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The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most tense events of the Cold War. The Crisis was caused by several events that had been ongoing for decades, such as the Spanish-American War and its results, the Platt Amendment, and the Bay of Pigs.

The Spanish-American War was a conflict that took place in 1898 between the United States and Spain. It resulted in the United States taking control of the former Spanish colonies of Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The Platt Amendment was the agreement between the United States and Cuba that made the US have control over Cuba’s finances and military. The Bay of Pigs was an invasion of Cuba by US-backed rebels in 1961 with the intention of overthrowing Fidel Castro’s Communist regime.

The Cuban Missile Crisis began in October 1962 when the US realized that the Soviet Union was sending missiles to Cuba. The US had several military options, but ultimately chose a blockade of the island and diplomatic negotiations with the USSR. This was a huge success, as the Soviets agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US lifting the blockade and vowing never to invade Cuba.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a massive event in the Cold War. It showed the world the power of diplomacy and the potential of nuclear weapons. To this day, it serves as a reminder of the danger of nuclear warfare and the need for communication and understanding between nations.

Worksheet

1. What was the Spanish-American War?
2. What were the results of the Spanish-American War?
3. What was the Platt Amendment?
4. What was the Bay of Pigs invasion?
5. What led to the Cuban Missile Crisis?
6. What strategies did the US use during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
7. What were the results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
8. What is the legacy of the Cuban Missile Crisis?