THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Fidel Castro had a powerful ally in Mascow: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who promised to defend Cuba with Soviet arms. During the summer of 1962, the flow to Cuba of Soviet weapons- including nuclear missiles- increased greatly. President Kennedy responded with a warning that America would not tolerate offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba. Then, on October 14, photographs taken by American planes revealed Soviet missile bases in Cuba- and some contained missiles ready to launch. The could reach U.S cities in minutes. On October 22, Kennedy informed an anxious nation of the existence of Soviet missile sites in Cuba and his plans to remove them. He made it clear that any missile attack from Cuba would trigger an all-out attack on the Soviet Union. For the next six days, the world faced the terrifying possibility of nuclear war. In the Atlantic Ocean, Soviet ships- presumably carrying more missiles- headed toward Cuba, which the U.S Navy prepared to quarantine Cuba and prevent the ships from coming within 500 mines of it. In Florida, 100,000 troops waited.
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviet ships stopped suddenly to avoid a confrontation at sea. A few days later, Khrushchev offered to remove the missiles in return for an American pledge not to invade.
EFFECTS:
Fidel Castro had a powerful ally in Mascow: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who promised to defend Cuba with Soviet arms. During the summer of 1962, the flow to Cuba of Soviet weapons- including nuclear missiles- increased greatly. President Kennedy responded with a warning that America would not tolerate offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba. Then, on October 14, photographs taken by American planes revealed Soviet missile bases in Cuba- and some contained missiles ready to launch. The could reach U.S cities in minutes. On October 22, Kennedy informed an anxious nation of the existence of Soviet missile sites in Cuba and his plans to remove them. He made it clear that any missile attack from Cuba would trigger an all-out attack on the Soviet Union. For the next six days, the world faced the terrifying possibility of nuclear war. In the Atlantic Ocean, Soviet ships- presumably carrying more missiles- headed toward Cuba, which the U.S Navy prepared to quarantine Cuba and prevent the ships from coming within 500 mines of it. In Florida, 100,000 troops waited.
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviet ships stopped suddenly to avoid a confrontation at sea. A few days later, Khrushchev offered to remove the missiles in return for an American pledge not to invade.
EFFECTS:
- The Crisis severely damaged Khrushchev's prestige in the Soviet Union and the world.
The effects lasted long after the missils had been removed. - Many Cuban exiles blamed the Democrats for "losing Cuba" and switched their allegiance to the GOP.
- -Megan M