The Cold War in Latin America

In 1962, the world was the closest it has ever been to all-out nuclear war. What country was home to this nuclear missile crisis?

• Korea

• Vietnam

• Cuba

• Nicaragua

Answer explanation

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, where the U.S. confronted the Soviet Union over missile installations in Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Which of these events occurred first?

• Cuban Revolution (Castro taking power)

• Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer explanation

The Cuban Revolution, which began in 1953 and culminated in 1959 with Fidel Castro taking power, occurred before the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

What is the capital of Cuba?

• Managua

• Kingston

• Port-au-Prince

• Havana

Answer explanation

The capital of Cuba is Havana. The other options—Managua, Kingston, and Port-au-Prince—are capitals of Nicaragua, Jamaica, and Haiti, respectively. Therefore, the correct answer is Havana.

Which of the following best describes how the Cuban Missile Crisis ended?

• The United States launched a full-scale invasion of Cuba, overthrowing Fidel Castro.

• The Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba, and the United States secretly agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey and promised not to invade Cuba.

• The crisis escalated into a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

• Cuba agreed to become a neutral nation, with both the United States and the Soviet Union removing all military presence.

Answer explanation

The Cuban Missile Crisis ended when the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba, while the U.S. secretly agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey and promised not to invade Cuba, avoiding further escalation.

Which family ruled Nicaragua for 43 years, from 1936-1979?

• The Castro family

• The Somoza family

• The Ortega family

• The Sandinistas

Answer explanation

The Somoza family ruled Nicaragua from 1936 until 1979, maintaining a dictatorship that lasted 43 years.

These were the Communist rebels that overthrew Anastasio Somoza Debayle in Nicaragua in 1979:

• The Contras

• The Sandinistas

Answer explanation

The Sandinistas were the Communist rebels who successfully overthrew Anastasio Somoza Debayle in Nicaragua in 1979, establishing a revolutionary government. The Contras, on the other hand, were formed later to oppose the Sandinista government.

The Contras were a counterrevolutionary force in Nicaragua that wanted to overthrow the Sandinistas. They were controversial because of the tactics they used to achieve their goals. The United States secretly gave financial aid to the Contras in a political scandal known as:

• Watergate

• The XYZ Affair

• The Iran-Contra Affair

• Teapot Dome

Answer explanation

The Iran-Contra Affair refers to the U.S. secretly funding the Contras in Nicaragua, which was controversial due to the methods used and the political implications.

After serving as president from 1979-1990, Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega retired from politics. No one knows his whereabouts today.

True or false?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because Daniel Ortega returned to politics and has been serving as president again since 2007, indicating he did not retire and his whereabouts are known.