2. The Cuban Missile Crisis For Americans, one of the most terrifying events in the Cold War took place 90 miles off the coast of Florida. In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew the dictatorship of the Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista. At first, Castro promised free elections and many reforms. Castro did not follow through with his promises, however, and soon declared Cuba a Communist nation. He began accepting military aid from the Soviet Union. Fidel Castro

3. In late 1962, United States spy planes spotted proof of long-range missiles based on Cuba. President John F. Kennedy announced on television that the United States had photographs of Soviet missiles in Cuba. President Kennedy took swift action. He ordered the nave to blockade, or close off, Cuba and prevent the Soviets from the delivering more missiles. Kennedy also told the Soviets that if they fired any of the missiles at the United States, he would launch a nuclear attack. This situation became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

4. In 1962, continued… As the two superpowers grew closer to a nuclear attack, the world held its breath for five days. Nikita Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships, many of which carried missiles, to continue on to Cuba. Shortly after President Kennedy’s announcement, however, a few Soviet ships did turn back. Finally, the United States and the Soviet Union reached an agreement and the remaining Soviet ships turned back.

5. The Soviets later removed all their missiles from Cuba. More importantly, a nuclear war had been avoided. The outcome of the Cuba missile crisis contributed to Khrushchev’s fall from power in 1964.

7. During the Cold War… During the Cold War, Europeans recognized that colonial rule in Africa must end. Nationalism inspired people to seek their independence. In 1957, Kwame Nkrumah guided the Gold Coast (Ghana) to freedom from the British. Jomo Kenyatta did the same for Kenya in 1963.

8. Revolutions in Africa Kwame Nkrumah became the first prime and later president of Ghana. Kenyatta, Jomo 1894-1978, first prime minister 1963-1964 and then first president 1964-1978 of Kenya.

9. Revolutions in Africa… In these unsettled conditions, however, the United States and the Soviet Union used money and military aid to influence the new nations. Money and military aid were powerful attractions for nations struggling to overcome poverty and build stable governments. Some nations avoided the influence of the United States and Canada. They formed an unaligned block—an alliance of new nations– to counter the superpowers that wanted to control them.