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Where is Cuba? Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea It is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida
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Definition
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TermVocabulary Nuclear Annihilation Blockade
Essential Question
Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis a serious threat to the world?
Where is Cuba?Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea
It is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida
Who led Cuba?In 1959, FIDEL CASTRO overthrows the previous dictatorship
= Promised free elections and reforms
= Did not follow through with his promises
= Declared Cuba a Communist nation
= Accept military aid from the Soviet Union
As the leader of Cuba, Castro:
What was the crisis in Cuba?1962 – US spy planes spot proof of
long range missiles in Cuba
President Kennedy announced to the American people that the US had photographs of Soviet missiles in Cuba
What did Kennedy do about it?
President Kennedy took swift action…
He ordered the navy to blockade (close off) Cuba
He prevented the Soviets from delivering more missiles
He promised the Soviets that he would fire back
This situation of hostility became known as the CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
How did it turn into a serious crisis?The two superpowers (the US and the Soviet Union) grew very close to a nuclear attack…
…the world held its breath…
How was the crisis resolved?
Soviet leader Nakita Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships carrying
missiles to continue on to Cuba
But, after hearing President Kennedy’s
threat to return fire…. The ships turned around
The United States and the Soviet Union decided to reach an agreement
What was the result?
The Soviet Union eventually removed all their missiles from Cuba
A nuclear war was avoided
The event contributed to Khrushchev’s fall from power in 1964
Essential Question
Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis a serious threat to the world?
Soviet missilesplaced in Cuba
