Were contemporaries correct in regarding President Kennedy as the saviour of the western world after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Assignment 1. Were contemporaries correct in regarding President Kennedy as the saviour of the western world after the Cuban Missile Crisis? Section A - Background The Cuban Missile Crisis was believed to be the closest the world has ever been to a nuclear outbreak. At the end of the Second World War, the two super-powers, America and Russia, were gradually turning against each other. A feeling of distrust existed over a number of things. The main difference between the two was their governing systems. The USA were capitalists and the USSR were communists. The USA had ended the Second World War by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. This was a sign to the rest of the world showing their strength. As far as Russia were concerned, America were ahead in the arms race but they believed that America wouldn't use the atomic bomb again because of its overwhelming power. America believed that it would take Russia 20 years to develop the atomic bomb, in reality it only took them 4 years. So by 1949 the Russians had levelled the playing field. This worried the USA as they only had short-range missiles. If the USSR attacked, they would need to have a missile base closer to the Russians in order to retaliate. This feeling of anxiety led to the creation of several US Missile bases in Britain, Italy and Russian neighbours, Turkey. Source A1 shows the devastating results of nuclear
How important was anti Americanism in fermenting the Cuban revolution?
How important was anti Americanism in fermenting the Cuban revolution? Cuba, or as the sleeping alligator as it known by Cubans, is the largest island in the Caribbean it was founded on the 27th October 1492 by Christopher Columbus. Cuba contains a lot of history but one of the most important historical moments in the Cuban history was the Cuban revolution. The Cuban revolution was a fight for an independent Cuba. A Cuba free from the control from the United States of America. There is a lot of debate about the revolution, debates such as why it took place. Some Cubans (the bourgeoisie) preferred a reform rather than a revolution. They were scared f blacks (slaves) who made up 145% of the population. Another argument on why the Cuban revolution took place was due to anti colonial rule. This then provides the base for the argument of actual involvement of America as to why Cuba revolted. I shall seek to show American involvement in Cuba and how this became the driving force for the revolution to take place. America was interested in Cuba for economic protection. The Americans wanted Cuba since the 1800's. Thomas Jefferson once said that Cuba was an invaluable addition to the United States. Cuba dominated the sugar trade industry more than 90% of Cuban sugar went to the Unites States along with other produce. This was the main reason America wanted to hold onto
How did the Village of Deir Yassin come to be Fought Over in 1948 and Why do Sources A and B Differ on who was to Blame for the Arab Flight from the Village and Other Parts of Palestine at that time?
How did the Village of Deir Yassin come to be Fought Over in 1948 and Why do Sources A and B Differ on who was to Blame for the Arab Flight from the Village and Other Parts of Palestine at that time? Since Biblical times, the Jews had been moved from place to place with them only holding their only 'promised' state for a very small amount of time. The only wish the Jews had was to be in their holy city of Jerusalem but, after being banned from the city by the Romans, they dispersed around the world. In the late 5th century, the Romans abandoned Jerusalem and in the 8th century the Arabs began to live in the Palestine area. By the start of the 20th century, the Jews believed that God had promised that land to them and so it should belong to them. However, the Arabs, having lived there for 1100 years, did not want to become part of a newly-created state as they enjoyed Palestine as it was. The Arabs also believed Jerusalem to be a holy city. In 1516, The Ottoman Empire invaded Palestine, and for over 400 years, the Arabs did not have control over their land either. Both the Arabs and the Jews got their chance to have a homeland during the First World War. As the Ottoman Empire was supporting the Central Powers, the British decided that they would support an independent state to try and hinder the Turks. This intention was promised in the MacMahon Letter in 1915, which said
Suez crisis 03 coarsework source evaluation
