Cuban Missile Crisis. Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Events Before, During, and After Let the record show that our restraint is not inexhaustible. Should it ever appear that the inter-American doctrine of noninterference merely conceals or excuses a policy of nonaction - if the nations of this hemisphere should fail to meet their commitments against outside Communist penetration - then I want it clearly understood that this Government will not hesitate in meeting its primary obligations, which are to the security of our Nation. Should the time ever come, we do not intend to be lectured on " intervention " by those whose character was stamped for all time on the bloody streets of Budapest. ( Address by President Kennedy, 20 April 1961, " The Lesson of Cuba, " Department of State Publication No. 7185. ) During the post World War II years, the United States was involved in a continuing conflict with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The differences in democratic and communistic views led to most of this struggle. Although there was no direct military conflict, a climax of military tension was reached during the Cuban Missile Crisis. What exactly happened and what were the causes and effects of this historical event filled with diplomatic as well as militarial tension? In order to fully understand the Cuban Missile Crisis, the events previous to it must be established as they were extremely relevant to the situation. Prior to the twentieth century, Americans had a favorable relationship with the Russians. However, in the late nineteenth century, c. 1890, America and Russia began to disagree and quarrel over certain situations and questions that arose over Asia. This point in history can be labeled as the " beginning " of our feud with Russia ( Cold War Encarta ). Relations began to become troubled at this point, but there was hope for possible resolution. Unfortunately, in 1917 a group of people known as Communists seized power of the government in Russia and established the Soviet Union. The Communists' primary political party was called the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks wanted very much to propagate their ideas to small and new countries in Asia and in Europe. However, capitalistic nations in the west also wanted to spread their political views. Due to this clash in political beliefs, the Bolsheviks, and the rest of the Soviet Union, declare... ...st encounter to a full scale nuclear war. If it had not been for our strong president and the fearlessness of America as a whole, the world might be a drastically different place today. Thankfully, though, it is not and due to the almost non-existent threat of communism in today's world it will probably not radically change in the years to come. Works Cited Abel, Elie. The Missile Crisis. New York City, New York: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1966. Cook, Fred. The Cuban Missile Crisis. New York City, New York: Franklin Watts Inc., 1972. " Cold War. " Encarta 1996: Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. 1996. " Cuban Missile Crisis. " Encarta 1996: Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. 1996. LaFeber, Walter. " Cold War. " Encarta 1996: Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. 1996. Partington, Angela, ed. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. Schulzinger, Robert. " The End of the Cold War. " OAH Magazine of History ( 1994 ): 13-18. SIRS CD-ROM. SIRS Inc. 1996. Trease, Geoffery. This is Your Century. New York City, New York: Harcourt, Brace, and World Inc., 1965.