Cold War Events and Responses

The lecture covers the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race, highlighting the Cold War's indirect conflicts and scientific competition. It explains the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and its role in maintaining peace. The Cuban Missile Crisis is detailed, from its historical causes to its resolution, emphasizing the complex US-Cuba relations and the secret negotiations that ended the crisis. The Space Race section outlines the technological rivalry between the USA and USSR, noting key achievements like Sputnik and the Apollo moon landing.

What is the Cold War often mistakenly referred to as?

• A misunderstanding

• A peaceful era

• A scientific competition

• A direct war

What does the philosophy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) aim to achieve?

• Technological advancement

• Peace through the threat of mutual destruction

• Economic superiority

• Complete annihilation of one side

What was the Platt Amendment's impact on Cuba?

• It made Cuba a US state

• It ended US influence in Cuba

• It allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs

• It granted Cuba full independence

Who led the Cuban Communist Party to restore Cuba to its people?

• Fulgencio Batista

• Nikita Khrushchev

• Fidel Castro and Che Guevara

• John F. Kennedy

What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?

• A successful overthrow of Castro

• An increase in US-Cuban relations

• A major victory for the US

• A failed attempt with many exiles captured

What was the US's response to Soviet missiles in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Diplomatic negotiations

• Immediate airstrike

• Naval blockade

• Full-scale invasion

What was the first man-made object launched into orbit?

• Vostok 1

• Explorer 1

• Sputnik

• Apollo 11

Which country launched the first human into space?

• Germany

• United States

• China

• Soviet Union

What was the primary goal of the Apollo program?

• To launch the first satellite

• To land a man on the moon

• To build a space station

• To send a probe to Mars

What was the US's educational response to the Soviet advancements in space?

• STEM Initiative

• Space Race Act

• National Defense Education Act

• NASA Formation Act