Cuban Missile Crisis Quiz! Trivia Facts
Do you know any trivia regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, and who was president at that time? What caused the crisis, and what brought it to a resolution? Who was involved, and what was the result of this crisis, and how many countries were involved? Take on this quiz, and you will learn more about this historical event.
- 1.
After your reading of this brief background document, do you feel that the Cubans were justified in permitting the Russians to place missiles on the island of Cuba?
- 2.
Castro was not even a member of the ________________________
- A.
Republican Party
- B.
Cuban Independence Party
- C.
Cuban Nationalist Party
- D.
Cuban communist party
Correct Answer
D. Cuban communist partyExplanation
Castro was not even a member of the Cuban communist party because he was a key figure in the Cuban Revolution and the establishment of a socialist government in Cuba. While he was a member of various political organizations and movements, including the 26th of July Movement, which played a crucial role in overthrowing the Batista regime, he did not align himself with the Cuban communist party. Instead, he formed his own political party, the Communist Party of Cuba, after the revolution.Rate this question:
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- 3.
The origins of the Cuban missile crisis began with what event?
- A.
Operation Mongoose
- B.
Operation Ortsac
- C.
Cuban Revolution
- D.
Russian agreeing to buy 5 million tons of sugar from Cuban
Correct Answer
C. Cuban RevolutionExplanation
The correct answer is the Cuban Revolution. The origins of the Cuban missile crisis can be traced back to the Cuban Revolution, which took place from 1953 to 1959. The revolution led to the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista and the rise of Fidel Castro's communist government. This change in power and the subsequent alignment of Cuba with the Soviet Union created tensions between the United States and Cuba, eventually leading to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What was La Coubre?
- A.
A Belgian ship which exploded in Havana harbour
- B.
The code name for the overthrow of Batista
- C.
A Russian ship which was found to be transporting weapons to Cuba
- D.
'Cobra' was the nickname of the plot to remove Castro
Correct Answer
A. A Belgian ship which exploded in Havana harbourExplanation
La Coubre refers to a Belgian ship that exploded in Havana harbor. This event occurred in 1960 and resulted in the death of many people and significant damage to the harbor. The explosion was a significant event in the Cuban Revolution and had political implications, as it was believed to be an act of sabotage by anti-Castro forces.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Who was considered responsible for the La Coubre incident?
- A.
Russian, she has sent weapons to Cuba against US wishes
- B.
The United States, though there was never any proof
- C.
Britain, because she was afraid that her oil interests in Cuba were at stake
- D.
Belgium, she was ordered by the US not ship weapons to Cuba and so her captain scuttled the ship at sea
Correct Answer
B. The United States, though there was never any proofExplanation
The correct answer suggests that the United States was considered responsible for the La Coubre incident, even though there was never any proof. This implies that the blame was placed on the United States without concrete evidence to support it.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What did Castro denounce to a crowd of 100 000?
- A.
The United Nations for failing to protect Cuba
- B.
American oil companies
- C.
Yankee Imperialism
- D.
Spanish colonialism
Correct Answer
C. Yankee ImperialismExplanation
Castro denounced Yankee Imperialism to a crowd of 100,000. This refers to the perceived domination and influence of the United States over Cuba. Castro criticized the United States for its interventionist policies and perceived exploitation of Cuban resources, particularly by American corporations. By denouncing Yankee Imperialism, Castro aimed to rally support for his revolutionary movement and emphasize the need for Cuba's independence from American influence.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Fearing that the US was about to invade his country, to where did Cuban turn to for protection?
- A.
The Soviet Union
- B.
The United Nations
- C.
The Organization of American States
- D.
The European Union
Correct Answer
A. The Soviet UnionExplanation
During the Cold War, Cuba turned to the Soviet Union for protection due to the fear of a potential invasion by the United States. The Soviet Union was a close ally of Cuba and provided military, economic, and political support to the Cuban government. This alliance allowed Cuba to strengthen its defenses and deter any potential aggression from the United States. The Soviet Union also stationed nuclear missiles in Cuba, which further heightened tensions between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What was Operation Zapata?
- A.
This was the code name to be used by the Cuban military in the event of an American invasion
- B.
