Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis
I can assess the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis
I can assess the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Both superpowers were glad not to have gone to war.
- JFK's tough stance against the USSR was praised in the USA.
- The USSR benefitted from American promises not to attack Cuba and to withdraw missiles from Turkey.
- Khrushchev's reputation suffered in the USSR.
- Agreements were made between the superpowers aimed at making a future war between them less likely.
Keywords
Hotline - a special direct phone connection for emergencies
White House - the official residence of the President of the USA
Kremlin - the official residence of the leader of the USSR
Arms race - when two or more countries compete to have more and stronger weapons than one another
Common misconception
The Cuban Missile Crisis made war more likely between the superpowers.
Both the US and USSR were shocked at how close they had come to war and were relieved to have avoided it. Further steps were agreed between both countries after the crisis had ended to make war less likely in future.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Cold War transformation: was the world on the brink of a nuclear war? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended