The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): A Cold War Flashpoint

This case study examines the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 that brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. The crisis was triggered when U.S. intelligence discovered Soviet missile installations in Cuba, just 90 miles from the American coastline. In response, President John F. Kennedy imposed a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of military equipment, demanding the removal of the missiles.

The world anxiously watched as the two superpowers engaged in intense negotiations. Ultimately, the crisis was resolved through diplomatic channels, with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreeing to withdraw the missiles in exchange for a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba and the secret removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.

This case study highlights key themes such as Cold War diplomacy, the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, and the potential for miscalculation in high-stakes international conflicts. Students will explore the causes, key events, and resolution of the crisis, as well as its impact on Cold War relations and the subsequent efforts by both powers to avoid future nuclear confrontations through arms control agreements​(The cold war (World Hi…)