba’s non-
democratic leader, Fidel Castro ever since he took control
of Cuba by force in 1959
The US believed Castro was intent on spreading
Communism in the region. The US provided funding and
training to exiled to Cuban rebels who wanted to
overthrow the Castro government.
These Cubans tried to invade Cuba in 1961 via the Bay of
Pigs. The invasion failed .
4. CAUSES
Castro was angered by the invasion attempt and the economic
sanctions imposed by the USA.
He thus sought to protect Cuba through an alliance with the
Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union was worried about the US nuclear missiles
based in Turkey, because they were only about 240 kilometres
away from the nearest Soviet cities. Nikita Khrushchev, the
leader of the Soviet Union, felt that he should respond by building
nuclear missile sites near the USA.
5. CAUSES
Khrushchev offered to protect Cuba, and Castro
allowed him to place nuclear missiles secretly on
the island, Castro accepted the Soviet Union’s offer
of missiles and protection because he feared a US
invasion of Cuba
6. THE COURSE OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Initial Stage
US Spy plane (U-2) flew over Cuba and took photographs that
showed several Soviet nuclear missiles there.
US President John F. Kennedy saw this as a big threat to the
US and was determined that the missiles should be removed
from Cuba.
He ordered a naval & air blockade (quarantine) of Cuba.
7. THE COURSE OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Second stage:
US Navy ships took up positions around Cuba, ready to
stop Soviet ships from carrying more missiles to Cuba.
Kennedy also warned Khrushchev that if the missiles were
not removed, the US would invade Cuba.
He also said that if the Soviet missiles in Cuba were fired at
the US, the US would retaliate by firing nuclear missiles at
the Soviet Union.
The Soviet ships carrying the missiles and missile parts
were ordered by Khrushchev not to break through the
blockade.
8. THE COURSE OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Third Stage
President Kennedy received a letter from Premier
Khrushchev stating that he would remove the missiles in
Cuba if the US promised not to invade Cuba and if the US
removed its missiles in Turkey.
These conditions were acceptable to President Kennedy.
Khrushchev then publicly announced that the Soviet
Union would remove its missiles from Cuba and the US
announced that it would not invade Cuba.
A nuclear holocaust had been averted.
9. AFTERMATH OF THE CRISIS
The US ended its blockade (quarantine) of Cuba
after all the Soviet missiles were removed and were
brought back to the Soviet Union.
In 1963, US nuclear missiles in Turkey were quietly
removed.
10. IMPACT
Better US-Soviet Relations
Both countries realized that in a nuclear war no one country
would be the victor. As a result, superpower relations were
now more stable – both did not want to start a nuclear
holocaust.
In 1963, a direct hotline was established between Washington
and Moscow – leaders could contact each other quickly in
case of an emergency
Both sides supported disarmament and the need to limit the
build up of weapons:
1963 both signed a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear
weapons.
1969 both signed a Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons – both agreed not to share technology with other
countries to prevent more countries from developing nuclear
weapons.
11. IMPACT
Cuba remained a Communist State
Castro remained in power with the Soviet Union’s
assurance that it would help him if Cuba was attacked
by the US.
US gave up its plans to topple Castro
12. IMPACT
Khrushchev fell from power
The Cuban Missile Crisis led Khrushchev to fall from
power in the Soviet Union. His offer to bolster Cuba was
criticized by members of the Communist party
In 1964, he was removed from his post as the leader of
the Soviet Union.
13. IMPACT
Tense Soviet-Chinese Relations
After the Soviet Union removed missiles from Cuba,
China accused the USSR of being weak by seeking
“peaceful co-existence” with Capitalist regimes.
China’s leader – Mao Ze Tung wanted the struggle with
Capitalist to continue and claimed that China was the
true leader of world Communism
The quarrel between China and the Soviet Union
divided the Communist worldwide. Many communist
parties around the world broke into groups whose
members could not decide whether to follow the USSR
or China
14. LESSON ROUND-UP
Group Work:
Which do you think was the most important impact of
the Cuban Missile Crisis? Why?