In October 1962, the United States and the Soviet Union came to the brink of nuclear war over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba. It was a direct and dangerous confrontation that placed the two superpowers closest to a nuclear conflict. During the crisis, a fragile peace hung by only a thread for 13 days as the United States instituted a naval blockade of Cuba to turn back Soviet ships, and work to turn back the armament of Cuba with offensive nuclear, and tactical weapons within the Western Hemisphere. There were calculations and miscalculations as well as direct and secret communications and miscommunications between the two sides during the crisis. We will attempt to answer what the United States as well as the Soviet’s national
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Despite misgivings about Castro's communist political ideology, the United States recognized his government. The Cuban government was initially neutral to the superpower competition. The Soviet Union initially was at first uninterested in Cuba, and Castro even toured the U.S. in 1959. Yet Castro frayed the relationship with America when he threatened, and ultimately undertook, reforms that would harm American-owned property in the country. The increasingly hostile relationship with the U.S. provided an opening for the Soviet Union. Castro formed trade ties with Moscow and as Cuba grew closer to the USSR, relations with Washington deteriorated further. The U.S. revoked its diplomatic recognition of Cuba at the beginning of 1961. However, as Castro's regime increased trade with the Soviet Union, nationalized U.S.-owned properties, and hiked taxes on American imports, the United States responded with escalating economic retaliation, and diplomatic isolation. We then tried to overthrow the Castro regime with the Bay of Pigs, and Operation Mongoose. US policy towards Cuba had the effect of driving Cuba and Castro more into the arms of the Soviet Union. By placing taxes, embargos, and limiting imports, Cuba needed someone to turn to, and even though Castro had communist
Despite misgivings about Castro's communist political ideology, the United States recognized his government. The Cuban government was initially neutral to the superpower competition. The Soviet Union initially was at first uninterested in Cuba, and Castro even toured the U.S. in 1959. Yet Castro frayed the relationship with America when he threatened, and ultimately undertook, reforms that would harm American-owned property in the country. The increasingly hostile relationship with the U.S. provided an opening for the Soviet Union. Castro formed trade ties with Moscow and as Cuba grew closer to the USSR, relations with Washington deteriorated further. The U.S. revoked its diplomatic recognition of Cuba at the beginning of 1961. However, as Castro's regime increased trade with the Soviet Union, nationalized U.S.-owned properties, and hiked taxes on American imports, the United States responded with escalating economic retaliation, and diplomatic isolation. We then tried to overthrow the Castro regime with the Bay of Pigs, and Operation Mongoose. US policy towards Cuba had the effect of driving Cuba and Castro more into the arms of the Soviet Union. By placing taxes, embargos, and limiting imports, Cuba needed someone to turn to, and even though Castro had communist