Cuban+Missile+Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis Jack N. Adrienne M Burkhart American History May 16, 2011

Cuban Missile Crisis




 * Background and Overview**

The Cuban Missile Crisis started when the Soviet Union put missiles in Cuba, that were directed towards the United States. This was a retaliation for the 100+ missiles that the United States put in Turkey, aimed at the Soviet Union. The crisis was resolved when the Soviets agreed to dismantle all the missiles in Cuba, in return for the United States to secretly dismantle their missiles in Turkey and Italy eleven months later, to save face and not look weak in front of its people. At the time, it was publicly declared that Khrushchev and Kennedy made an agreement of never invading Cuba if Cuba took down their missiles.


 * Who**

There were three people involved in all the decisions made during the Cuban Missile crisis. The first one was Fidel Castro, the Dictator of Cuba, who was friendly with the Soviets. Nikita Khrushchev was the Soviet Premier who made a deal with Castro to set up/build missiles in Cuba. The third and final person is the United States' president at the time, John F. Kennedy.




 * When**

The Cuban Missile Crisis started with the when Fidel Castro took power in 1959. Castro and Khrushchev allied together, and U.S. ended all diplomatic relations with Cuba. The Bay of Pigs invasion, in 1961, failed to get rid of Castro. Finally however, in October 28, 1962, Khrushchev announces through radio that the Soviets agreed to dismantle the missiles in Cuba.


 * Where**

Cuba was an ideal location for the Soviets to build nuclear weapons at because most of the United States was in its proximity. The missiles would have been able to hit just about everywhere except for for west coast. This parrallel to the United State's nuclear weapons stationed in Turkey and Italy because those missiles were in proximity to hit most of the Soviet Union as well.


 * What**

The Cuban Missile Crisis was considered the high point of the Cold War between America and Soviet Russia. What it was, was a standoff between both countries in the development of installing nuclear weapons in Cuba**,** a country 100 miles off the coast of America.

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 * Why**

The Bay of Pigs in April 1961 was an event where an army composed of Cuban exiles failed to take over Cuba due to America failing to provide air support. Due to this attempt of takeover, Castro was in belief that America would try something similar again. So for protection, Castro asked for Soviet Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev for nuclear weapons.

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 * How**

Learning that Soviet Russia gave Cuba nuclear missiles, Kennedy told the public about the crisis. Many were debating how they should react to the Cuba having such destructive power. The United Nations played no role in this as both the US and Russia ignored appeals made by Secretary General U Thant and instead used the UN Security Council to toss accusations.

Kennedy decided to do a naval blockade of Cuba and check any ships going towards Cuba if there were any nuclear weaponry on board. It was known that the Soviets were sending in late October of 1962. The tension of whether the ship would turn back, or America sinking the boat was immense.


 * Impact**

The Cuban Missile crisis was the height of the Cold War, when it nearly turned into a nuclear war. However, due to this event in history, Washington and Moscow allowed for accessible communication to each other through a telephone line. A year after this event documents were signed to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons both that the U.S. and Soviet Russia had.


 * Bibliography**

"Cuban Missile Crisis." //West's Encyclopedia of American Law//. Ed. Shirelle Phelps and Jeffrey Lehman. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 309-310. //Gale U.S. History In Context//. Web. 16 May 2011.[]

"John F. Kennedy." Image. John F. Kennedy Library. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 May 2011. http://bit.ly/mFlVAU

"Cuban missile crisis." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 May 2011.

"Fidel Castro." Image. Reuters/Charles Platiau/Hulton Archive. //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 May 2011.

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