During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States announced a naval quarantine around Cuba on which date?

• A. Oct 16, 1962
• B. Oct 23, 1962
• C. Oct 28, 1962
• D. Nov 1, 1962

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is understanding the timeline of the U.S. response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the U.S. confirmed Soviet missiles in Cuba, the Kennedy administration chose a strong, but carefully calibrated action to block further deliveries without invading. The public announcement of a naval quarantine around Cuba was made on October 23, 1962. This date marks when the move was officially communicated and began to be put into effect as ships near Cuba were stopped. Earlier events set the stage: the discovery of missiles in mid-October and Kennedy’s televised briefing on October 22 announcing that a quarantine would be imposed. The crisis then moved toward a diplomatic settlement, which was reached later that month.