OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
The changing international order 1918–1975 - Cold War confrontations and…
Full specification wording
International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Cold War confrontations and conflict 1954–1975: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.
The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 grew from Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, which pushed Cuba towards the USSR, and from the failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 grew from Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, which pushed Cuba towards the USSR, and from the failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961. Soviet leader Khrushchev secretly placed nuclear missiles on Cuba; US reconnaissance flights detected them in October 1962. President Kennedy imposed a naval 'quarantine' and demanded removal. After tense exchanges and the shooting down of a US U-2 aircraft, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in return for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and the later removal of US missiles from Turkey. A telephone 'hotline' followed in 1963. Learn the sequence of causes, actions and results, and the roles of Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro.
What earns the marks
- Identifies the Cuban Missile Crisis as a thirteen-day confrontation in October 1962 between the USA and the USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles sited on Cuba.
- Explains that the crisis arose from Castro's revolution, Cuba's alignment with the USSR and US fears following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.
- Describes Kennedy's response as a naval quarantine of Cuba together with a demand that the missiles be removed.
- States that the settlement involved Soviet withdrawal of the missiles, a US pledge not to invade Cuba and the later removal of US missiles from Turkey.
- Links the crisis to consequences such as the 1963 telephone hotline and improved superpower communication.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confuses the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 with the missile crisis of 1962.
Put it right: Keep the two events in their correct years and roles.
Claims the USA removed its missiles from Turkey before the USSR withdrew from Cuba.
Put it right: Note that the Turkish removal came later and was kept largely secret.
Attributes the placement of missiles to Castro alone.
Put it right: Recognise that Khrushchev authorised the Soviet deployment.
Describes the US response as a full blockade or declaration of war.
Put it right: Use the accurate term quarantine and the demand for removal.
Exam tips
- Learn a clear timeline: revolution 1959, Bay of Pigs 1961, missiles detected October 1962, settlement and hotline 1963.
- Name the three leaders and match each to a specific action or demand.
- When a question asks for consequences, separate short-term settlement terms from longer-term effects such as the hotline.
Try the lesson
The start of the International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Cold War confrontations and conflict 1954–1975: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In October 1962, United States reconnaissance aircraft photographed missile sites being built on which Caribbean island?
Listen
The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 grew from Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, which pushed Cuba towards the USSR, and from the failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961. Soviet leader Khrushchev secretly placed nuclear missiles on Cuba; US reconnaissance flights detected them in October 1962. President Kennedy imposed a naval 'quarantine' and demanded removal. After tense exchanges and the shooting down of a US U-2 aircraft, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in return for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and the later removal of US missiles from Turkey. A telephone 'hotline' followed in 1963. Learn the sequence of causes, actions and results, and the roles of Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies the Cuban Missile Crisis as a thirteen-day confrontation in October 1962 between the USA and the USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles sited on Cuba. Explains that the crisis arose from Castro's revolution, Cuba's alignment with the USSR and US fears following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961. Describes Kennedy's response as a naval quarantine of Cuba together with a demand that the missiles be removed. States that the settlement involved Soviet withdrawal of the missiles, a US pledge not to invade Cuba and the later removal of US missiles from Turkey. Exam tip: Learn a clear timeline: revolution 1959, Bay of Pigs 1961, missiles detected October 1962, settlement and hotline 1963.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Telephone hotline follows the crisis
- 2. Castro's revolution pushes Cuba towards the USSR
- 3. US reconnaissance flights detect Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba
- 4. Failed US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Bay of Pigs invasion
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Quarantine
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Hotline
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- A thirteen-day confrontation in October 1962 between the USA and the USSR over Soviet nuclear missiles sited on Cuba.
- Bay of Pigs invasion
- A failed US-backed invasion of April 1961, after which US fears contributed to the crisis.
- Quarantine
- A naval measure imposed by President Kennedy on Cuba, together with a demand that the missiles be removed.
- Hotline
- A telephone link that followed in 1963, linked to improved superpower communication as a consequence of the crisis.
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