Alabama Social Studies SS24.US2.13a

Social Studies11th GradeLate Twentieth-Century America

The Standard

SS24.US2.13: Explain the evolution of America’s Cold War policy to defend democracy and contain communism around the world and how this led to an escalation in armed conflict during the 1960s.

Assess the effectiveness of John F. Kennedy’s foreign policy toward Cuba, including the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain Kennedy's goals in Cuba and what happened at the Bay of Pigs and during the missile crisis. They judge his decisions using evidence about U.S. security, Castro's government, and the risk of nuclear war.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why the Bay of Pigs failed to remove Castro. They can show that the missile deal removed Soviet missiles from Cuba and avoided war, but left Castro in power. They also name the U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba and the secret agreement to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.
Common Misconceptions: Some students think U.S. troops openly invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs or that Castro was overthrown. Others think Kennedy got Soviet missiles removed without making concessions, or that the missile crisis ended communist rule in Cuba.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Was Kennedy's Cuba policy effective? Use one result from the Bay of Pigs and two results from the missile crisis, including a U.S. concession.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a world map and four event cards; have them locate Cuba, Florida, and Turkey, then put the events in order.
Ask students to write: If Castro stayed in power but Soviet missiles left, was Kennedy's Cuba policy successful? Cite two results.
Put claims on slips, including 'Castro fell' and 'Soviet missiles left Cuba'; students sort them as supported or unsupported using a timeline.
Show the current U.S. Treasury Cuba sanctions page; students identify one restriction and explain how it shows tensions continued after 1962.

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