Confrontation between the Superpowers​

Why was the US concerned about Cuba?

Cuba was only 90 miles from Florida and had become a communist state under Fidel Castro (1959).

What actions by Castro heightened US fears?

Nationalisation of US-owned businesses, alignment with the USSR, and suppression of opposition.

What was the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961)?

A failed CIA-backed attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro; it embarrassed the US.

How did the USSR respond to US hostility?

Khrushchev secretly installed nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter US invasion and boost Soviet strategic power.

Why did Khrushchev place missiles in Cuba?

To balance US missile advantage in Turkey and Italy, defend Cuba, and strengthen Soviet prestige

How did the US discover Soviet missiles in Cuba?

U-2 spy plane photographs on October 14, 1962.

What options did Kennedy consider?

Air strikes, full invasion, or a naval blockade (quarantine).

What decision did Kennedy make?

Implemented a naval blockade around Cuba and demanded missile removal.

How did the crisis unfold?

• Tense negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev

• Soviet ships approached the blockade but did not run it

• Secret deal: USSR would remove missiles from Cuba; US would secretly remove missiles from Turkey

What role did diplomacy play?

Crucial—direct communication (ultimately via letters) avoided nuclear war.

How close did the world come to nuclear war?

Extremely close; considered the closest moment of the Cold War to full-scale nuclear conflict.

What were the immediate outcomes?

Removal of missiles from Cuba, US pledge not to invade Cuba, and secret removal of US missiles from Turkey.

What were the long-term consequences for superpower relations?

• Establishment of the “Hotline” between Washington and Moscow

• Partial thaw in Cold War tensions

• Strengthened the concept of deterrence and brinkmanship

What impact did the crisis have on Kennedy and Khrushchev?

Kennedy’s reputation strengthened in the West; Khrushchev faced criticism at home for perceived concessions.

What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis?

US hostility toward Castro, Cuban alignment with the USSR, and Soviet desire to deploy missiles near the US.

Why was the crisis a turning point in the Cold War?

It highlighted nuclear danger, showed the value of diplomacy, and led to mechanisms to prevent direct superpower conflict.

How did it affect future US–Soviet relations?

Initiated arms control talks (Partial Test Ban Treaty, 1963) and more cautious Cold War engagement.

What lessons did the crisis show about nuclear brinkmanship?

Miscalculation could have global consequences; communication and compromise were essential.