The Cuban Missile Crisis: Key Events and Decisions

The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 was a pivotal moment during the Cold War when the US and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear conflict. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a US naval quarantine. Tensions escalated, but diplomatic negotiations between Kennedy and Khrushchev led to the removal of missiles from Cuba and a US promise not to invade. The crisis ended with the establishment of a hotline and treaties to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Which type of missiles were first sent to Cuba by the Soviets?

• Cruise Missiles

• Surface-to-Air Missiles

• Short-Range Ballistic Missiles

• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

What event in 1961 influenced the Soviet decision to place missiles in Cuba?

• Berlin Crisis

• Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Korean War

• Vietnam War

What was the US's immediate response upon discovering missile sites in Cuba?

• Diplomatic negotiations

• Naval quarantine

• Full-scale invasion

• Air strikes

What did Kennedy demand from Khrushchev in his letter during the crisis?

• Financial compensation for the threat

• Remove all Soviet personnel from Cuba

• Dismantle the missile bases and return the weapons

• Public apology from Khrushchev

How did the Soviet ships respond to the US naval quarantine?

• Negotiations halted their movement

• Ships broke the quarantine forcefully

• Ships continued but carried no weapons

• All ships retreated

What was Khrushchev's initial proposal to resolve the missile crisis?

• US to remove missiles from Turkey

• US to pay reparations

• US to publicly apologize

• US to promise not to invade Cuba

What additional demand did Khrushchev make in his second letter?

• Establish a Soviet base in Florida

• Remove US missiles from Turkey

• Remove US missiles from Italy

• Increase Soviet influence in Latin America

What secret deal did Robert Kennedy reveal to the Soviet Ambassador?

• US planned to end the quarantine

• US planned to remove missiles from Turkey

• US planned to invade Cuba

• US planned to sign a peace treaty

What was established in 1963 to improve communication between the US and USSR?

• A peace treaty

• A cultural exchange program

• A trade agreement

• A telephone hotline

What treaty was signed in 1968 related to nuclear weapons?

• START Treaty

• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

• Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

• SALT I