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.
Wednesday, October 24 was one of the darkest days of the crisis because the Soviet Union ships that painstakingly close to the blockade zone stopped or turned around right before it. The ships kept coming at first and Kennedy might have thought that the Soviet Union was going to attack them and start the war or even use their nuclear weapons on them. Also, the ships tha stopped probably caused a lot of stress and anxiety because he didn't know if they were going to attack them or just turn around or stay there. The atmosphere was intense that day for Kennedy because he didn't know what the Soviets were going to do. October 27th was another one of the darkest days because one he decides to remove his missiles from Turkey making the United States a little more vulnerable and a U-2 plane is shot down. The missiles that he agreed to take away definitely left America a little more vulnerable and this probably made Kennedy uneasy. More importantly, a U-2 plane was shot down over Cuba and the pilot was killed, which made Kennedy believe that the Soviet Union was going to attack. Also, Kennedy almost attacked the Soviet Union after the U-2 incident, however he delayed the attack. The delayed attack probably was the closest point at which the United States almost started a war against the Soviet Union. This probably made Kennedy very stressed and possibly scared as to what the Soviet Union might do next or what could have happened if he didn't delay the attack.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I believe that both sides were too afraid to send the first nuclear bomb, which makes me believe that a nuclear war wasn't a possibility. Both sides were too afraid of the consequences of sending a nuclear bomb to the other side. There might've been a close call of a nuclear war but I don't think either said would have ever gone through with it.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
I believe that Source 26 is a Soviet cartoon. In the cartoon Khrushchev is sweating, which indicates that he is working hard and having trouble. He is trying a lot harder than JFK because JFK is not sweating so USSR is working a lot harder. Also, they are having an arm wrestle, where again Khrushchev is sweating and working harder. It also shows that JFK (or the United States) and Khrushchev (or the Soviet Union) are fighting against each other. In the arm wrestle neither person is moving, at least their hands and arms, which shows that each person is afraid to make the first major move or waiting for an element of surprise. Since neither person is moving it also shows that each of them are working just as hard but are handling it differently. The two players are sitting on a nuclear bomb, so essentially the one to make the first move would set off the bomb towards the other person, triggering the start of a war. The cartoon puts America in a bad viewpoint because it shows Khrushchev struggling which could make the Soviets angry and more willing to fight harder. Since the cartoon does this I believe that it is a Soviet cartoon trying to make the Soviets want to fight harder.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I. To Bargain with the USA
A. For
1. The Cuban Missile crisis did lead to bargaining between USA and USSR
a. Khrushchev wanted missiles taken out of Turkey and USA wanted missiles taken out of Cuba
2. Khrushchev never fought or made an attack against USA
a. showing that the Soviets didn't want to fight with America and would rather compromise and talk
B. Against
1. The Soviets had lied about having missiles on Cuba
a. showing that they were possibly ready to fight or planned a sneak attack
II. To Test the USA
A. For
1. The Soviet Union continued to push the United States' buttons
a. the ships kept going towards Cuba until they were extremely close
b. At first Khrushchev didn't agree to take out their missiles as Kennedy had asked
c. By putting the missiles there in the first place pushed America's buttons because they didn't know what the Soviets were going to do
B. Against
1. The Soviets never really did anything extreme, they just did little things.
III. To Trap the USA
A. For
1. Cuba is very close to America making it easier and quicker to send missiles to America and cover more area
B. Against
1. That was the only place where the Soviet Union had missiles besides USSR
a. The USA was never surrounded or 'trapped'
IV. To Get the Upper Hand in the Arms Race
A. For
1. the Soviet Union was already outnumbered with nuclear weapons
a. USA had nukes in America and in Eastern Europe, whiled USSR only had nukes in homeland
b. by putting them so close to America it made America fearful and possibly making them willing to succumb to the Soviet Union
B. Against
1. The Soviet Union never really outnumbered America in the amount of nukes they had
a. they were still pretty dead even with the amount of nukes they had
V. To Defend Cuba
A. For
1. Cuba became a Soviet ally
a. they became a communist state which made the Soviet Union almost have to defend or protect Cuba from attack
I. in order to spread communism they would have to protect Cuba from American influence and control
B. Against
1. If they were there to spread communism why did they need nuclear weapons?
a. nuclear weapons were over-the-top to just protect Cuba
2. Cuba and USSR never really signed a pact or anything so how do we know if they were allies or not
a. if they were allies it seems normal to protect them, but there was no pact or anything
3. How do we know if USSR was just using Cuba to get closer to America and make an easier surprise attack
a. they could've just taken advantage of Cuba seeing that they had turned communist and therefore making it safer for them to be there and etcetera.
