Cuban Missle Crisis

Nuclear Arms Race

Competition between US and USSR to build up nuclear weapons superiority during the Cold War

Sputnik

First artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the space race.

Fidel Castro

Revolutionary leader who overthrew Cuba’s dictator in 1959 and established a communist govt aligned with the Soviet Union

Bay of Pigs Invasion

1961 FAILED US-backed attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro; Kennedy embarrassed

US blockade of Cuba/Soviet Response

Kennedy imposed a naval blockade to stop further Soviet missile shipments; USSR agreed to withdraw missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba

Outcome of Crisis

Led to the removal of missiles from Cuba, a US removal of missiles from Turkey, and the establishment of a “hotline” between Washington and Moscow

Enduring Nuclear Threat

The crisis showed how close the world could come to nuclear war, leading to arms control agreements like the 1963 Test Ban Treaty