Kennedy and the Cold War

President John F. Kennedy takes over the Cold War in the 1960’s – The 1960 election changes politics First Roman Catholic president First televised presidential debate – Kennedy’s first challenges occur in Cuba Cuba was an American protectorate from A revolution, led by Fidel Castro, put a new government in place that drew increasingly closer to the Soviets The Bay of Pigs: April of 1960 – The CIA began secretly training Cuban refugees at the end of the Eisenhower administration – Kennedy authorizes a US backed invasion of Cuba by the refugees – Due to poor planning, the unwillingness of the US to risk its own troops, and popular support for Castro, the invasion failed Cuban Missile Crisis: October of 1962 – The Soviets begin sending nuclear missiles to Cuba in the summer of 1962 – The US discovers this and imposes a blockade on Cuba to prevent weapons from being shipped there – Standoff occurs when Russian ships appear ready to run the blockade – The Soviet Union blinks and stops its ships – The Soviets agree to remove missiles, in exchange the US pledges to not invade Cuba and remove missiles from Turkey

Cuban missile crisis map Guiding Question: How did the Cold War proceed during the Kennedy administration? Look at Source A and come up with at least one main idea that would help answer the guiding question Write down your main idea and the detailed evidence to support it

The Berlin Wall is built in 1961 – Since the Berlin Airlift, 3 million refugees had fled from East Germany to West Germany This was embarrassing to East Germany and harmed the East German economy – In order to prevent more refugees from leaving, Khrushchev and East German officials had a wall built on the border of East and West Berlin

Berlin wall map Guiding Question: How did the Cold War proceed during the Kennedy administration? Look at Source B and come up with at least one main idea that would help answer the guiding question Write down your main idea and the detailed evidence to support it

Berlin wall primary source Guiding Question: How did the Cold War proceed during the Kennedy administration? Look at Source C and come up with at least one main idea that would help answer the guiding question Write down your main idea and the detailed evidence to support it

Nuclear war notes As a response to how close the US and the USSR came to nuclear war, Kennedy and Khrushchev attempted to reduce tensions – Set up a “hot line,” a dedicated phone line between the two leaders – Agreed to a limited test ban treaty that ended nuclear testing in the atmosphere

Nuclear war cartoon Guiding Question: How did the Cold War proceed during the Kennedy administration? Look at Source D and come up with at least one main idea that would help answer the guiding question Write down your main idea and the detailed evidence to support it