Source: U2 Image of Cuban Missile Crisis, CIA, Wikimedia
By the 1960s, the Soviet Union and the United States were deeply entrenched in the bitter conflict of the Cold War, but the impact of the war had a global impact. Both nations were now involved in the arms race, the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in which each country raced to stockpile more nuclear weapons than the other. In fact, the United States had stored nuclear weapons in Turkey that were targeted at the Soviet Union. The possibility of a nuclear war caused worldwide fear. The arms race led to several incidents that would bring the world to the brink of a nuclear war. One such incident happened in 1962.
In 1959, a revolution in the country of Cuba lead to a change in government. Fidel Castro became the new leader of the country, and he sought support from the Soviet Union. The Soviets supplied Castro with military and financial support; in exchange, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles on the island.
Source: U2 Image of Cuban Missile Crisis, CIA, Wikimedia
The most heated conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union came when an American U-2 spy plane spotted a Soviet nuclear missile being assembled in Cuba on October 16, 1962. President John F. Kennedy was told about the missiles in Cuba, but the president did not immediately act on the situation.
The fact that the missiles were so close to the United States brought the reality of a possible nuclear war. Kennedy met in secret with his top advisors before making an onscreen address to the nation.
Click here to listen to Kennedy’s address to the American people on October 22, 1962.
Click on the link below to watch a video about JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Answer the following questions in your notes.
Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis
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The Bay of Pigs was Kennedy’s failed attempt to overthrow Castro’s regime in Cuba.
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Kennedy was honest about the incident and his failure at the attempt. His honesty helped him gain the trust of the American people.
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Kennedy chose to seek a peaceful resolution with Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, in order to avoid a nuclear war.
Following Kennedy’s address, panic and fear gripped the nation. For thirteen days, Kennedy worked to bring the world back from the brink of war.
Click on the link below to access an interactive site that provides the primary source information about JFK and the thirteen days of the Cuban Missile Crisis.