Study source A What can we learn from Source A about Anthony Eden's reasons for opposing Colonel Nasser? Anthony Eden was Prime Minister at the time of the Suez Crisis in 1956. Sir Anthony Eden most certainly thought badly of Colonel Nasser, Eden saw Colonel Nasser as the next Hitler and was determined to make a stand against him. Throughout the radio and television broadcast Eden argues a cast iron case against Nasser. Nationalizing the Suez Canal threatens British links abroad and her economy. It is an artery between the motherland and the empire but it is 'not vital to Egypt.' Legally, Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal without 'consent' or 'consultation.' As far as Eden is concerned Nasser has 'seized it' and broken international law. Then Eden says, "Our quarrel is not with Egypt, it is with Colonel Nasser". Here he is giving an impression to the people of himself. I think this shows to the British people that it is just a war against the colonel and not the people of Egypt. So it is different to the war that had recently ended which was the Second World War. Eden is hurt and appalled by Nasser's treatment towards Britain as he 'conducted a vicious propaganda campaign against this country.' Nasser is shown as a bad person and 'not a man who can be trusted.' Here he is saying that like in World War 2 appeasement was not the answer and so should not be used as a tactic
Explain why the USA and the Soviet Union did not trust eachother after the war
Explain why the USA and the Soviet Union did not trust each other after WW2 Following the Second World War, a large amount of tensions started to rise between the worlds two greatest super powers, the USSR and the USA. The roots of these tensions were seen to have stretched back to the Russian revolution in 1917 various incidents however took place from 1945 onwards such as the disagreements over Poland and the creation of the Iron curtain which caused suspicion and mistrust between the two super powers and left a mark on their relationship for years to come. The first major tensions caused between the USSR and America was during the First World War when the soviets withdrew from it leaving Britain and France to fight alone. Britain's ally, the USA, which was capitalist, sent soldiers into the USSR to overthrow its new communist government. His attempts to overthrow the communists however failed and the communists remained in power. The USA and France and Britain were now thrown into an instant alliance against the USSR. In 1939 the allies were further enraged by the USSR's agreement with Hitler. Hitler however betrayed the soviets hence now throwing the USSR, Britain and America in a battle to defeat Nazi Germany. By 1945 Germany was defeated and the leaders of the three opposing countries met at a place called Yalta at the black sea to discuss what was now to
Cuban Missile Crisis Sources Questions.
Cuban Missile Crisis Sources Questions. . Sources A and B tell us a lot about Kennedy's reaction to the U2 spy photos. In source A, President Kennedy asks his brother Robert, the author of the source, to come to the White House. This shows that the President needed moral support, indicating that he was worried about what the U2 photos showed. Source B shows the range of the missiles. This must have been of great concern to Kennedy, because most of the USA, including Washington, was within range of long or short ranged missiles based on Cuba. Source B also shows that more Soviet missile-carrying ships were en route, which must have prompted Kennedy to consider what action he was going to take. 2. Kennedy knew that some kind of action was needed to reassure the public, and this is shown to be what the general feeling at the time in source C. To do nothing would mean the threat of missile attack would not be eliminated. It would also be very unpopular in the USA, especially as Kennedy was still considered by some to be 'soft' on communism, especially after Berlin. As it says in source C, 80 million Americans could be killed. It also states that air strikes were being considered, but Kennedy must have turned this option down. I believe this is because Kennedy didn't want to provoke a war with Cuba and, more importantly, the USSR. An air strike also could not destroy the
The Importance of East Germany in the Cold War
The Berlin Crisis of East Germany was a defining period of the Cold War, during which both superpowers fought for control over the most highly contested nation in Europe. It can be seen that the major factor in this crisis was the division of Germany into two sectors; East and West Germany and the subsequent attempts by the two superpowers to control both. Following the rapid spread of the Soviet grip over Europe, it was in the interests of the USSR to gain control of Germany in its entirety; that is East and West Germany. Their interests were parallel to the desires of Capitalist America which also sought a degree of control over Germany. This resulted in the divisions of Berlin becoming the ground on which the Communist-Capitalist struggle was most profound and the region over which control would seemingly determine the outcome of the Cold War. Another important factor was the Berlin Blockade and the subsequent Berlin Airlift which was a turning point in Soviet control over East Germany. With the shift in Soviet control over East Germany, so too, came the shift in Soviet control over the Cold War. The Cold War was a twentieth century ideological conflict between the two world superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies over political, economic and military issues; often depicted as the struggle between capitalism and communism.
