World History, Grades 9-12

SKILLBUILDERHANDBOOKR19

2.11 Evaluating Decisions and

Courses of Action

EVALUATING DECISIONSmeans making judgments about the decisions that historical

figures made. Historians evaluate decisions on the basis of their moral implications

and their costs and benefits from different points of view.

EVALUATING VARIOUS COURSES OF ACTIONmeans carefully judging the choices

that historical figures had to make. By doing this, you can better understand why they

made some of the decisions they did.

Understanding the Skill

STRATEGY: LOOK FOR CHOICES AND REASONS.The following passage describes the

decisions U.S. President John Kennedy had to make when he learned of Soviet

missile bases in Cuba. As you read it, think of the alternative responses he could have

made at each turn of events. Following the passage is a chart that organizes

information about the Cuban missile crisis.

STRATEGY: MAKE A CHART.

Applying the Skill

MAKE A CHART.Chapter 31, page 919, describes the decisions British and French

leaders made when Hitler took over the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia just before

World War II. Make a chart, like the one shown, to summarize the pros and cons of

their choice of appeasement and evaluate their decision yourself.

Section 2: Higher-Order Critical Thinking

Look at decisions made by

individuals or by groups.Notice

the decisions Kennedy made in

response to Soviet actions.

Look at the outcome of the

decisions.

Analyze a decision in terms of

the choices that were possible.

Both Kennedy and Khrushchev

faced the same choice. Either

could carry out the threat, or

either could back down quietly

and negotiate.

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Make a simple chart of your

analysis. The problem was that

Soviet nuclear missiles were being

shipped to Cuba. The decision to

be made was how the United

States should respond.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

During the summer of 1962, the flow of Soviet weapons into Cuba—including nuclear missiles—

greatly increased. President Kennedy responded cautiously at first, issuing a warning that the United

States would not tolerate the presence of offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba. Then, on October 16,

photographs taken by American U-2 planes showed the president that the Soviets were secretly building

missile bases on Cuba. Some of the missiles, armed and ready to fire, could reach U.S. cities in minutes.

On the evening of October 22, the president made public the evidence of missiles and stated his

ultimatum: any missile attack from Cuba would trigger an all-out attack on the Soviet Union. Soviet ships

continued to head toward the island, while the U.S. navy prepared to stop them and U.S. invasion

troops massed in Florida. To avoid confrontation, the Soviet ships suddenly halted. Soviet Premier

Nikita Khrushchev offered to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for a pledge not to invade

the island. Kennedy agreed, and the crisis ended.

Some people criticized Kennedy for practicing brinkmanship, when private talks might have

resolved the crisis without the threat of nuclear war. Others believed he had been too soft and had

passed up a chance to invade Cuba and oust its Communist leader, Fidel Castro.

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Kennedy ’s Choices

Publicly confront

Khrushchev with

navy and prepare

for war.

Say nothing to U.S.

public and negotiate

quietly.

Pros

Show Khrushchev and

world the power and

strong will of the U.S.;

force him to back off.

Avoid frightening U.S.

citizens and avoid

threat of nuclear war.

Cons

Nuclear war could occur.

The U.S. would look weak

publicly; Khrushchev

could carry out plan.

My Evaluation

In your opinion,

which was the

better choice?

Why?