Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can assess the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Key learning points
- Both superpowers were glad not to have gone to war.
- JFK's tough stance against the USSR was praised in the USA.
- The USSR benefitted from American promises not to attack Cuba and to withdraw missiles from Turkey.
- Khrushchev's reputation suffered in the USSR.
- Agreements were made between the superpowers aimed at making a future war between them less likely.
Keywords
Hotline - a special direct phone connection for emergencies
White House - the official residence of the President of the USA
Kremlin - the official residence of the leader of the USSR
Arms race - when two or more countries compete to have more and stronger weapons than one another
Common misconception
The Cuban Missile Crisis made war more likely between the superpowers.
Both the US and USSR were shocked at how close they had come to war and were relieved to have avoided it. Further steps were agreed between both countries after the crisis had ended to make war less likely in future.
Teacher tip
Ask students who benefitted the most from crisis at the end of the lesson. Students should be encouraged to compare the situation each superpower faced before the crisis to that afterwards and may wish to consider the relative importance of domestic v. foreign politics.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word: A is when you agree to accept something which is not exactly what you want.
Q2.Who was leader of the USSR during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q3.What was the shortened name of the group of advisors who helped JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q4.What word did JFK prefer to use when describing the American 'blockade' of Cuba?
Q5.Why did JFK initially refuse to negotiate over the Soviet missiles in Cuba?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing words: An is a situation where two or more countries compete to have more and stronger weapons than one another.
Q2.Who signed the Test Ban Treaty?
Q3.What happened to JFK's popularity in the USA after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q4.Which two places were connected by the hotline set up in 1963?
Q5.Which of the following harmed Khrushchev's reputation in the USSR?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.