1. Names of people: Fidel Castro, John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev
Key words: CIA, Bay of Pigs, exile, missile
Cuban Missile Crisis
to understand three causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis
to explain why these causes brought the world to the brink of nuclear war

2. Cause 1: Cuba becomes a communist state
Why is this a problem for America?

3. Cause 1: Cuba becomes a communist state
In 1959 a new leader, Fidel Castro, came to power in Cuba.
Cuba became a communist state. The US government did not like having a communist country so nearby.
The USA refused to buy sugar from Cuba.
The Soviet Union offered to buy sugar from Cuba in exchange for oil and machinery.
Think-pair-share: why do you think the Soviets offered to buy Cuban sugar?

4. Cause 2: Bay of Pigs
The US President John F. Kennedy and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) decided to launch a secret invasion of Cuba.
1,500 Cuban exiles (people who were forced to leave Cuba because they opposed Castro) landed at the Bay of Pigs.
However they were easily defeated by the Cuban army.

5. Cause 3: USA discovers Russian missile base in Cuba

6. Cause 3: USA discovers Russian missile base in Cuba

7. Cause 3: USA discovers Russian missile base in Cuba

8. Cause 3: USA discovers Russian missile base in Cuba
American U2 spy planes took photographs of Soviet missile bases on the island of Cuba.
Missiles fired from these bases could reach cities in the USA.
The Soviet president, Nikita Khrushchev said that the missiles were to stop an American invasion of Cuba.
But the American people were angry and afraid at having missiles so close.

9. Key words: blockade, quarantine, hotline, Test Ban Treaty
Cuban Missile Crisis
to explain how the world came to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962
to explain the effect of the crisis on the relationship between the USA and USSR

10. How did the world come to the brink of nuclear war?
President Kennedy addresses the nation.
Watch the video clip to find out what he proposes to do about the missile base in Cuba.
?v=W50RNAbmy3M

11. Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy orders a blockade of Cuba. All Soviet ships heading for Cuba would be searched for missiles.
Between 22 and 28 October, 12 Soviet ships headed for Cuba. America loaded nuclear missiles into their launch pads.
Soviet ships were just 30 minutes away from Cuba when Khrushchev ordered them to turn around.

12. How was the crisis solved?
Khruschev agrees to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba.
Kennedy promises never to invade Cuba.

13. Effect on USA-USSR relationship
1. détente the crisis frightened both countries. They now saw the need to prevent war in the future.
2. hotline a special phone line was set up between Washington and Moscow so the governments could communicate easily.
3. Test Ban Treaty both countries agreed to limit the amount of nuclear weapons they possessed.