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.
The blockade on october 24 is the beginning of the blockade on Cuba. The soviet ships carrying the missiles still come and this gives the soviets initiative to ask for the removal of missiles from turkey. This happened on saturday october 27. Kennedy was torn over this because he wanted the Cuban missiles out of the area but could not remove the missiles from Turkey. Also a U2 plane was shot down over cuba on the same day.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
Yes because all the resources necassary for war were set in place and ready to be fired off at the moment of attack. Each country had enough weapons to anhiliate the other.
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 an american cartoon mainly because it shows Kennedy as being the calm cool and collected one while Kruschev is stressed out and weak. It also shows how Kruschev is losing this cold war while Kennedy (america) is winning.
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
If there were missiles in Cuba Khrushchev could get Kennedy to give up some stuff in return for the removal of the missiles.
To test the USA
The Soviet Union wanted to test out President Kennedy. They placed these nuclear weapons in Cuba to see how strong the Americans really were. If america would act upon the issue, the Soviets knew they were strong. If they were to back down, they were weak and now the Soviets could use this to their advantage.
To trap the USA
the missiles in Cuba were a trap. Khrushchev wanted the Americans to find them and enter into a nuclear war.
To get the upper hand in the arms race
Khrushchev believed that with missiles in Cuba it was less likely that the USA would ever launch an attack against the USSR.
To defend Cuba
The missiles were used to help defend Cuba.
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I deffinatley think that Kruschev placed these missiles in Cuba to bargain with the u.s and to see how strong they were. Kruschev deffinatley believed that if he could put the missiles on Cuba and scare the u.s enough, they would back down in Turkey. For testing the U.S i think kruschev wanted to see how the u.s would react to such an immediate threat. This could determine how the soviets wanted to attack the u.s and what they could get away with.
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 very close to Florida and would be a huge advantage for the u.s. Plus american businesses held property on Cuba and the U.S feared that the Soviets would utilize Cuba to station ICBMs.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
They believed that utilizing U.S forces the Soviets would see it as a direct attack on them and retaliate with drastic measure. They also believed that Cubans coujld run their government better than American outside forces.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The U.S feared that if they provided to much assistance they would be discovered. Because of their failure, the Kennedy administration is embarrassed internationally and fear of possible retaliation from the USSR. As well as more guerillla campains from the Cubans.
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.
Source 17 shows that american missiles placed in the direction of soviet cities would have a short range to Europe and long range from the U.S. Source 24 shows soviet missiles placed in the direction of american cities and positioned in Cuba compared to long range short range missiles. These sources show the potential of both world powers to completely obliterate their opponent. Both could attack the other at efficient speed.
Cuba was very close to Florida and would be a huge advantage for the u.s. Plus american businesses held property on Cuba and the U.S feared that the Soviets would utilize Cuba to station ICBMs.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
They believed that utilizing U.S forces the Soviets would see it as a direct attack on them and retaliate with drastic measure. They also believed that Cubans coujld run their government better than American outside forces.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The U.S feared that if they provided to much assistance they would be discovered. Because of their failure, the Kennedy administration is embarrassed internationally and fear of possible retaliation from the USSR. As well as more guerillla campains from the Cubans.
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.
Source 17 shows that american missiles placed in the direction of soviet cities would have a short range to Europe and long range from the U.S. Source 24 shows soviet missiles placed in the direction of american cities and positioned in Cuba compared to long range short range missiles. These sources show the potential of both world powers to completely obliterate their opponent. Both could attack the other at efficient speed.
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 methods for liberating captive peoples was most likely by using organizations like SEATO and CENTO to help "contain" the Soviet Union. These two organizations aligned key countries literally around the Soviet Union. SEATO aligned The U.S, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Phillipeanes, Taiwan, and Thailand. CENTO aligned Iran,Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and Great Britain. NATO was also one of these attempts to encircle.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would agree that the communist world was encircled because when looking at the Map you will notice that all countries binded by the Warsaw Pact of the USSR and allies is surrounded by all the different other agreements like SEATO and NATO. Even small countries that were part of these organzations were essential to putting pressure on the Communist world. If the Soviets didnt feel pressured that wouldnt find it necassary to create the Warsaw Pact.
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 dont think nuclear arms was the thing Dulles was focusing on because he was focusing on a solution that didnt have fighting or war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The soviet cartoon is representing the U.S use of U-2 planes to spy on the Soviets by showing President Eisenhower with a U-2 teloscope spying on the USSR.
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 U-2 spy flights because the U.S denied them at first and then, after admitting to the spying, proceded to refuse to apoligize to the USSR and promise to stop flying U-2 planes.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
The U.S would justify these spying missions as necassary for the protection of the U.S.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I think the USSR would've used them for the same reasons that the U.S wouldve because they were concerned about what the U.S was up too.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
In case of an emergency, the U.S could use the European based missiles because they were short ranged and could hit the USSR in minutes.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words
A term meaning the use of nuclear weapons between countries to compete with eachother for the most weapons.
Dulles methods for liberating captive peoples was most likely by using organizations like SEATO and CENTO to help "contain" the Soviet Union. These two organizations aligned key countries literally around the Soviet Union. SEATO aligned The U.S, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Phillipeanes, Taiwan, and Thailand. CENTO aligned Iran,Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and Great Britain. NATO was also one of these attempts to encircle.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would agree that the communist world was encircled because when looking at the Map you will notice that all countries binded by the Warsaw Pact of the USSR and allies is surrounded by all the different other agreements like SEATO and NATO. Even small countries that were part of these organzations were essential to putting pressure on the Communist world. If the Soviets didnt feel pressured that wouldnt find it necassary to create the Warsaw Pact.
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 dont think nuclear arms was the thing Dulles was focusing on because he was focusing on a solution that didnt have fighting or war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The soviet cartoon is representing the U.S use of U-2 planes to spy on the Soviets by showing President Eisenhower with a U-2 teloscope spying on the USSR.
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 U-2 spy flights because the U.S denied them at first and then, after admitting to the spying, proceded to refuse to apoligize to the USSR and promise to stop flying U-2 planes.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
The U.S would justify these spying missions as necassary for the protection of the U.S.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I think the USSR would've used them for the same reasons that the U.S wouldve because they were concerned about what the U.S was up too.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
In case of an emergency, the U.S could use the European based missiles because they were short ranged and could hit the USSR in minutes.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words
A term meaning the use of nuclear weapons between countries to compete with eachother for the most weapons.
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