Summary History the cuban missile crisis the cold war gr11

THE COLD WAR
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

,Contents
The Cuban Missile Crisis..................................................................................................................................................1
The Americans had 5 choices..................................................................................................................................1
Turkey's involvement in the Cuban missile crisis............................................................................................................2
What were the consequences of the Cuban Missile crisis for the Cold War..........................................................3
13 days of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.............................................................................................................4
Results of the Cuban missile crisis..........................................................................................................................4
Questions........................................................................................................................................................................8
Answers.......................................................................................................................................................................9




THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
 The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in 1962 and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev proposed placing missiles in Cuba, which was under Fidel Castro's
leadership, to defend against potential U.S. attacks.
 The presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba alarmed the United States, as it posed a direct threat to American
cities.
 American spy planes discovered missile sites in Cuba capable of launching nuclear weapons.
 This discovery led to a crisis situation, heightening tensions between the U.S. and the USSR during the
Cold War.
 President Kennedy formed the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EX-COMM) to
handle the crisis.
 After intense debate, Kennedy decided to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba to prevent further
Soviet weapons shipments.
 Kennedy's decision was made cautiously, recognizing the potential for a nuclear war with devastating
consequences.
 The Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved when the Soviets agreed to withdraw their missiles from Cuba in
exchange for the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey and a pledge not to invade Cuba.

 On October 15, Kennedy learned of the missile installations in Cuba and promptly assembled the
Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EX-COMM), consisting of his twelve key advisors.
 Following seven days of intense and secretive deliberation within the government's upper ranks, Kennedy
chose to implement a naval quarantine around Cuba.
 Kennedy's aim was to prevent additional Soviet offensive weapons from reaching Cuba, but he faced a
delicate decision with significant implications.
 Aware that his choice could lead to nuclear war between the USA and the USSR, Kennedy proceeded
cautiously, considering the potentially catastrophic consequences.



THE AMERICANS HAD 5 CHOICES
1. nuclear strike but it would lead to nuclear war

, 2. Conventional attack but there were Russians troops in Cuba and it would probably lead to a war with
Russia
3. Contact the United Nations would take time
4. Doing nothing the missile bases are too dangerous
5. Blockade/quarantine this would stop the missiles getting to the missiles bases, but it was not a direct act
of war.

 The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the Cold War to the brink of becoming an actual war.
 Kennedy faced pressure from various groups within his government and had to carefully consider his
options.
 Despite following the containment policy, Kennedy decided to take bold actions on October 22:
 He informed the American public about the crisis and announced a quarantine/blockade on
Cuba.
 Any nuclear missile launch from Cuba would be seen as an attack by the USSR on the USA.
 Soviet ships carrying nuclear weapons were ordered to turn back, and US ships were directed to
intercept them.
 The world anxiously awaited to see who would back
down, Kennedy or Khrushchev.
 Eventually, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the
missiles in exchange for the US ending the blockade
and pledging not to invade Cuba.
 He also insisted on the removal of US missiles from
Turkey, which Kennedy accepted, except for the
latter condition.
 With both sides avoiding the risk of nuclear war, the
Cuban Missile Crisis ended, and a catastrophic
conflict was averted.


TURKEY'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
 Turkey's involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis stemmed from its hosting of American Jupiter missiles.
 In the early 1960s, Turkey had deployed Jupiter missiles, which were medium-range ballistic missiles, as
part of NATO's defense strategy against the Soviet Union.
 This deployment was seen as a threat by the Soviet Union, prompting them to seek a strategic advantage
by placing missiles in Cuba, which was within striking distance of the United States.
 As tensions escalated during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Turkey's role became significant as the presence of
American missiles on its soil added to the overall context of the conflict.
 The Soviet Union proposed the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey as part of the negotiations to resolve
the crisis, alongside the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba. This aspect of the crisis highlighted the
interconnectedness of global geopolitics and the complex web of alliances during the Cold War


The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962,
triggered by the discovery of Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war and
ended with a negotiated settlement where the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S.
promising not to invade Cuba and secretly removing its missiles from Turkey.