| The Cuban missile crisis lasted for roughly 14 days. | | | | and forced the US to respect their position. They |
| This time was one of the most dangerous times in | | | | used this position to try and negotiate to relax the |
| modern days, almost driving the worlds two biggest | | | | tensions between the two countries. By placing |
| superpowers into nuclear war with each other. There | | | | nuclear missiles so close to America they thought |
| were many reasons for Khrushchev placing nuclear | | | | that would make them listen. |
| installments in Cuba and then for him dismantling | | | | It has been revealed that the USSR wanted to |
| them. These reasons include; providing a quick fix to | | | | redirect government spending from military to |
| the USSR's strategic inferiority, to expel the chance | | | | industrial and agricultural sectors. And through placing |
| of the united states launching a first strike against | | | | missiles in Cuba would create a stalemate with the |
| them and increasing their own first strike capabilities, | | | | US where this was made possible. All the Soviets |
| to act as a physical deterrent of the U.S Jupiter | | | | were after was recognition and respect. The US |
| missiles placed in Europe and around the globe, and | | | | denied both of these things point blank and gave |
| then to stop a nuclear war between the US and | | | | Khrushchev an option he would have to make which |
| Russia. To understand these reasons, we must first | | | | could destroy the world or save it. The US also |
| understand what happened during the crisis and | | | | created fear in Cuba with several assassination |
| eventually why Khrushchev took the options he did. | | | | attempts made on Castro, and it was these |
| The USSR had been in an inferior strategic position | | | | attempts that created greater distrust between the |
| against the U.S for a long time, only having less than | | | | two countries. This is the distrust that caused Cuba |
| one fifth of the firepower America had. Because of | | | | to turn to the USSR and in turn start the crisis. The |
| this the Soviet Union started making up false reports | | | | US cant be blamed entirely for the crisis, though its |
| concerning their numbers of nuclear warheads, in an | | | | involvement in it was great. It could be seen to have |
| attempt to scare the U.S. This became to be known | | | | started because of each countries views and fears |
| as the missile gap, which Kennedy in his campaign | | | | of the others political views and government |
| promised to close. The U.S continued with their missile | | | | systems and each of their own ideas about the |
| build up and by the time the crisis began the U.S | | | | others motives. All these things fueled the cold war |
| controlled over 18,000 warheads. This was a ratio of | | | | and made the Cuban Missile Crisis a flashpoint in it. |
| seventeen to one against the Soviet Union, and | | | | The Cuban missile crisis was a fight between |
| showed just how much more power the U.S had | | | | communism and capitalism, with neither side actually |
| against them. | | | | wanting to fight, it was fitting that the solution to |
| Ever since Fidel Castro was made president of Cuba | | | | the crisis was a trade off. Where each nation could |
| after the revolution in 1959, Cuba had tried to isolate | | | | pull out and claim a small success where neither |
| itself from America. Before Castro Cuba encourages | | | | system of government was tainted in the process. It |
| American involvement in domestic and industrial | | | | was a result that was required to prevent the |
| affairs. A good example was the American industries | | | | obvious outcome of nuclear war which was coming |
| inside Cuba using Cuban workers. This use of Cuban | | | | closer and closer. |
| citizens caused the revolution and is why Castro | | | | The US had missiles placed in England, Italy and |
| wanted to disassociate from America. Because | | | | Turkey and they were all aimed at the USSR. |
| Castro installed a communist government in Cuba, the | | | | Khrushchev used these missiles as justification to |
| U.S broke all trade agreements with them and Cuba | | | | placing missiles in Cuba. He thought that they would |
| had to find another country to form trade | | | | be just as frightening to the US as the missiles the |
| agreements with. They turned to the USSR and the | | | | US had placed in Turkey were to them. Khrushchev |
| Soviets accepted, giving Cuba long term loans with | | | | saw a way where Cuba could get a pledge from the |
| low interest and military aid. Something that made the | | | | US not to invade them and they could get the |
| Soviet link with Cube more string was the failed U.S | | | | missiles in Turkey dismantled. This reasoning of his |
| backed counter-revolution by CIA trained Cuban | | | | can be seen in a letter he wrote to Kennedy on the |
| exiles. It was the famous bay of pigs invasion; the | | | | 27th of October. Your rockets are situated in Britain, |
| exiles didn't even make it past the beach. Though this | | | | situated in Italy, and are aimed against us. Your |
| failed attempt showed Cuban authorities what the | | | | rockets are situated in Turkey. You are worried |
| U.S intentions really were. This was seen as a major | | | | about Cuba. You say that it worries you because it is |
| blunder by Kennedy. After that Castro was certain | | | | a distance of ninety miles by sea from the coast of |
