Kennedy

1
Kennedys Foreign Policy

• 1960-1963

2
Essential Question

• What were the key foreign policy challenges the
  United States faced during the Kennedy
  administration?

3
What new directions did JFK take in dealing with
communism?

• Main Idea President John F. Kennedy sought new
  ways to deal with the challenges and fears of the
  Cold War.

4
What new direction did JFK take in dealing with
communism?

• JFK continues anti-communist policies
• JFK increased spending on nuclear arms

5
What was strength Through Flexibility?

• Communist countries start using guerrilla
  warfare tactics. (small bands of soldiers using
  sudden ambushes)
• U.S. introduces flexible response Special
  Forces Units such as the Green Berets ( troops
  that were ready to fight guerrilla warfare
  anywhere around the world)

6
How did the U.S. gain strength through aid?

• U.S. spends money in various regions of the
  world to attack poverty to make communism seem
  less attractive
• In 1961 JFK signed an executive order
  (presidential directive) creating the Peace Corps
  (volunteers work in other countries in order to
  provide them with help)

7
Cold War Confrontations

• Main Idea The Kennedy administration responded
  to Cold War crises in Cuba and Berlin

8
Cuba

• 1959 Fidel Castro takes control in Cuba and set
  up a communist dictatorship.
• Cuba became allies with the Soviet Union
  worrying the U.S. since it was only 90 miles
  south of Florida
• The U.S. was determined to make Cuba democratic
  that they supported a coup (overthrow of
  government)

9
What was the Bay of Pigs?

• A CIA supported attempt to overthrow Castros
  government.
• CIA trained Cuban rebels attacked Cuba were
  defeated when JFK refused to provide them with
  air support

10
The Bay of Pigs was a disaster had 3 long term
effects

• 1. Kennedy never completely trusted military
  intelligence advice
• 2. Nations in Latin America lost trust in Kennedy
• 3. Soviet Premier Khrushchev concluded that
  Kennedy was not a strong leader and could be
  bullied

11
What was the Berlin Wall?

• 16 years after WWII the city of Berlin is still
  divided.
• Soviets want U.S. out of Berlin JFK says no
  sends even more troops to Berlin
• Soviets build a concrete wall separating East
  West Berlin to keep people from leaving East
  Berlin.
• The Berlin Wall symbolizes communist oppression

12
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

• Main Idea The United States forced the Soviet
  Union to withdraw Soviet missiles that had been
  placed in Cuba.

13
Cuban Missile Crises

• Oct. 1962 U.S. spy plane discovers launching
  sites for nuclear missiles being built in Cuba
• JFK orders a blockade (close off Cuba) of Cuba
  until missile sites were destroyed
• U.S. threatened to destroy any Soviet ship
  attempting to break the blockade

14
Cuban Missile Crisis

• Any missile attack from Cuba against any Western
  country would be considered an attack by the
  Soviet Union U.S. would respond with a nuclear
  attack against Soviet Union
• After a 5 day showdown the Soviets agree to
  dismantle the nuclear missile sites leave Cuba
• The U.S. agrees not to invade Cuba
• Kennedy stands up to the Soviets and shows
  Premier Khrushchev that he cannot be bullied

15
What was the Rivalry in Space?

• Kennedy promised to put a man on the moon by the
  end of the 1960s
• N.A.S.A. (National Aeronautics and Space
  Administration) was given extra funding to lead
  the program
• In 1962 John Glenn becomes 1st American to orbit
  the Earth
• July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong becomes 1st person
  to ever walk on the moon