1. Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Cuba

3. Cuban Revolution
•
•
U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista
1959 coup – led my Fidel Castro
–
–
•
•
Castro establishes ties with the Soviet Union
and develops Marxist policies
Eisenhower views Cuba as a threat to
democracy in the Western Hemisphere
–
•
Strong nationalist views
Didn’t like the United States’ political and
corporate influence in Cuba
Authorizes the CIA to train and arm Cuban
exiles secretly to overthrow Castro
Kennedy continues this when he takes over
the presidency

4. Bay of Pigs Invasion
•
•
1,400 Cuban exiles were being trained by
the CIA in Nicaragua
Less than 3 months into his presidency,
Kennedy ordered the invasion of Cuba
–
•
April 17, 1961 the troops land at the Bay of
Pigs
–
–
–
•
•
•
U.S. believed an invasion would start a
popular uprising against Castro
Fighting lasts for only 3 days
No popular uprising
Castro’s army surrounds the invaders
Military and political disaster
Weakens the prestige of Kennedy and
strengthens Castro worldwide
Nikita Khrushchev comes across as the
defender of Latin America against U.S.
imperialism

5. The Cuban Missile Crisis
•
October 14, 1962 U.S. spy planes
photograph missile bases being built in
Cuba
–
–
•
•
•
Soviet Union was supplying Cuba with
missiles
Medium-range to intermediate-range
missiles capable of reaching as far north as
Pittsburgh and Detroit, and as far west as
Denver
Obvious threat to the Monroe Doctrine
U.S. doesn’t want the Soviets this close
What should Kennedy do?

6. Group Assignment
•
•
Read the 5 options available to you listed on the website.
As a group, write down which option you would choose if
you were Kennedy
–
•
List 2 reasons you chose the option you did (1 paragraph
each)
As a group, write down which option would be your last
resort if you were Kennedy
–
List 2 reasons you chose the option you did (1 paragraph
each)

7. The Cuban Missile Crisis
•
Kennedy orders a naval blockade to stop the
Soviet Union from delivering any more
missiles and calls for the dismantling of all
missile sites in Cuba
–
–
–
•
•
•
Kennedy speech
Calls it a “quarantine” because a blockade is
considered an act of war
This means the U.S. will only stop military
ships heading to the island, not normal supply
ships
October 23 – Strategic Air Command is
ordered to go to DEFCON 2 for the only time
in history
By October 25 the missile sites were still
actively being worked on, and more Soviet
ships were on their way
Stalemate – nuclear war looks imminent

8. Defense Conditions
• DEFCON 5 Normal peacetime readiness
DEFCON 4 Normal, increased intelligence and
strengthened security measures
DEFCON 3 Increase in force readiness above
normal readiness
DEFCON 2 Further Increase in force readiness,
but less than maximum readiness
DEFCON 1 Maximum force readiness.

9. The Cuban Missile Crisis
•
•
•
October 27 – CIA reports that all missiles in
Cuba were up and ready for action
October 27 – U.S. informs NATO allies to be
ready for military action any second
October 28 – last second agreement is
reached between Kennedy and Khrushchev
–
–
–
The Soviets will remove all missiles from
Cuba and stop sending ships with more
missiles
The U.S. guarantees not to invade Cuba or
support any group who does
Secretly – the U.S. will remove missiles from
sites in southern Italy and Turkey

10. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis
•
Because the withdrawal of U.S. missiles from
Italy and Europe is not made public, it makes
Kennedy look strong and Khrushchev look
weak
–
•
•
•
Khrushchev would remain in power for only 2
more years
Soviet-Cuban relations break down because
Castro is upset he was not involved in Soviet
plans
A year later the “red telephone” is hooked
up, creating a direct line between the White
House and the Kremlin
Encourages U.S. use of military in fight
against communism
–
Notably the Vietnam War