From the Bay of Pigs Invasion to the Cuban Missile Crisis

Objective Students will be able to understand the causes and effects of the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis by completing review questions.

Pair-Share: Where is Cuba in relation to the U. S. Why would the U. S Pair-Share: Where is Cuba in relation to the U.S.? Why would the U.S. be concerned about communism coming to the U.S.? Play Cuban Music while the students Pair-Share

The Bay of Pigs Invasion April 17, 1961

The Cold War comes to the Americas Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida is Cuba… In 1959, Fidel Castro leads the Cuban Revolution… Castro and Che Guevara preach revolution and inspire millions… US business interests in Latin America threatened

The Bay of Pigs the CIA trains and equips a group of Cuban exiles to attack Castro the group lands at the Bay of Pigs and plans to take over Cuba in 1961 The invasion fails

The Bay of Pigs Invasion Containment Policy set the stage for Which caused Castro becomes Communist leader of Cuba The Bay of Pigs Invasion CAUSES triggered EFFECTS The U.S. refused to recognize Castro as leader created was a reason for Cuba aligns with the Soviet Union 7

Was it Successful? NO! The plot was an absolute failure. Cubans did not join the rebellion as planned resulting in a quick defeat. President Kennedy’s reputation internationally diminished as he received the blame for the failure, whereas Fidel Castro’s status increased dramatically for having stood up against the Americans.

Bay of Pigs: Consequences Castro remains in power Castro is seen as a hero for standing up to the United States Cuba and the USSR strengthen ties Kennedy administration is humiliated Kennedy will want to prove himself when dealing with Cuba in the future

The Bay of Pigs Invasion Containment Policy Castro remains in power set the stage for Which caused Castro becomes Communist leader of Cuba Castro is seen as a hero The Bay of Pigs Invasion CAUSES triggered EFFECTS The U.S. refused to recognize Castro as leader Kennedy is humiliated created was a reason for Cuba aligns with the Soviet Union Kennedy will want to prove himself 10

Film Clip: Bay of Pigs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSFOlmWXUm4

Wrap-Up Question How did the Bay of Pigs invasion demonstrate American foreign policy of containment?

The Cuban Missile Crisis October 1962

Introduction Although Castro had defeated the Cuban exiles’ invasion at the Bay of Pigs, he was still in fear of the United States. So he asked his friend, Soviet Chairman Khrushchev, for more help. He go it. For 13 chilling days in October 1962 it seemed that Kennedy and Khrushchev were playing out the opening scenes of World War III. This was the closest we ever got to nuclear war.

Missiles Found in Cuba When President Kennedy took office he quickly increased the American nuclear arsenal to demonstrate American military strength. NATO also placed missiles in Turkey aimed directly at the Soviet Union. In retaliation, the U.S.S.R secretly placed nuclear weapons in Cuba capable of reaching the U.S. The Cuban missiles were also to prevent another U.S invasion of Cuba to overthrow Castro.

Describe what you see in these pictures

Pair-Share What Would You Do? You are a Presidential advisor to Kennedy. After viewing the pictures of the missile sites on Cuba what do you advise the President to do?

Possible Resolutions 1. Ignore it. It’s only fair that the Soviets can have missiles in Cuba since we have missiles in Turkey. 2. To prevent Soviet ships from transferring missiles to Cuba, the U.S. can set up a naval blockade. 3. Negotiate: Suggest that the U.S. will remove missiles from Turkey if the Soviets remove their missiles from Cuba. 4. Destroy the missile sites on Cuba with an air strike followed by an invasion of Cuba. 5. Declare War on Cuba.

The artist uses a metaphor in this cartoon. Pair-Share: Analyze the political cartoon The artist uses a metaphor in this cartoon. An Ancient Greek myth tells about Pandora’s box. This was a mysterious box that people were warned not to open, because once it was opened it could never be closed again. The USA and the USSR came very close to nuclear war over the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev of the USSR are like the people who opened Pandora’s box. Here the artist suggests that the threat of nuclear war is something that may never be put away again.

Pair-Share Describe what you see in this picture. What do you predict was the decision made by Kennedy?

Kennedy Announces Blockade On October 22 Kennedy announced a strict quarantine of military equipment shipped to Cuba. He appealed to Khrushchev to remove the missiles immediately. He also warned that if the Soviets launched a nuclear attack, the United States would do the same.

What does this cartoon represent?

Khrushchev’s Response On October 23rd Khrushchev wrote a letter to Kennedy expressing that he would NOT observe the blockade. Work on the missile sites continued uninterrupted and would soon be operational. Since the blockade was a failure, Kennedy’s advisors suggested an immediate airstrike on the missile sites. The world was now on the brink of nuclear war…….

Pair-Share What do you think would happen if a Soviet ship carrying war materials refused to recognize the blockade? What would you recommend the President do now?

Khrushchev Make a Deal After 13 very intense days, Khrushchev told Kennedy that he would remove his missiles from Cuba if the U.S. withdrew the blockade, promised never to invade Cuba and withdrew the missiles from Turkey.

What do you think Kennedy did? The President agreed to the first two demands but refused to withdraw the missiles from Turkey.

The Crisis Comes to an End To end the Crisis once and for all, President Kennedy’s brother, Robert, met secretly with Khrushchev and agreed to remove the missiles from Turkey. The next day, the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba and the crisis was over.

He is working on his patient, the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. Here we see the Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev in the form of a dentist. He is working on his patient, the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. In an agreement to end the Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev agreed to remove the nuclear missiles the Russians put on the island of Cuba. Six months later, President Kennedy quietly removed American Jupiter missiles from Turkey, on the border of the USSR.

Film Clip: The Cuban Missile Crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp6FQvVLUos

Wrap-Up Activity Pair-Share: Where on the spectrum above would you The U.S. should be praised The U.S. should Be condemned Pair-Share: Where on the spectrum above would you place an X indicating the extent to which you think the U.S. response to the Cuban Missile Crisis should be praised or condemned.

Wrap-Up Questions How does it make you feel to know that in 1962 the world came so close to experiencing a nuclear war? Which side, the United States or the Soviet Union, do you think was most at fault for bringing about the crisis? For ending the crisis? What lessons can be learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Film Clip: Obama Visits Cuba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjIJ7OlOfg