Cuban missile crisis

• What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  It was a moment during the Cold War when the US and the Soviet Union came close to Nuclear War.
• What role did secret communications play in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  They contributed to the uniqueness of the event through miscommunications between the White House and the Kremlin.
• What event preceded the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961?

  The failed Bay of Pigs Invasion by the Kennedy Administration.
• What agreement did Khrushchev reach with Castro regarding missiles?

  Khrushchev agreed to place Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter US aggression.
• What type of missiles had the Soviets been sending to Cuba before the crisis?

  Surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles.
• What warning did Kennedy give regarding offensive weapons in Cuba?

  He warned that the greatest issues would arise if offensive weapons were sent to Cuba.
• What did US U-2 spy planes discover on October 14th, 1962?

  They took photos showing sites for medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic nuclear missiles under construction in Cuba.
• How did Khrushchev respond to Kennedy's warning about offensive weapons?

  Khrushchev lied about sending offensive weapons to Cuba to manage the crisis.
• What was the name of the team Kennedy assembled to address the crisis?

  The Executive Committee of the National Security Council, or XCOM.
• What was the initial military action favored by XCOM?

  They favored bombing Cuba, with debate over the scale of the attack.
• What decision did Kennedy ultimately make regarding military action on October 22nd?

  He ordered a naval quarantine of Cuba instead of a blockade.
• Why did Kennedy use the term "quarantine" instead of "blockade"?

  Because "blockade" implied a state of war existed.
• What did Kennedy demand in his letter to Khrushchev?

  He demanded the Soviets dismantle the missile bases and return all offensive weapons to the USSR.
• What did Kennedy declare regarding nuclear missiles launched from Cuba?

  He stated it would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet Union on the US, requiring a full retaliatory response.
• How did Khrushchev respond to Kennedy's blockade on October 24th?

  He described it as an act of aggression and ordered Soviet ships to continue to Cuba.
• What happened to some Soviet ships sent to Cuba?

  Some turned back while others were stopped by US Naval Forces but contained no offensive weapons.
• What was the status of US Forces during the crisis?

  They were put at DEFCON 2 due to the escalating situation.
• What did Khrushchev propose in his message to Kennedy on October 26th-27th?

  He proposed to remove missiles from Cuba in exchange for a US promise not to invade the island.
• What complication arose from Khrushchev's second letter?

  It demanded the removal of U.S. Jupiter Missiles from Turkey, provoking further debate.
• What happened to a U.S. U2 reconnaissance jet over Cuba?

  It was shot down during the crisis.
• What did Kennedy prepare for after the U2 jet was shot down?

  He prepared for an attack on Cuba while searching for a diplomatic resolution.
• What proposal did Kennedy make to the Soviet Union regarding missile removal?

  He proposed steps for the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba under UN supervision.
• Who was sent to meet secretly with the Soviet Ambassador?

  Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
• What did Robert Kennedy indicate to the Soviet Ambassador?

  He indicated that the US planned to remove the Jupiter missiles from Turkey within six months.
• What public statement did Khrushchev issue on October 28th?

  He stated that Soviet missiles would be dismantled and removed from Cuba.
• What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  The crisis ended, and the world escaped nuclear war largely due to the cautious natures of Kennedy and Khrushchev.
• What measures were taken after the Cuban Missile Crisis to prevent future conflicts?

  • A telephone hotline was established for instant contact between US and Soviet leaders.
  • A nuclear test ban treaty was signed in 1963.
  • The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed in 1968, preventing the supply of nuclear technology to other countries.
• What was the purpose of the hotline established in 1963?

  To provide instant contact between the US and Soviet leaders.
• What was the significance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed in 1968?

  It was an agreement that the superpowers would not supply nuclear technology to other countries.