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think that the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles on Cuba to be able to bargain with the USA and to test the USA. The missiles that were placed on Cuba ultimately did this. During the time where missiles were on Cuba Khrushchev and Kennedy did end up conversing and bargaining. Kennedy said he would take the missiles out of Turkey as long as Khrushchev took the missiles out of Cuba. Also, the USSR never made an attack or anything on the United States, which goes to show that they were not ready or willing to fight. The Soviets wanted to talk and bargain first before making an attack on the United States. The missiles on Cuba had also tested the United States, which could be another possibility on why the Soviets had put missiles on Cuba in the first place. The Soviet Union never really did anything in Cuba besides put missiles and make bases on there, they never really spoke or attacked America. Although, a U-2 plane was taken down and the pilot was shot, which happened because America saw that the USSR was putting missiles on Cuba, but this was all that America did. USSR just waited for some first attack or something, but when the U-2 plane was shot down it was another test on America. However, there is no indication on who shot the plane down, America might have assumed that it was the Soviet Union and if it was then they would have been waiting to see if America would attack back or begin a war. Finally, until America clearly was not going to attack the Soviet Union took away the missiles, which showed to the Soviets that America was not going to make a first move to start a war where the Soviet Union was probably hoping for.
Showing posts with label Khrushchev. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Khrushchev. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
The U.S. Attempts to Contain Cuba
1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
Cuba was so important to the United States because America owned most of the business there, there was a U.S. naval base, and it is 160 km away from the tip of Florida. If the Soviet Union or communism were to take over Cuba than most likely America would lose it's business there. Also, America would lose a lot of profit from Cuba if it were to lose business. The U.S. naval base was key for America in their placement in the world; Cuba is in-between America and South and Central America making the naval base key in keeping in touch and having close contact with South and Central America. The U.S. naval base in Cuba is also good placement because America could reach another country in South or Central America much easier than if it was in America somewhere. Since Cuba is only 160 km it really is a perfect spot, as I said before. As one can see, Cuba was so important to the United States because it was so close, America owned most of the business there, and there was already a U.S. naval base there.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
I believe that the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves because they thought that it would be more powerful and possibly easier for Cuba to succumb to them and if the Soviet Union were to accuse America for attacking an ally America could deny it. If the exiles were to attack Cuba there could be a stronger possibility that they could win, the exiled persons could be so filled up with anger and revenge that they would be unstoppable. Also, there could have been a possibility that Castro would be sympathetic towards the exiled persons and would easily succumb to them. Lastly, if the Soviet Union were to accuse America of attacking one of their allies, America could deny it because technically Americans were not involved in the fighting. Cuban exiles did all the fighting and attacked Cuba, the Soviet Union probably would not be able to provide any proof of America influencing the Cuban exiles.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The invasion failed because when the Cuban exiles entered Cuba through the Bay of Pigs they were met by 20,000 Cuban troops armed with tanks and more. With far more people and better weapons Castro was easily able to defeat and kill all of the exiled persons within a few days. The invasion failed because the soldiers were not equiped with sufficient weaponry, were not as trained as the others, and were greatly outnumbered.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
In Source 17 in the Arms Race.pdf there are both long range and short range nuclear weapons that America owns. The short range weapons are in NATO European countries where they are much closer to the Soviet Union and will get to the Soviet Union much quicker. In Source 24 in the Cuban Missile Crisis.pdf the Soviet Union now how nuclear weapons in Cuba where it's much easier and quicker to reach the United States and more possible places to strike the United States. The Cold War power became almost equal, the Soviet Union got more power with the missiles in Cuba. America used to have the only short range nuclear weapons that threatened the USSR, but now the Soviets had weapons where they could easily attack the United States and greatly threatened them. Also, there would be more areas in the United States where the missiles could hit which would make more damage. In summary, after the Soviet Union put missiles in Cuba the balance of power during the Cold War greatly shifted to the Soviet Union.
