The Cuban Missile Crisis
Grade 11th Grade · Social Studies · 30 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can evaluate the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on Cold War tensions.
Warm-Up Video
TED-Ed · 4:52
The history of the Cuban Missile Crisis - Matthew A. Jordan
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred because the Soviet Union secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba to protect it and to counteract the threat from U.S. missiles in Italy and Turkey.
- 2
To prevent Soviet shipments to Cuba, President John F. Kennedy initiated a naval quarantine, which the Soviet Union viewed as an act of aggression.
- 3
During the crisis, a Soviet submarine almost launched a nuclear torpedo, but Vasili Arkhipov, second in command, refused to authorize the launch, potentially saving the world from nuclear war.
Practice Questions
3 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe one way the Cuban Missile Crisis increased Cold War tensions and one way it eventually de-escalated them.”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources: