Cuban missile crisis

• Front: What led to the Cuban Missile Crisis?
• Back: The United States' discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba in October 1962.
• Front: What was the significance of Cuba to the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
• Back: Cuba provided the Soviet Union with a strategic location close to the United States, allowing them to deploy missiles capable of reaching major American cities.
• Key Events of the Cuban Missile Crisis:
• Front: What was the US response upon discovering the Soviet missiles in Cuba?
• Back: President Kennedy imposed a naval blockade, also known as a "quarantine," around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of military supplies.
• Front: Describe the tense exchange of letters between President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev during the crisis.
• Back: Kennedy's first letter demanded the removal of the missiles, while Khrushchev's response offered a deal. Kennedy's second letter accepted the deal with some modifications.
• Resolution and Aftermath:
• Front: How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?
• Back: Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US publicly agreeing not to invade Cuba and privately agreeing to remove missiles from Turkey.
• Front: What were the long-term consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
• Back: It led to improved communication between the US and the USSR, the establishment of the "hotline" between Washington and Moscow, and a shift towards détente, or a thawing of the Cold War tensions.
• Global Impact:
• Front: How did the Cuban Missile Crisis affect international relations?
• Back: It heightened global awareness of the dangers of nuclear war and underscored the need for nuclear arms control agreements, such as the Limited Test Ban Treaty.
• Front: What was the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on Cuba itself?
• Back: It solidified Cuba's alliance with the Soviet Union, increased Castro's stature as a leader of the anti-imperialist movement, and led to the US enforcing a trade embargo against Cuba that remains in effect today.
• Batista's Cuba- The US controlled Cuba's railway industry, the telephone system and tobacco plantationsCastro's Cuba- Key industry such as the telephone company was nationalised and made cheaper to useUSA was unhappy as private companies and US economies no longer benefitted from economic gain as it all went to Cuba. Also it reduced the amount of tobacco the US had, which they could have lots huge profits of
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba

  To bargain with the USA
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To portray him as a strong leader who is willing to resist the strength of the USA
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To defend Cuba
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba

  To force the USA to act or to stop involvement in Cuba or remove their missiles from Turkey
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To create a level playing field as US had weapons in Turkey
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To strengthen Khrushchev's position in the USSR
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba

  To help resolve the problem of poor Soviet Technology
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba

  To close the Missile gap
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba

  To test the USA
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To trap the USA
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba
• Khrushchev sent missiles to Cuba


  To make him seem superior and cleverer than the USA
• • 13 Days How close did it get to War: Tuesday 16th October 1962Kennedy was informed of a missile build-up- The Excomm (special group of advisers) was formed
• 13 Days How close did it get to War: Wednesday 24th October 1962Blockade begins, 20 Soviet ships close to the zone were stopped or turned around
• • 13 Days How close did it get to War:  Saturday 20th October 1962Kennedy decided on a blockade of Cuba
• Castro adopted the slogan "If you don't know, learn. If you know, teach."
• Improved education in Cuba

  Cubans would be able to get higher paid jobs
• Improved education in Cuba


  Reducing the amount of money going to the US economy
• Improved education in Cuba

  Reducing the amount of Americans in high pay jobs in Cuba
• In Batista's Cuba, more than 20% of the Cuban population were illiterate