Cuba was so important to the United States because America owned most of the business there, there was a U.S. naval base, and it is 160 km away from the tip of Florida. If the Soviet Union or communism were to take over Cuba than most likely America would lose it's business there. Also, America would lose a lot of profit from Cuba if it were to lose business. The U.S. naval base was key for America in their placement in the world; Cuba is in-between America and South and Central America making the naval base key in keeping in touch and having close contact with South and Central America. The U.S. naval base in Cuba is also good placement because America could reach another country in South or Central America much easier than if it was in America somewhere. Since Cuba is only 160 km it really is a perfect spot, as I said before. As one can see, Cuba was so important to the United States because it was so close, America owned most of the business there, and there was already a U.S. naval base there.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
I believe that the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves because they thought that it would be more powerful and possibly easier for Cuba to succumb to them and if the Soviet Union were to accuse America for attacking an ally America could deny it. If the exiles were to attack Cuba there could be a stronger possibility that they could win, the exiled persons could be so filled up with anger and revenge that they would be unstoppable. Also, there could have been a possibility that Castro would be sympathetic towards the exiled persons and would easily succumb to them. Lastly, if the Soviet Union were to accuse America of attacking one of their allies, America could deny it because technically Americans were not involved in the fighting. Cuban exiles did all the fighting and attacked Cuba, the Soviet Union probably would not be able to provide any proof of America influencing the Cuban exiles.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The invasion failed because when the Cuban exiles entered Cuba through the Bay of Pigs they were met by 20,000 Cuban troops armed with tanks and more. With far more people and better weapons Castro was easily able to defeat and kill all of the exiled persons within a few days. The invasion failed because the soldiers were not equiped with sufficient weaponry, were not as trained as the others, and were greatly outnumbered.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
In Source 17 in the Arms Race.pdf there are both long range and short range nuclear weapons that America owns. The short range weapons are in NATO European countries where they are much closer to the Soviet Union and will get to the Soviet Union much quicker. In Source 24 in the Cuban Missile Crisis.pdf the Soviet Union now how nuclear weapons in Cuba where it's much easier and quicker to reach the United States and more possible places to strike the United States. The Cold War power became almost equal, the Soviet Union got more power with the missiles in Cuba. America used to have the only short range nuclear weapons that threatened the USSR, but now the Soviets had weapons where they could easily attack the United States and greatly threatened them. Also, there would be more areas in the United States where the missiles could hit which would make more damage. In summary, after the Soviet Union put missiles in Cuba the balance of power during the Cold War greatly shifted to the Soviet Union.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The Arms Race
1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
Dulles had methods that would keep the Communists from spreading, freeing the people of the nations under Soviet rule, and do it all without starting a third world war. Dulles definitely believed that containment was not working, and that if the United States did nothing they would be "driven back" by the Soviets. Also, he believed that there was a way to free the people of the countries under Soviet rule without war, that it was possible to free them peacefully.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would agree to a certain extent. I can see how the Communist world may feel encircled, but I don't think that they really were. There were countries, smaller countries than the United States, that had joined SEATO, CENTO, and NATO and were all around USSR. However, these countries were parsimonious compared to the USSR, and I don't think that they should have felt threatened or "encircled" by them. Also, the largest country in these groups was the United States, which is pretty much on the other side of the globe. Lastly, the countries in these groups were around the Soviet Union and in a 'circular' form, but still they shouldn't have been afraid of these much smaller-in-size countries.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
I do believe that the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind. I believe this because in Source 12 he says "Liberation can be achieved by a process short of war," which indicates that Dulles thought he could avoid war by a nuclear war. He probably looked back to how quick Japan had surrendered after the two atomic bombs, and believed that the same thing could happen with the USSR. Dulles might have been thinking that the USSR would surrender if the United States sent nuclear bombs over the country and therefore would liberate the other countries from their war. This would be how Dulles would avoid an all out war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The Soviet cartoon is saying that the U-2 plane was spying on the USSR. This is shown by how President Truman is looking with one eye (as you do in a telescope) through the U-2 plane. At the end or the tip of the U-2 plane there is glass, which is trying to make it look like a spy glass. The U-2 plane is over the USSR showing that President Eisenhower is spying over the Soviet Union.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The USSR was so angry about the US spy flights because the violated Soviet air space, the US denied spying on them, and President Eisenhower refused to stop and apologize for spying on them. America was flying over Soviet air space and that made the Soviets angry. Also, the United States denied that they were even spying on them, which made the USSR angry because they had evidence to prove that they were indeed spying on them. However, the United States did end up telling the Soviets that they were spying on them, but President Eisenhower refused to stop the flights and to apologize. This move made USSR angry because the US would still send flights over USSR and didn't apologize for their actions. In-turn this increased the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
The USA justified this violation of Soviet territory by denying it at first. President Eisenhower and the United States were asked by the Soviet Union if they were spying on the territory, but the US denied. However, America didn't know that the USSR had proof of them spying form Gary Power's U-2 plane. In the end, President Eisenhower did admit to spying over Soviet territory but he did not stop the U-2 planes from flying over and would not apologize for his actions.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
If the USSR had had U-2 planes I don't think that they would have used them. I believe that the USSR wouldn't have use them because they could get more information on the ground. Their spies were more effective I think because they got more information, like how to build an atomic bomb. If they used a U-2 plane to see how to build an atomic bomb they wouldn't be able to figure it out, it would be nearly impossible. It would be much more useful to have spies in the country on the ground than for planes flying over taking pictures and then having to figure out what those pictures mean.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
I think that the USA had missiles based in Europe to be able to bomb the Soviet Union more quickly. Source 17 says "Short-range missiles could reach USSR in minutes. Long-range missiles could reach USSR in 30 minutes," which indicates that the USA would rather use the missiles that could reach in minutes because it could hit USSR more quickly than the long-range missiles. Also, the USA could send the short-range missiles and then the long-range missiles that could destroy the Soviet Union and could possibly make them surrender more quickly.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Nuclear Deterrent is when more than one country has nuclear weapons and if they were to send the nuclear weapon on another country who had them also they would kill themselves as well as the other country. Before the bomb would land the other country would be able to send their bombs too, so both countries would die. Basically sending an atomic bomb to the Soviet Union from the United States and vice-versa was suicidal.