Why did the relationship between the USA and USSR change between 1975 and 1990
Why did the relationship between the USA and USSR change between 1975 and 1990? From 1975 to 1990 US Russian relations got better and worse as different leaders led the two nations. The relations changed due to events and stances brought on by the leaders of the Superpowers. From the early 1970's relations between the USA and Russia continued to get better and better. In 1970 the two superpowers began Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT 1) to try and bring an end to the nuclear arms race; by 1972 the countries had signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the Interim Agreement which limited their production of certain nuclear arms. This was seen as a great step to towards the end of the cold war and proved that that USSR and USA were capable of working together. Following SALT 1 a new round of negotiations was needed as SALT 1 only covered a five year period; these talks were to be SALT 2. In early 1975 American astronauts and Soviet Cosmonauts met up and shook hands in Space. This was quite literally the high point in detente, showing the world that the two nations were working together. In August 1975, 35 countries met in Helsinki and agreed that the frontiers of post 1945 Europe should be permanent. The leaders also agreed to a declaration of human rights, all countries concerned would allow freedom of speech, religion, movement and freedom from unfair arrest. The
Examine the ways that the author of ‘Crackling day’ explores the themes of fear, power and courage. What messages is the author trying to communicate to the reader through the characters’ attitudes?
Examine the ways that the author of 'Crackling day' explores the themes of fear, power and courage. What messages is the author trying to communicate to the reader through the characters' attitudes? Crackling day is set in Africa, during the times of apartheid. Apartheid was a system introduced in 1948 to segregate the Black people from the Whites. Under this system, whites, blacks and coloureds were educated, and lived, separately. Apartheid is evident in Crackling Day in many places such as the trained dog and the young white boys randomly verbally abusing Lee and Andries. "The young white man that served us did it in leisurely fashion" As well as apartheid in 'Crackling Day', there are also tough living conditions evident for all the black people. They have to walk to get their daily meat every Wednesday in very cold weather and with little food. Aunt Liza works hard every day, her "Swollen hands" show this and all of the black people have hardly any clothes, if they do they have lots of very thin layers of shirts. "The slits of the many thin cotton dresses she wore" As a result of these facts, all the characters feel fear and need to show courage on a daily basis. Some examples of the difficult conditions which individual characters face are that Lee and Andries face the cold on their way to buy the crackling. "Were helpless victims of the bitter cold"
How the vietnam war affected america
The Vietnam War - How did it affect America? ) Source A implies to us that the Vietnam War changed the American Soldiers, GIs, into a "machine." This one word, "machine", tells us that they were turned into heartless people who were very "effective" in killing people, as they will not have feelings and not think back at what they done: killing. Another point Source A tells us about how the Vietnam War changed the GIs is that they were made to hate people that were Vietnamese, or even looked Vietnamese, as in their training, they were attacked by "Japanese and Chinese American military". A quote to support this is, "a very effective machine", meaning they only like killing people, and were effective at this one job. The American Soldiers were also made to think that the only way to survive was by killing; "I was very good at what I did. I survived". This quotes supports the fact they were made to think that if they had to survive, they had kill, and thus, they became very good at this job, killing innocent people. Source B infers to us that America had just "created a monster", in the form of American soldiers, meaning that they were made to not have feelings, just like monsters. By looking at Source B, we can also see that these Vietnam Veterans, when they were soldiers in Vietnam, did terrible things. For example, they "cut off heads", and "personally raped"; these quotes