1. Cold War Crises
Analyze how the Kennedy administration responded to the Cold War crises in Cuba and Berlin

2. Cuba’s Revolution Fidel Castro seized power in January, 1959
Set up a communist government
Cuba – 90 miles south of Florida

3. Plan to Overthrow Castro
Developed by CIA while Eisenhower was president
Recruited Cuban exiles forced to flee
Exiles land in Cuba and start an uprising; hoped others would join them and rebel

4. Bay of Pigs April 17, 1961 invasion began 1500 Cuban exiles
Mistakes happened
Kennedy refused to provide air support
Cuban forces crush invasion within days
Captured survivors

5. Effects of Invasion
Kennedy no longer completely trusted military and CIA advice
Latin America lost trust in Kennedy
Khrushchev begins to think Kennedy is not a strong leader and can be bullied

6. Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 – most dangerous Cold War crisis
Mid-October US spy plane discovered Soviets building launching sites for nuclear missiles

7. Missiles could reach US within minutes
Kennedy meets with advisors
Explore ideas including invading Cuba and bombing missile sites

8. Oct. 22, 1962 – Kennedy appears on TV revealing the buildup of Soviet missiles in Cuba
Ordered Navy blockaded to close off Cuba until Soviets remove missiles
Threatened to destroy Soviet ships if they broke through blockade

10. Soviet ships turn back
Soviets agree to remove missiles from Cuba
US agrees not to invade Cuba and to remove missiles from Turkey

11. Kennedy and Khrushchev work to build better relations
1963 hotline set up for instant communication
Signed a treaty banning nuclear tests

12. Space Race
April, 1961 – Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin becomes first person to orbit the Earth
May, 1961 – Alan Shepard, Jr. first American to make a space flight

13. Kennedy sets goal – landing man on moon by the end of the decade
Congress funded NASA – expanded Florida launching facility and built control center in Houston

14. February, 1962 – John Glenn, first American to orbit Earth
July 20, 1969 – spacecraft Eagle landed on the moon; Neil Armstrong took first step “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”