In 1953 Stalin past away and his successor was Nikita Khrushchev. He was a man that was respected for his charisma, charm and most of all people like his idea that many accepted, “co-existence”. This idea was whereby people in society should try and communicate with each other so that there would be peace. Instead of war he advised competitions. This brought countries form all around the world to compete in sporting events. The Olympics, this was where professionalism of sports was born. Instead of violence they could show how much potential they have, also at the same time shame the other country.
Little did they know their relationship slowly began to deteriorate. After the war the three nations U.S.A, England and Russia had to decide what to do with Germany. As both armies had reached Berlin, they needed to decide who owns which parts of Germany. Originally Russia had taken over half of Germany, but at the same time they had to divide the land with their allies who owned the Western Part of Berlin. This caused friction between the two Super powers as the Allies, England, U.S.A, and France. Russian territory surrounded Western Germany. Truman stated his opinion and argued Stalin’s law about capitalism in his land led to these two Super powers drifting even further apart. Stalin argued “why wasn’t he allowed to restrict the people when the British are doing the same wit the Greeks”? Therefore in 1948 Stalin ordered that there be a “Berlin Blockade”. He sent out troops to block roads that led to Berlin, he did what ever he could to stop any means of communication between the West and the Americans. This also would have led to starvation. The allies answer to this was the “Berlin Airlift”. The Americans flew in supplies, (food, clothing, etc) whatever they could to help their people of Western Germany. The Berlin Airlift was a very successful event for the Americans. It was the first major event between the Super powers. This incident shows that these tow sides have already begun to dislike each other.
In 1945 and 1959 period has shown undoubtedly a lot of change in political views, also society has changed in many ways and their views about politics. Though the relationship between the Super powers has continued to degrade since 1945 the tension between them is still there.
Q2.Why did the crisis develop In 1962 about Cuba?
Pre 1959 Cuba was controlled by a dictator called Batista. This meant that he had political power over Cuba, but he always did want America told him to do. America being a country that helped Cuba get its independence, they financial and military dominated Cuba.
Columbus discovered the island if Cuba, in 1492, since then Cuba has been under Spanish colony. Their last rein lasted till 1898 when the Cubans (or Spanish settlers) overthrew and liberated Cuba from the Spanish rule. However as soon as this was done the Americans took over. At the same time they made it a law that they have the right to invade Cuba if the American government did not like the way the Cuban were running the country. This practically disrupted the Cuban System. This new law brought many Mafia’s, crime, drugs and prostitution into Cuba, making life unbearable for many citizens. All these negative effects that took place, Cuba were also effected by being one of the poorest countries that was reflected by the fact it had one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Because America dominated Cuba, all the industries in Cuba were controlled by the American government, which meant the profits that they made, went to the Americans.
In 1959 Fidel Castro and his guerrilla force overthrew Bastista in a revolution and took control of Cuba. Castro’s only concern was for Cuba and for the people of Cuba. Fidel Castro was a nationalist. This made him popular, and most Cubans excepted him. The people of Cuba supported him because he wanted to make Cuba a better place. He wanted to buy Cuban industries off the U.S.A and redistribute the land between the Cuban people. He was certainly not a communist, but he thought there should be a gap between the rich and poor.
The U.S.A did not accept this. They couldn’t get over the fact that they no longer had power over Cuba, America were convinced that Castro was communist because of his “fair ways”. In retaliation they refused no longer to trade (crops, sugar etc) with Cuba. In 1959 when Castro visited the U.S.A he wanted to make peace so that they would trade once again with them. However President Eisenhower did not want to meet him as he was playing golf and instead he sent Vice President Nixon whom then accused Castro o being a communist. He also stated that America would not trade with Cuba again. Castro was deeply insulted.
The Cold War between the U.S.A and USSR seemed to be getting worse by the minute. In 1960 The Soviet Union confronted the U.S.A on television at a Paris summit accusing the U.S.A of spying. What Eisenhower did not know that they had shot down an American U2 spy pilot, his unknowing of his incident led to deny what Khrushchev said. After Khrushchev revealed to Eisenhower that one of your U2 planes had been flying over territory, Eisenhower saved himself the embarrassment and apologised. Khrushchev stormed out victoriously knowing that he had won the propaganda competition.
Khrushchev was delighted now that he was even with America. Previously when the U.S.A had refused to trade with Cuban’s. Castro offered the USSR to trade with them.
The USSR excepted their offer, at the same time Khrushchev knew that he now has an ally just off the coast of the U.S.A. He agreed to buy to buy sugar cane, which saved the Cuban economy.
In April 1961 the U.S.A made an embarrassing attempt to overthrow Castro. They had previously been funding the Cuban exiles in the U.S.A to go against Cuba. They then tried to attack the “Bay of Pigs” which was a very unsuccessful event for them, as they were defeated. Many of them being captured by Cuba and having to be traded back by the U.S.A in return for medical supplies. Also there had been accusations of the American CIA trying to assassinate Castro and ruin the Cuban industry. They did this by trying to set alight sugar cane fields which the people of Cuba depending on most, to keep their economy alive.
In 1961 Kennedy became America’s President. Khrushchev took the advantage of this opportunity of an inexperienced President by building the Berlin Wall, he did this to keep East Berlin out, and by doing this he wanted to show that he had power and much more experience. This annoyed Kennedy. Kennedy wanted to show his country that he is a strong leader, therefore he could not allow Khrushchev to humiliate him again.
