The Cuban Missile Crisis

In your Cold War file folder in your Google Docs account, read pages 350 to 351 of Cuban Missile Crisis.

1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.

Kennedy tries to use a blockade on Cuba, but then the Soviet ships got really close to the blockade zone and just turned around, on October 24. Then Kennedy has a problem with Khrushchev because he gets a letter saying that he should withdraw the missiles from Turkey, then an American pilot was killed and people were telling Kennedy that he should attack but Kennedy put the attack on hold and ended up lifting the blockade.

2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?

Yes?

3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.

I think that Source 26 is an American cartoon because it shows Khrushchev sweating while arm wrestling but Kennedy isn't. Also Khrushchev's finger looks like it's closer to the button that controls the missiles and I think it represents that he is losing to Kennedy and has nothing else to do so that's his only option.

4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.

Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?

To bargain with the USA

For: He could agree to remove them in return for some American concessions.

To test the USA

For: Wanted to test out Kennedy.

To trap the USA

For: The missiles were a trap.
Against: Wanted the Americans to be drawn into a nuclear war.

To get the upper hand in the arms race

For: With missiles on Cuba it was less likely that the USA would ever launch a 'first strike' against the USSR.

To defend Cuba

Against: Missiles were meant to defend Cuba.

5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.

I think that Khrushchev put the missiles on Cuba to get the upper hand in the arms race as well as test Kennedy. The Soviet Union and the U.S. were in this huge competition to be one step ahead of the other so Khrushchev could have set the missiles up on Cuba just to be ahead or caught up to Kennedy. He also could have been testing Kennedy hoping that Kennedy would back down so that he could make Kennedy seem weak.