The Cuban Missile Crisis

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the political build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis and discusses how, even though this event lasted only 13 days, it had long-term ramifications. The writer discusses how the crisis reformed the relationships between the Soviet Union, Cuba, and the United States.

From the Paper:

"The events of October 1962 have been recognized internationally under three different terms: "Cuban Missile Crisis" by the United States (U.S.); "Caribbean Crisis" by the former Soviet Union; and "Crisis of October" by Cuba. The entire incident, which lasted thirteen days, was the culmination of a series of American and Soviet actions. In this era the United States and the Soviet Union were the worlds leading powers, each with unique global interests. In the early 1960's the United States lead the international community in developing and deploying strategic missiles; basing them in countries such as Turkey which is less than 240 kilometers from Soviet borders. As a means of countering the U.S. measures, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev placed intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba, which once operational would have the ability to produce a nuclear attack on the U.S. These actions were also a means of protecting Cuba from any United States invasions, such as the failed attempt of the Bay of Pigs in 1961 (Sorenson). On October 16, 1962 the United States government learned of the installations in Cuba and their potential to be operational within days. Regardless of the Soviet Unions denial of their existence the news sparked intense policy debate among the U.S. government. The next thirteen days saw the use of diplomatic and military efforts from both sides in an attempt to resolve the conflict."

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