se7enW
Back to When
⏰ when

When did the Cuban Missile Crisis happen?

HistoryCold War

Quick Answer

The Cuban Missile Crisis unfolded over 13 days in October 1962, when the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war.

The Full Story

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962, widely regarded as the moment the Cold War came closest to nuclear war. American spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was secretly building missile bases in Cuba, just 145 kilometres from the coast of Florida, capable of launching nuclear weapons at US cities. President John F. Kennedy responded with a naval blockade, which he called a quarantine, to stop further Soviet shipments, and demanded the missiles be removed. After days of extremely tense negotiations, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret agreement to remove American missiles from Turkey. The crisis eased global fears and led to the first direct hotline between Washington and Moscow.

Key Facts

1.The crisis lasted about 13 days in October 1962.
2.US surveillance discovered Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba, close to the American mainland.
3.The standoff ended when the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for US concessions.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Cuban Missile Crisis — Thirteen Days on the Brink"