| that the US would attempt a full invasion of Cuba | | | | America, but Turkey is next to us he then proposes. |
| and he requested military assistance off Khrushchev. | | | | I therefore make this proposal: we agree to remove |
| Khrushchev obliged and sent 60 missiles and their | | | | the missiles from Cuba those means which you |
| warheads, 22 jet light bombers, 39 MIG fighters, 3 | | | | regard as offensive means; we agree to carry this |
| cruise missiles, 62 other fighters and 12 Komar-class | | | | out and make a pledge in the United Nations. Your |
| cruise missile patrol sites. All this was constructed and | | | | representatives will make a declaration to the effect |
| maintained by 42, 000 Soviet troops deployed in | | | | that the US, on its part. Considering the uneasiness |
| Cuba. It was Castro's fear of the US that stimulated | | | | and anxiety of the soviet state, will remove its similar |
| the installments of offensive missiles in Cuba. Even | | | | means from Turkey |
| though Khrushchev may have had other reasons for | | | | What Khrushchev didn't know was that the US had |
| placing these missiles in Cuba, if Castro had not | | | | already marked the missiles in Turkey for dismantling. |
| invited him to, this crisis may never have happened. | | | | They were being replaced by the Polaris submarine |
| The USSR was placed in a position which gave the | | | | fleet. And Kennedy saw that if he accepted this |
| US and its allies had a superior first strike capability. | | | | trade publicly. It would be seen as him trading the |
| The US could not be reached from Russia using | | | | United States security for Turkeys, and if |
| conventional weapons, where the missiles in Turkey, | | | | Khrushchev did force this trade, they might still force |
| Italy and England were all pointed in their direction. | | | | more trades. He decided that he would deny |
| The missiles in Cuba were only 90 miles from the | | | | everything if these were their minimum requirements. |
| coast of America, and the missiles the US had in | | | | Placing the missiles in Cuba showed the US what it |
| Turkey were 135 miles away from Russia. The US | | | | was like to have nuclear warheads aimed at them |
| was very worried about the position of the missiles in | | | | and what it was like to have no where safe to go. |
| Cuba, though the USSR thought that their complaints | | | | This scared the public greatly and mass panic was |
| were hypocritical saying; Why shouldn't the Soviet | | | | seen all over the country. The country wanted |
| Union have the right to do the same as America? By | | | | Kennedy to solve the crisis as soon and by whatever |
| placing Soviet missiles within 100 miles of the US | | | | means he had possible. So Kennedy agreed to |
| coastline the USSR was evening the score and it | | | | withdraw the quarantine he had over Cuba publicly |
| allowed them to feel a little more secure and give | | | | and he agreed in person to dismantle the missiles in |
| the US a reason not to attack. | | | | Cuba, Khrushchev however publicly agreed to |
| Both the USSR and the US were concerned with | | | | dismantle the missiles in Cuba and it was seen that |
| each others first strike capabilities (the initial use of | | | | the soviets were backing down. This gave Kennedy |
| nuclear weapons to attack a country that also had | | | | back a fierce public reputation and made the soviets |
| nuclear weapons). This first strike policy is considered | | | | look slightly weaker. |
| feasible only when the attacker can destroy the | | | | There were many reasons behind the Cuban missile |
| other countries ability to retaliate. The Soviets before | | | | crisis and many reasons as to why Khrushchev |
| placing missiles in Cuba were at a huge disadvantage | | | | planted missiles in Cuba. Khrushchev wanted to feel |
| to the US, and by placing the missiles in Cuba they | | | | more secure in his country and he wanted his |
| increased their first strike capability by 70%. Because | | | | country to feel more secure. He wanted Kennedy to |
| both sides were afraid of the other initiating a first | | | | know what it was like for him and to release some |
| strike the US brought in the idea of a second strike | | | | of tension of the cold war by withdrawing missiles |
| capability, which is the ability to survive a first strike | | | | from places so close to home. The Cuban missile |
| and launch a second. This was one of the main | | | | crisis was one of closest times in history where |
| justifications of the nuclear arms build up of both the | | | | mutually assured destruction was just around the |
| US and USSR. The US launched their Polaris fleet of | | | | corner. This crisis changed the way the world saw |
| nuclear submarines in preparation for a second strike. | | | | the Soviet Union and Khrushchev in a way got what |
| The USSR feared the US, mainly because of their | | | | he wanted was that the USSR was a powerful state |
| lead in nuclear weapons build-up and power and | | | | that shouldn't be underestimated. Personally I think |
| because the US was acting more aggressively | | | | the crisis was due the US being stubborn and power |
| towards the USSR and the Soviets did not want | | | | hungry, it is allowed for them to have all the power, |
| America to exploit their weaker position. By placing | | | | but when they are threatened it is a different story. |
| missiles in Cuba they ended their strategic inferiority | | | | Russia did learn their lesson though the US still hasn't. |