The 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.-
October 24- the first missile carrying ships were accompanied by a USSR submarine, approach the 500 mile blockade zone. But whent they suddenly, in the morning, the Soviet Ships that were closest to the zone stoped. This probaly scared the US because the USSR ships were so close to the USA armed with missiles.
October 27- Khrushchev (the USSRs leader) sent another letter, making new proposals, saying that the condition for removing the missiles from Cuba is that the USA withdraw its missiles from Turket. But JFK didnt/ couldnt accept this condition. On the same day a American U-2 palne was shot down over Cuba, and the pilot was killed. JFK was advised to launh an immediate reprisal attack on Cuba. JFK delayed the attack. He also ignored the 2nd Khruschev letter, but accepts the terms suggested by Khrushchev on Oct 26. He said that if the the USSR didnt withdraw an atttack would follow.

2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?-
No I do not believe that nuclear war was ever a possibility because both superpowers saw what had happened to heroshima and nagasaki. The destruction was devastating, I dont think that either country wanted all of thoes civilan causilities on their hands.

3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.-
This source is an American Cartoon because it shows that the the USSR leader was struggling under JFK. both leaders were sitting on nucs so it symbolizes that they were fighting about the nuclear war. And JFK's finger is about to hit the button that makes the USSR's hydrogen bomb go off.

4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.-
To bargain with the USA- the USSR used the missiles to try and get the US's missiles out of Turkey.
To Test the USA- The USSR was trying to see how far they could push the USA before they reached total war.
To Trap the USA- The USSR wanted the USA to find them and be drawn into a nuclear war. He didnt try to hide them either.
To Get the Upper Hand in the Arms Race- The USSR was trying to get missiles closer to the USA because they didnt have the long range missiles that the US had.
To Defend Cuba- The USSR was trying to keep the Cuban people safe by putting the missiles there to make sure that teh USA didnt try to invade.

Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA-
The USSR hoped that if they put missiles in Cuba that they could bargin with the United States to get the US missiles out of turkey, which were a threat to the USSR.
To test the USA-
The USSR was trying to see if the USA was going to drop a bomb so they placed the bombs on Cuba to see how the US would respond.
To trap the USA-
The USSR wanted the US to feel surrounded the way teh USSR did becasue they knew that the US was able to attack with out sending out planes.
To get the upper hand in the arms race-
The USSR hoped that they would threaten the US into feeling like they were going to be attacked at any time.