Cuban missile crisis Flashcards
14th October 1962
What did the USA discover?
U2 spy plane flew over Cuba and took photos of launch pads for ICBMs.
There was also a fleet of ships sailing from the USSR to Cuba, probably with more nuclear material on them.
16th October 1962
What did President Kennedy do?
Kennedy called a meeting with his advisory council called ExComm. They took 7 days to discuss the options to stop Kruschev and the USSR from putting missiles on Cuba.
16th October 1962
What were the USA’s options?
I.Blockade
II.Invade
III.Bomb Cuba and risk Nuclear war
IV.Protest to the United Nations
V. Try and negotiate with Kruschev
22nd October 1962
What did Kennedy decide to do?
On the 22nd October the USA blockaded Cuba. No ships would be able to pass through the blockade without US permission.
22nd October 1962
What were the risks?
The world held its breath, not expecting the Soviet ships to stop at the blockade. This would have caused the USA to sink the ships, and a war between them would have started.
The USA had 54 bombers ready for war.
24th October 1962
What happened at the blockade?
The Soviet ships stopped and turned around!!
26th October 1962
What did the USSR do?
On the 26th October the Soviets sent a telegram to the USA offering to remove the missiles in exchange for a “no invasion pledge (promise)” of Cuba
27th October 1962
What did the USSR do?
On the 27th October, a harsher telegram was sent saying the USSR also wanted the USA to remove similar missiles that the USA had in Turkey, which was close to the USSR.
27th October 1962
How did the USA respond?
The Americans tactically ignored the second telegram, but made a deal in secret that meant they would remove the missiles in Turkey, six months later. Therefore, the missile crisis ended without all out nuclear war.
What was set up to avoid another nuclear crisis?
A hotline - direct line of communication between the President in Washington and the Premier in Moscow
What treaties were set up to try and slow down the Arms Race?
The Test Ban Treaty 1963
To stop nuclear weapons being tested in space
The Outer Space Treaty 1967
To stop nuclear weapons being placed in space
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968
To stop the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries (non-proliferation means to stop the spread).
