Question

Explain the Cuban missile crisis and it’s significance. Include why it began, what the major issue was, which leaders were involved and how it was resolved. (Hint: has to do with the nuclear missiles and the United States and Soviet Union)

Answer 1

1. The Cuban Missile Crisis is maybe one of the most traumatic and stressful events that occurred during the period of Cold War. It was a major diplomatic endeavor and if cooler heads had not prevailed it would have led to the World War 3 and the destruction of most of the world.

2. The Cuban Missile Crisis began when the CIA with the the pictures taken of Cuba detected the large deployment of missiles by the Soviet Union. Nuclear weapons were also detected which prompted a swift response and blockade of Cuba by the United States.

3. Two leaders that were involved in the Cuban Missile crisis were the United States President John F. Kennedy and the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev. These were the two leaders that went head to head in during this period.

4.This period was also known as 13 Days of Terror and it was resolved because both countries agreed to each others demands which was Soviet withdrawal from Cuba and the US withdrawing weapons from Turkey. We must also acknowledge and appreciate Vasili Arkhipov who casted a single vote against deploying the nuclear weapons against the US. He was an officer on the Soviet nuclear submarine who refused to follow the captains orders for deployment. The deployment required the agreement of all three officers.