Question

When did America put a naval blockade around Cuba?

Option 1: October 22, 1962.
Option 2: November 4, 1963.
Option 3: September 10, 1961.
Option 4: July 17, 1960.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 1: October 22, 1962.

Step-by-step explanation:

The naval blockade around Cuba by the United States commenced on October 22, 1962. This action was part of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day period during the Cold War where tensions between the US and the Soviet Union reached a peak. President John F. Kennedy imposed this naval quarantine, a term used to avoid the aggressive connotations of a 'blockade', to prevent Soviet ships from delivering more nuclear missiles to Cuba.

The crisis arose after American reconnaissance planes spotted Soviet missile installations on the island of Cuba. In response to the direct threat posed by the positioning of nuclear weapons so close to the US mainland, Kennedy ordered the navy to initiate the blockade or 'quarantine' to stop further Soviet military supplies from reaching Cuba. The world watched intently, knowing that any misstep could lead to a nuclear conflict.