Cuban Missile Crisis Research Paper

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Pages: 6

“The most terrifying moment in my life was October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis” -Joseph Rotblat (Brainy). The Cuban Missile Crisis was the scariest event in the twentieth century for the United States. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Americans were certain that they were going to die. The missiles in Cuba during October 1962 had the capabilities to hit anywhere in the United States except parts of the northwestern states (See Photo 1). Civilians knew the threat that they were facing. Most of the civilians stocked their bunkers and their houses with canned foods and plenty of water. They prepared for what looked like the beginning of a nuclear war. The leaders of the three main countries involved were trying their best to stay clear …show more content…
The event that scared the United States occurred on October 27, 1962. That Saturday, Major Rudolph Anderson was flying over Cuba in a U-2 reconnaissance plane. A Soviet General, without the authorization of Khrushchev, shot down Major Anderson. Major Rudolph Anderson is considered the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Secretary of Defense wanted to retaliate the next day with full nuclear force. Both sides were terrified of what was going to happen. Kennedy decided against the Secretary’s proposal. The President made the decision to resolve the tension with diplomacy …show more content…
In an attempt to avoid a conflict like this again, precautions were made. One precaution was that the United States and the USSR always had communication with one another. They created a direct communication link in Moscow and Washington in which they could work out any issues privately instead of through the media. Also, treaties that regulated nuclear bombs were made and signed. One treaty stated that no country could test nuclear bombs. Another treaty limited the amount of nuclear arms a country could have. Both treaties positively increased the United States’ relationship with the USSR