Initial stages of the Cuban Missile Crisis
I can assess the Soviet Union’s motives for installing nuclear weapons on Cuba.
Initial stages of the Cuban Missile Crisis
I can assess the Soviet Union’s motives for installing nuclear weapons on Cuba.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- American spy planes detected Soviet missile bases on Cuba.
- The discovery of Soviet missile bases triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Soviet missiles on Cuba would be capable of hitting most of the USA.
- Cuba and the USSR suspected that the US was planning to invade Cuba.
- Khrushchev was concerned by US missiles installed in Turkey.
Common misconception
The USSR did not believe that the USA would be bothered by nuclear missiles in Cuba.
The Soviets were aware that missile deployments to Cuba could trigger a crisis but believed they could help resolve the balance of power and deter any American attacks on Cuba.
Keywords
Alliance - an agreement between countries to work together
Prestige - respect and admiration which a country enjoys from others
Balance of power - the strength of different countries compared to one another
Deter - to make someone less likely to do something
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Cuba
USA
Soviet Union