This was the code name given to the invasion of Cuba by the United States
- C.
This was a covert plan to secretly place missiles in Cuba by the USSR
- D.
This was a plan to get other Latin American countries to invade Cuba
Correct Answer
B. This was the code name given to the invasion of Cuba by the United StatesExplanation
During the Cold War, the United States planned an invasion of Cuba, which was given the code name Operation Zapata. This operation was part of the larger Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, where a group of Cuban exiles trained and supported by the CIA attempted to overthrow the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. The invasion ultimately failed, resulting in a significant embarrassment for the United States and a strengthening of Castro's regime.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What was Operation Mongoose?
- A.
This was a plan to destabilize Cuba
- B.
This was a plan to replace Castro with an identical lookalike who would then announce that Cuban would join the United States
- C.
This was a plan to blow up power generating stations on Cuba
- D.
This was a plan to infect the Cuban sugar crops with insects which would destroy the harvest
Correct Answer
A. This was a plan to destabilize CubaExplanation
Operation Mongoose was a covert operation conducted by the United States government in the early 1960s with the aim of destabilizing the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. The operation involved various strategies, including sabotage, propaganda, and assassination attempts, in order to undermine the Cuban regime and potentially lead to its overthrow. The goal was to weaken Cuba politically and economically, with the hope of eventually bringing about a change in leadership.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Which of the following are reasons why the Bay of Pigs invasion failed?
- A.
There was no air support provided
- B.
The CIA had misinterpreted coral reefs for seaweed; the reefs tore open the invasion ships
- C.
The Cuban military was much stronger than expected
- D.
There was no popular uprising against Castro when the invasion began
Correct Answer(s)
A. There was no air support provided
B. The CIA had misinterpreted coral reefs for seaweed; the reefs tore open the invasion ships
D. There was no popular uprising against Castro when the invasion beganExplanation
The Bay of Pigs invasion failed for several reasons. Firstly, there was no air support provided, which put the invading forces at a significant disadvantage. Secondly, the CIA's mistake of misinterpreting coral reefs as seaweed led to the invasion ships being torn open, further hampering the operation. Additionally, the Cuban military was much stronger than expected, making it difficult for the invading forces to gain control. Lastly, there was no popular uprising against Castro when the invasion began, which deprived the invaders of local support and made their mission even more challenging.Rate this question:
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- 11.
To demonstrate American military muscle, the US launched a practice amphibious (naval invasion) on the island of Puerto Rico. What was the name given to this operation?
- A.
Abuc
- B.
Ortsac
- C.
Hsifgib
- D.
Noisavni
Correct Answer
B. OrtsacExplanation
The correct answer is "Ortsac". The question is asking for the name given to the practice amphibious operation launched by the US on the island of Puerto Rico to demonstrate American military strength. The answer "Ortsac" is the correct name for this operation.Rate this question:
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- 12.
By the fall of 1962, approximately how many Soviet military personnel were in Cuba?
- A.
400
- B.
4000
- C.
40 000
- D.
100 000
Correct Answer
C. 40 000Explanation
In the fall of 1962, there were approximately 40,000 Soviet military personnel in Cuba. This suggests that the Soviet Union had a significant military presence in Cuba during that time period.Rate this question:
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- 13.
While the US was not certain, what eventually led the CIA to be suspicious that something was going on in Cuba?
- A.
There was an increased in shipping traffic and Cuban refugees reported large numbers of Russians
- B.
There was increased supplies of aviation fuel being shipped to Cuba
- C.
There was a huge container ship that was searched on the way to Cuba by the US Coast Guard; it was found to contain 100 000's of copies of Russian-Cuban dictionaries
- D.
Russian baseball teams kept travelling to Cuba, but never going back to Russia......
Correct Answer
A. There was an increased in shipping traffic and Cuban refugees reported large numbers of RussiansExplanation
The increased shipping traffic and reports of large numbers of Russians from Cuban refugees led the CIA to be suspicious that something was going on in Cuba. This suggests that there was a significant influx of Russians into Cuba, which could indicate a potential collaboration or activity between Russia and Cuba. The combination of increased shipping and the presence of Russians raised concerns and suspicions within the US intelligence community.Rate this question:
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