Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

Who were key figures in 1961?

Answer 1

Fidel Castro - new communist leader of Cuba
John F. Kennedy - new American president (youngest ever)
Nikita Krushchev - leader of the Soviet Union

Question 2

What was the origin of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 2

Castro took over foreign owned businesses.
Americans no longer buy sugar from them.
Soviet Union agreed to buy sugar from Cuba.
JFK tried to overthrow Castro.
They were quickly defeated by the Cuban army.
The Russians pledged to protect Cuba from aggression by foreign countries.

Question 3

Describe what happened on October 16 - October 28 1962.

Answer 3

Oct 16 - US discover Soviets are building nuclear missile sites in Cuba.
Oct 22 - JFK blockades Cuba.
Oct 23 - Krushchev ignores blockade.
Oct 24 - Soviet ships get closer to American blockade but stop and turn around.
Oct 25 - Kennedy wins round 1. Some of his advisers want to invade Cuba.
Oct 26 - Krushchev offers to remove missiles in Cuba if JFK lifts blockade and doesn’t inavde Cuba.
Oct 27 - JFK’s adviser still want him to invade Cuba.
Oct 28 - Krushchev and JFK agree.