The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse the causes, key events and consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Key learning points
- The Cuban Missile Crisis began on 14th October 1962 when the USA discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.
- Khrushchev built missile bases in Cuba for several reasons but it was partly a response to US missile bases in Turkey.
- The USA set up a blockade around Cuba; as Soviet ships approached, people feared the possibility of nuclear war.
- The US blockade was successful; this strengthened Kennedy's reputation and weakened Khrushchev's position as leader.
- After the crisis, the USA and the USSR took steps to reduce the risk of a similar crisis happening in the future.
Keywords
IRBM - stands for intermediate range ballistic missile; these missiles could be fitted with nuclear warheads and had a range of 3500 kilometres
ExComm - short for Executive Committee of the National Security Council; it played a pivotal role in advising the President during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Blockade - an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving
Brinkmanship - the practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the threshold of confrontation
Hotline - a direct communication link established between the United States and the Soviet Union to enable immediate communication in times of crisis
Common misconception
The Soviet missile bases in Cuba were important because they provided the USSR with the ability to strike the USA with nuclear weapons.
The USSR had ICBMs which meant they already had the ability to attack the USA with nuclear weapons, however these were expensive and the USA had more. The USSR had more IRBMs, so placing these missiles in Cuba gave them an important advantage.
Teacher tip
Provide students with the options Kennedy had for resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis and get them to debate the advantages and disadvantages. Students could be asked to 'vote with their feet' and justify their choice before Kennedy's decision is revealed.
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.Who became leader of Cuba in 1959 after its revolution?
Q2.How close is Cuba to the USA?
Q3.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Q4.Which country backed the Bay of Pigs Invasion?
Q5.The troops who carried out the Bay of Pigs Invasion were made up of ...
Q6.Write the missing country name. The appeared weak after the failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How did the US detect missile sites in Cuba?
Q2.Which superpower was Cuba allied to?
Q3.Where did the USA install their own missiles in 1961?
Q4.Who was President of the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q5.What was the shortened name of the group of advisors who helped JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), 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.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.