History
What is The Cuban Missile Crisis?
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in 1962 when the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. It brought the world to the brink of nuclear war before a negotiated deal defused it — the closest the Cold War came to catastrophe.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the cuban missile crisis.
Key things to understand
- 1It happened in October 1962 during the Cold War.
- 2The USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, near the US.
- 3A US naval blockade and tense talks followed.
- 4A secret deal to remove missiles ended the standoff peacefully.
Frequently asked questions
- What caused the Cuban Missile Crisis?
- The Soviet Union secretly placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, within striking range of the United States.
- How was the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved?
- The USSR removed its missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and to quietly remove missiles from Turkey.
- Why was it so dangerous?
- It brought the US and USSR closer to direct nuclear war than any other point in the Cold War.