The Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

1898-1906

Answer 1

Cuba was a part of the United States

Question 2

1906-1958

Answer 2

Cuba and the United States have a strong relationship and participate in trade and cultural exchange
Many Americans go to Cuba for vacation

Question 3

1959

Answer 3

The Cuban Revolution is led by Fidel Castro

Question 4

1961

Answer 4

The United States invades Cuba through the Bay of Pigs - failed military intervention

Question 5

1962

Answer 5

John F. Kennedy places an embargo on Cuba
Embargo: Trade is shut down
The Soviet Union then approaches Cuba, offering to fund an engineering program (including nuclear proliferation)
- This would protect Cuba from any further American attack
- Gave the Soviets the direct opportunity to attack the USA
- The USA already had missiles in Italy and Turkey, which were both close to the USSR

Question 6

How did the USA discover the Cuban missiles from the USSR?

Answer 6

October 1962: The USA discover Cuban missiles through espionage
- Low-flying U-2 aircraft took pictures of the missile silos (“flying under the radar”)

Question 7

The Cuban Missile Crisis begins

Answer 7

Happens over a span of 13 days, from October 16-29, 1962
The USA has three options:
- Go to war
- Ignore the issue
- Reduce their amount of arms

Question 8

How was the Cuban Missile Crisis averted?

Answer 8

100 missiles are removed from Cuba, and missiles are removed from Turkey

Question 9

What was Black Saturday?

Answer 9

Black Saturday was a day during the Cuban Missile Crisis where the USA and the USSR almost went to nuclear war 3 times (October 27,1962)
1. One of the low-flying U-2s was shot down by the USSR
2. Russian nuclear submarine was given false orders to “turn the key”, or launch their missiles. Only one person on board opposed the launch