TED-ED: The history of the Cuban Missile Crisis - Matthew A. Jordan

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a pivotal moment during the Cold War, marked by the US and USSR's nuclear standoff. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a tense confrontation. President Kennedy opted for a naval blockade, which was seen as an act of war by the Soviets. The crisis peaked with near-nuclear launches, but diplomacy prevailed. Secret negotiations led to the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US removing its missiles from Turkey and Italy. The crisis highlighted the fragility of human politics against nuclear power.

What was the main reason for the U.S. to impose a naval blockade on Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Describe the role of Vasili Arkhipov during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

What was the significance of the Doomsday Clock during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

What were the terms of the agreement reached between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis?

How did the Cuban Missile Crisis demonstrate the fragility of human politics?