Picture Explanations

Picture Explanations of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Countries Involved

• The picture explains that Cuba, U.S.S.R and U.S.A were all involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis

Political Cartoon

• Person peeking under the “curtain” was Winston Churchill.

• “Joe” = Joseph Stalin• Connection to previous picture: – This is how we got into the Cuban Missile Crisis

involving the United States, Cuba and the Soviet Union

Space Race

• This photo has a picture of “Sputnik” the first satellite into space with the background of the Soviet Union Flag.

• Connection to previous picture: – The Iron Curtain signaled the start of the Cold War

and tensions between Capitalists and Communists, Sputnik continued that competition by allowing the Russians to be the first in space

Bay of Pigs

• Failed attempt by the CIA to try and overthrow Cuba’s Communist Leader Fidel Castro

• Connection to previous picture:– The Bay of Pigs showed what the United States

was willing to do to overthrow Communism, which was motivated further by the Russians pulling ahead in the space race

Missiles in Turkey

• The picture shows the nuclear missiles the U.S. put into Turkey aimed at the Soviet Union

• Connection to Previous Picture:– The missiles in Turkey showed how the U.S.

decided to deal with the Soviet Union following other failed attempts at “Containment” like the Bay of Pigs

Khrushchev meeting Castro

• The picture shows the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev meeting with Fidel Castro and becoming allies

• Connection to previous picture:– The missiles in Turkey prompted the Soviet Union

to take similar action because the U.S. missiles were so close to the U.S.S.R- this will be the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuban Missile Emplacements

• The picture shows where the Soviets had built and placed missiles and also where the former sights of those missiles were after the Cuban Missile Crisis ended.

• Connection to previous picture:– The alliance of Cuba and the Soviet Union

(Khrushchev and Castro meeting) resulted in missile emplacements in Cuba

U.S. Response

• The picture shows President Kennedy meeting with his military advisors

• Connection to previous picture:– Kennedy meeting with the military advisors is in

direct connection to the missiles being placed in Cuba. He was trying to decide what the best U.S. response would be

Standoff

• Kennedy and Khrushchev face off by arm wrestling and both sitting on Hydrogen bombs ready to push the trigger

• Connection to previous picture:– Kennedy’s advisors told Kennedy to take a hard

line with the Soviet Union, which resulted in the standoff represented by the arm wrestling

Missiles Being Shipped

• This picture shows a Soviet Ship transporting missiles from the U.S.S.R to Cuba

• Connection to previous picture:– As the standoff continued, the Soviet Union kept

on increasing tensions as they shipped missiles to Cuba and helped them develop missile sights

U.S. Blockade

• The purple line represents the line given by the United States to stop Soviet ships- if any Soviet ships went past the blockade, it would result in the start of World War III

• Connection to previous picture:– The U.S. blockade was set up as a direct result of

the Soviet Union continuing to ship missiles to Cuba despite the U.S. warnings

World War III…Almost

• This picture represents just how close the World got to World War III.

• Connection to previous picture:– If the ship shown previously went past the

blockade line, the U.S. would have declared war on the Soviet Union, effectively putting us into World War III- most likely a nuclear war

Kennedy and Khrushchev

• The picture of Kennedy and Khrushchev meeting represents the relationship the two leaders had

• Connection to previous picture:– While president Kennedy actually sent letters to

Khrushchev warning about the U.S. blockade, it demonstrates that both leaders wanted to avoid World War III

End to the Crisis

• Eventually the Soviet Union backs down and agrees with the U.S.- if you get rid of your missiles, we’ll get rid of ours

• Connection to previous picture:– The newspaper headline shows that diplomacy

won this confrontation