Skip to content

Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Year 11 - History

The 13 Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils undergo a wider depth study which tells a story about a period that shaped the world we live in today: the Cold War. They look at the key events, developments, people and stories that defined the international relations in this Cold War period.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to account for the key events and decisions made during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Key Notes

  • The Cuban Missile Crisis began on 14th October 1962 when the USA discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.
  • ExComm helped President Kennedy to make decisions during the crisis.
  • The USA set up a blockade or 'quarantine zone' around Cuba.
  • The risk of war was considered high by both the USA and USSR during the crisis.
  • The crisis was resolved as both the USA and USSR agreed to make compromises.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • blockade: a situation in which a government or soldiers stop goods or people from entering or leaving a place
  • compromise: an agreement to accept something which is not exactly what you want

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Only the USSR made compromises during the crisis.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

The Cuban Missile Crisis began on 14th October 1962 when the USA discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. ExComm helped President Kennedy to make decisions during the crisis.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'blockade'

a situation in which a government or soldiers stop goods or people from entering or leaving a place.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Only the USSR made compromises during the crisis. Correction: Both superpowers agreed to compromises in order to avoid war and resolve the crisis. Soviet missiles were withdrawn from Cuba whilst the US promised not to invade Cuba and to withdraw its own missiles from Turkey.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 History guide library.