1. The Cuban Missile Crisis
What you need to revise
Why was Cuba a problem for USA?
What happened in the crisis?
Why did the Crisis come to an end?
Who won the crisis?

2. Why did Cuba become a growing problem for the USA?
Seen as American playground
American owned businesses there
US gave economic and military support
Batista was corrupt and unpopular
3 year guerrilla campaign
Castro was charming, clever and ruthless
He quickly killed, arrested or exiled opponents
He used effective propaganda
His communist vision appealed to the people
He banned US businesses and accepted Soviet aid
By 1962 Cuba had best-equipped army in Latin America – missiles, patrol boats, tanks, radar vans, jets, missile erectors
BUT WOULD THEY PUT NUCLEAR MISSILES IN CUBA?
Ike authorised CIA investigation
JFK would not accept Cuba as a Soviet satellite
Used 1,400 Cuban exiles to invade
Met by 20,000 armed cubans
Castro killed or captured invaders in days
Huge embarrassment for new JFK
Raised Khrushchev’s suspicions of USA
Batista regime
1959- Castro’s revolution
Bay of Pigs
Missile Crisis

3. Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba? (6 marks)
REACTION TO MISSILE GAP
Soviet lag in missile gap. Medium range missiles in Cuba could reach most of USA. Retaliation to USA missiles in Turkey
PROVE HIMSELF TO THE USSR and USA Prove to USSR, JFK and the world that Khrushchev was powerful
GAIN THE UPPER HAND
To defend Cuba and annoy USA. Propaganda stunt for communism.

4. Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba? (6-8 marks)
Own credibility. Prove to USSR, JFK and the world that Khrushchev was powerful
Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba? (6-8 marks)
One reason why Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba was to boost his own image. During the Cold War it was important that the leader of the USSR was seen to be strengthening the position of Communism and resisting American imperialism. This was particularly important for Khrushchev who, as Stalin's successor, had to prove he was as tough as he was. By placing missiles in Cuba Khrushchev could fulfill his role as a Cold War warrior, winning him support at home and at the same time undermining the USA.
Now write an explanation for a different reason:
This meant that… This resulted in…
As a consequence of this… Therefore….. Because…
This shows why…

5. What happened during the crisis?
Put the events of the crisis in chronological order
Watch the clip and note down
What is the atmosphere like?
What options are presented to JFK?
Who is advising JFK?

6. The Cuban Missile Crisis
Part 2: Why did the Crisis come to an end? Who won the crisis?
How did the following help end the Crisis?
The Blockade
Ignoring the attack on U2 spy plane
JFKs response to Khruschevs letters
The secret promise to remove missiles from Turkey in the future.

7. Identify 2 examples to support each statement
JFK helped bring the crisis to an end
Khrushchev helped bring the crisis to an end
The world came close to nuclear war
The crisis was nothing more than bluff/diplomacy
Was Bobby Kennedy right that, ‘it was down to dumb luck’ that the crisis did not escalate to a nuclear war?

8. What did Khrushchev gain? Why did he look like the loser?
How far do you agree that the USA emerged from the Cuban missile crisis as the victor? (10 marks)
Think
What did JFK gain?
Why did look like he won?
What did Khrushchev gain? Why did he look like the loser?
On the one hand I would agree ….
On the other hand I would disagree because ….
Overall I believe…

9. What does this cartoon suggest about the impact of the crisis?
What is the message of the cartoon? (7 marks)
Message:
The message of the cartoon is that…
Source:
This can be seen in the cartoon where…
Contextual knowledge:
The cartoon is giving this message (depicting x) at this time because…
What does this cartoon suggest about the impact of the crisis?
Drawn by American cartoonist shortly after the crisis