1. The Cuban Missile Crisis
US History II

2. 1959 - Fidel Castro Takes Power
Led Cuban Revolution with promise of democracy
90 miles off coast of Florida & Batista fled in exile to Florida

3. Soviet Influence Castro openly declared to be a communist
Castro regime received Soviet Aid and nationalized (takes over)US companies
The US cut off relations

4. April 1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion
Failed US invasion of Cuba
Cuban exiles trained by CIA attempt to overthrow Castro
1,500 exiles are met by 25,000 Cubans
Soviet tanks and air support
JFK and US embarrassed

6. Kennedy’s Flexible Response
Developed alternatives to nuclear war
Defense spending increased:
1940: 18%
1950: 32%
1960: 52%
2000: 16%
Green Berets created

7. Soviet Influence in Cuba
Economic aid
MRBM’s
Nuclear weapons
MRBM – Medium Range Ballistic Missiles

9. Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet missiles in Cuba Khrushchev vs. Kennedy
US presents evidence to UN

10. Thirteen Days
On the brink of Nuclear War

12. Results US decided to “Quarantine” Cuba Soviets turn home
“We were eyeball to eyeball and the other fellow just blinked.”
USSR removes missiles from Cuba
USA removed missiles in Turkey 6 months later.

13. Kennedy Address http://www. youtube. com/watch
Kennedy Address UN Security Council John Paul Jones