The Cuban Missile Crisis

 In the late nineteenth century (1898), during the Spanish-American War, the U.S.A. had gained control of Cuba.

 By the 1950’s the Americans were supporting the Fulgencio Batista Regime in Cuba (seized power illegally in 1933, a dictator President).  More importantly, the Americans totally controlled the Cuban economy.

 Before January 1, 1959 = Various attempts had been made to recapture the country of Cuba but by the 1950’s it was clear that no social or economical progress would be made unless their was a violent revolution.

 Fidel Castro, organized a guerrilla force, which would overthrow Batista on January 1,  At first it was only a slightly left-wing government made up of a mixture of Marxists and Liberals.

 After the revolution the relationship between the U.S.A. and Cuba did not change; yet, once Castro nationalized the American owned factories the US and Cuba became enemies.

 In July 1960 the United States stopped buying Cuban sugar.  After this Cuba signed an agreement with the U.S.S.R in which they would buy Cuban sugar and provide aid to the nation.  In January 1961 the U.S.A. broke off all diplomatic relations with Cuba.

 In April 1961, President Kennedy devised a plan in which the United States would help Cuban patriots recapture Cuba.  This ill-planned invasion (no air support) was put down by the Cuban forces and the U.S.A. suffered a severe blow of embarrassment.

 After this event, Castro announced that Cuba was, indeed, a Marxist state.

 The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation in 1962, during the Cold War, between the Soviet Union and the United States regarding the Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

 The missiles were apparently placed to protect Cuba from further planned attacks by the United States.

1) The Soviet Union was now behind in the space race. The United States was already capable of launching ICBM’s, while the Soviet range was limited to targets in Europe. So if Khrushchev could get missile bases in Cuba he could equalize this situation.

2) Cuba and the USSR feared an American invasion. So now with the missiles in range to hit American soil directly, Cuba could enjoy the fact that an American invasion was unlikely to occur.

3) Perhaps if the Soviets were to put missiles next door to the United States, Khrushchev could convince the U.S.A. to remove their missiles in Turkey.

 In August, 1962 U-2 spy planes saw and photographed surface to air missiles in Cuba.  These were for sure Soviet missiles.

 Also there were Soviet- built war planes capable of carrying nuclear bombs along the launch pads in Cuba.

 The United States of America was left with three options: 1)To draw up a solution where the U.S.A. would negotiate with the Soviets. 2) To set up for a conventional attack and invasion. 3) To set up a naval blockade not allowing Soviet ships to enter Cuba.

 Eventually, President Kennedy chose to have the naval blockade (quarantine) which would be very close as the starter to a world- wide nuclear war.

Video: JFK + Cuban Missile Crisis Announcement 

 This was the decision made by President Kennedy.  The United States Navy set up a blockade around Cuba, thereby defying Soviet ships to attempt to steam by and continue the build up of weapons.

 The crisis heightened as the Soviet ships approached the blockade.  It was at this time that the whole world knew that if a conflict was to occur at the blockade, it would spark a world wide nuclear war.

 During this crisis it was clear that both Kennedy and Khrushchev wanted a clear victory and both of them did not want to back down.  On the day Kennedy went public with the crisis, he placed the military on a DEFCON three rating.

 Two days later he changed that to DEFCON two.  Note: DEFCON stands for Defensive Readiness Condition and a DEFCON one rating would be a state of war.  On Wednesday, October 24 the Soviet ships that were heading towards the blockade turned back.

 Although this occurred, by no means was the crisis between the two superpowers over.  After that Khrushchev sent two letters to Kennedy stating that the United States must promise not to invade Cuba and the second letter stating that the US missiles in Turkey must be removed.

Kennedy wanting his victory decided to totally ignore the second letter and obey the first. This was done and Khrushchev accepted Kennedy’s word on Cuba. Interestingly, Khruschev did not speak about Turkey.

 The Cuban Missile Crisis was very significant due to the fact that two superpowers who each possessed a nuclear arsenal came eye to eye and almost created a war which in the end could have ended life on earth.

 For 14 days in 1962 the United States and the Soviet Union faced each other in a struggle that brought the world to the brink of a nuclear war.  As one leader waited for the other to back down, the world was at a stage where one small encounter could cause the world to come to an end.

 As you see, not only in this conflict but through out the Cold War, both countries had the power to destroy the opponent but both countries were afraid to start a war that would see not only the world come to an end but both countries lose.

 In simpler form, this crisis was significant because the United States and the Soviet Union both knew that if this nuclear war was to start, in the end both countries would lose and that is why both superpowers did not want to use their nuclear arsenal.

1.Why do you think the Soviet Union became very close with Cuba once the United States declared Cuba it’s enemy? 2.Why do you think President Kennedy devised a plan that wasn’t very thought out if he wanted control of Cuba? aY&feature=related

3.Do you think it was fair that the United States had missiles in Turkey but did not allow Soviet missiles in Cuba? 4.Do you think using the naval blockade was the best solution in stopping the Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba? 5.Do you believe that if Khrushchev did not back down a nuclear war would occur? aY&feature=related