Dulles had methods that would keep the Communists from spreading, freeing the people of the nations under Soviet rule, and do it all without starting a third world war. Dulles definitely believed that containment was not working, and that if the United States did nothing they would be "driven back" by the Soviets. Also, he believed that there was a way to free the people of the countries under Soviet rule without war, that it was possible to free them peacefully.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would agree to a certain extent. I can see how the Communist world may feel encircled, but I don't think that they really were. There were countries, smaller countries than the United States, that had joined SEATO, CENTO, and NATO and were all around USSR. However, these countries were parsimonious compared to the USSR, and I don't think that they should have felt threatened or "encircled" by them. Also, the largest country in these groups was the United States, which is pretty much on the other side of the globe. Lastly, the countries in these groups were around the Soviet Union and in a 'circular' form, but still they shouldn't have been afraid of these much smaller-in-size countries.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
I do believe that the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind. I believe this because in Source 12 he says "Liberation can be achieved by a process short of war," which indicates that Dulles thought he could avoid war by a nuclear war. He probably looked back to how quick Japan had surrendered after the two atomic bombs, and believed that the same thing could happen with the USSR. Dulles might have been thinking that the USSR would surrender if the United States sent nuclear bombs over the country and therefore would liberate the other countries from their war. This would be how Dulles would avoid an all out war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The Soviet cartoon is saying that the U-2 plane was spying on the USSR. This is shown by how President Truman is looking with one eye (as you do in a telescope) through the U-2 plane. At the end or the tip of the U-2 plane there is glass, which is trying to make it look like a spy glass. The U-2 plane is over the USSR showing that President Eisenhower is spying over the Soviet Union.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The USSR was so angry about the US spy flights because the violated Soviet air space, the US denied spying on them, and President Eisenhower refused to stop and apologize for spying on them. America was flying over Soviet air space and that made the Soviets angry. Also, the United States denied that they were even spying on them, which made the USSR angry because they had evidence to prove that they were indeed spying on them. However, the United States did end up telling the Soviets that they were spying on them, but President Eisenhower refused to stop the flights and to apologize. This move made USSR angry because the US would still send flights over USSR and didn't apologize for their actions. In-turn this increased the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
The USA justified this violation of Soviet territory by denying it at first. President Eisenhower and the United States were asked by the Soviet Union if they were spying on the territory, but the US denied. However, America didn't know that the USSR had proof of them spying form Gary Power's U-2 plane. In the end, President Eisenhower did admit to spying over Soviet territory but he did not stop the U-2 planes from flying over and would not apologize for his actions.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
If the USSR had had U-2 planes I don't think that they would have used them. I believe that the USSR wouldn't have use them because they could get more information on the ground. Their spies were more effective I think because they got more information, like how to build an atomic bomb. If they used a U-2 plane to see how to build an atomic bomb they wouldn't be able to figure it out, it would be nearly impossible. It would be much more useful to have spies in the country on the ground than for planes flying over taking pictures and then having to figure out what those pictures mean.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
I think that the USA had missiles based in Europe to be able to bomb the Soviet Union more quickly. Source 17 says "Short-range missiles could reach USSR in minutes. Long-range missiles could reach USSR in 30 minutes," which indicates that the USA would rather use the missiles that could reach in minutes because it could hit USSR more quickly than the long-range missiles. Also, the USA could send the short-range missiles and then the long-range missiles that could destroy the Soviet Union and could possibly make them surrender more quickly.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Nuclear Deterrent is when more than one country has nuclear weapons and if they were to send the nuclear weapon on another country who had them also they would kill themselves as well as the other country. Before the bomb would land the other country would be able to send their bombs too, so both countries would die. Basically sending an atomic bomb to the Soviet Union from the United States and vice-versa was suicidal.
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