To answer this question correctly, students must identify the event depicted in a historical photograph and clearly explain why the event is historically significant. For the first question, successful students will identify this as the Cuban Missile Crisis. For Question 2, successful students might elaborate on one or more of the following:
- The crisis was a high point in tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and some believe it was the closest the two nuclear powers came to all-out war.
- Both sides of the conflict recognized the perils of brinkmanship and took steps to de-escalate Cold War tensions, including the establishment of a hotline between Moscow and Washington to facilitate better communication.
- The Soviet withdrawal of the missiles was regarded as a significant foreign policy success for the Kennedy Administration, which had been embarrassed by the failure at the Bay of Pigs invasion.
- Premier Khrushchev faced criticism in Russia for standing down in the conflict, which contributed to his removal from power in 1964.
Level: Proficient
Question 1
Student clearly and specifically identifies the event depicted in the photograph.
Question 2
Student clearly and specifically explains why the event is historically significant.
Level: Emergent
Question 1
Student provides correct information related to the event but does not clearly identify the significant event.
Question 2
Student correctly elaborates on the event but does not clearly explain why the event is historically significant.
Level: Basic
Question 1
Student does not correctly identify the event.
Question 2
Student does not provide a correct or relevant explanation for why the event is historically significant.
