Cuban Missile Crisis Overview

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense period during the Cold War when American U-2 spy planes discovered Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba. This posed a direct threat to the US, leading President John F. Kennedy to implement a naval blockade to prevent further Soviet shipments. The situation risked escalating into a nuclear war, but was resolved through a secret agreement where the US removed its missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet withdrawal from Cuba. This crisis highlighted the dangers of nuclear brinkmanship and the need for careful diplomacy.

What did American U-2 spy planes discover in Cuba?

• Military bases

• Nuclear missile sites

• Oil reserves

• Communist training camps

Which country was responsible for providing missiles to Cuba?

• China

• Vietnam

• North Korea

• Soviet Union

Which US President was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• John F. Kennedy

• Richard Nixon

• Lyndon B. Johnson

What was President Kennedy's initial action to address the missile threat?

• Launch a full-scale invasion

• Negotiate with Cuba

• Order a naval blockade

• Deploy more missiles in Europe

What was the purpose of the naval blockade around Cuba?

• To prevent Soviet ships from entering

• To protect US fishing rights

• To stop Cuban refugees

• To enforce a trade embargo

What was the main risk if the US and Soviet ships engaged in conflict?

• Nuclear war

• Political isolation

• Economic sanctions

• Loss of trade routes

What was the potential consequence of the Cold War turning 'hot'?

• World War III

• Increased global trade

• Nuclear disarmament

• Formation of new alliances

What secret agreement helped resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Cuban acceptance of democracy

• Removal of US missiles from Turkey

• Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

• US withdrawal from Vietnam

Which two leaders were involved in the secret negotiations?

• Kennedy and Brezhnev

• Kennedy and Castro

• Kennedy and Khrushchev

• Kennedy and Mao

What did the Cuban Missile Crisis highlight about US-Soviet relations?

• The need for more military bases

• The importance of economic ties

• The risk of nuclear confrontation

• The benefits of isolationism