America decided to scare Cuba by conducting military training within sight of Cuba. Castro started to panic and turned to Khrushchev had yet another chance to make a mockery out of President Kennedy. He placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, this meant that he could easily attack the U.S.A. The Cubans felt that the missiles were for defensive purposes only so that they could protect themselves against any further US attack. The U.S.A found out that the USSR were using spy planes. They were furious but at the same time greatly shocked. This caused confusion and panic. America thought that the USSR were going to attack. The world was on the edge of a nuclear disaster. Kennedy intercepted any vessels carrying missiles. He set up what was known has the “Navel Blockade”. The Super powers were “eyeball to eyeball”.
Q3.Why were the Superpowers able to resolve this crisis without going to war?
In late summer of 1962 the Services exported launch equipment for the preparation of the missiles to Cuba. Although the feared that they might be discovered, to conceal the missiles they did not use military ships, therefore, civilian vessels were used, they used skilful tactics such as the troops posing at tourists. Altogether sixty missiles and warheads were transported to Cuba.
The agreement by Cuba to accept Soviet missiles was done in secrecy, as was the operation to install it. However it was difficult to conceal these huge missiles in the Cuba Jungle. Sooner or later the missiles would be discovered. Even though the Russians owned their spy network, engineers sneaked in and they would be the ones who would assemble the missiles, from their U2 spy plane. President Kennedy (elected in 1960) was informed of the missiles in Cuba. He did not react, but now realised that for months the Soviets had purposely been deceiving the American President. Kennedy took charge and scheduled two meetings for that morning. The participants of these meetings discussed how they are going to deal with this situation. Many of the joint chiefs suggested military action; this idea was turned down due to ‘irrational’ thinking of the other members that participated in these meetings. Eventually it was decided to put a ‘Navel Blockade’ in international water around Cuba to prevent any more imports of missiles being delivered.
Many people considered being young, JFK would be inexperienced, and he had to get “tough with communism”. Cuba was yet his biggest challenge to face. There was much tension and pressure on Kennedy, and at the same time military advisers, on both sides, were urging their leaders to fire the missiles “before the enemy fire theirs”. Though the two Presidents were able to realise the futility of war and that it brings no solution in firing those missiles, the two sides begun to negotiate and discuss their problems. In the end Khrushchev made the first move. He ordered the supply ships heading towards Cuba to return home. This surprised the American’s very much. He then made a radio broadcast, as there was no direct link with the U.S. Khrushchev declared that he would remove the missiles only if America would agree not to invade Cuba and to withdraw their won missiles from Turkey. Even though both sides started negotiating, there were still spy planes flying. One American U2 plane was shot down by a surface to air missile, which made Kennedy furious. Kennedy replied with a different “term”. He agreed not to invade Cuba but he did not mention about the removal of the missiles in Turkey. However the missiles were removed six moths later after the agreement. Although the crisis made the Russians look as though they were defeated. It was Khrushchev who made the vital move, of withdrawal, that led to success in two sides discussing theirs problems.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was pointless. The Americans could not accept the defeat form a small island that only wanted their freedom. Yet at the same time the Russian’s are to blame for getting involved. The main problem that caused all this was the lack of communication between Washington and Moscow. It could take up to several hours to transmit a message form one capital to another. Neither side wanted to risk starting another nuclear was over poor communications.
Q4. Was the Cuban Missile Crisis a turning point in relations between the Superpowers? Explain your answer with reference to events up to 1979
After the Crisis these two countries hatred still burned for each other, as they were so close to destroying mankind. The main reason, what led to this situation was that communication between these Superpowers was poor. In my opinion The Cuban Missile Crisis was a pointless display of ego by both sides. Though I believe it was the Americans inability to accept defeat form a small island (Cuba) that only wished for the freedom that they deserved ever since 1898. These two countries unquestionably still dislike each other to this very day.
Now that these countries had sorted out most of their problems, the world felt at ease, tension seemed to be the problem for both sides, but now they felt as though they could communicate with one another. This was known has ‘Détente’. All this pointless argument; they finally realised the dangers of a nuclear war. They may have had the technology but they didn’t know the consequences of what a nuclear war could led to. Therefore on August 5th 1963 that year the United States, Great Britain and the USSR concluded a treaty to ban atomic testing in the atmosphere, in space and underwater. Underground tests were not banned. This test ban treaty showed how the two Superpowers were willing to co-operate with each other. In addition to this, a “hot line” for communication between Washington, D.C and Moscow was installed so that the U.S and Soviet government could contact each other directly in case of an international emergency.
Over a period of time many different Presidents governed America, some good and some bad, but they all had different interpretations of communism. Which led to different political views and different ways of governing America. Now that “peace” was finally upon U.S.A and Russia, Vietnam was not. Now that North Vietnam were under control by the Vietnamese Communists who had opposed France and aimed for a unified Vietnam under Communist rule. Vietnamese who had collaborated with the French dominated the South. The United States became involved in Vietnam because they believed if all of the country fell under a Communist government, Communism would spread throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. This belief was known as the “domino theory”. The U.S government therefore supported the South Vietnamese government.
In 1971 the Salt 1 treaty was established between U.S.A and the USSR, this treaty was where they would agree not to deploy any missiles, and that both sides would dissemble their nuclear warheads.
What led to these countries hating each other is that they both used propaganda, in a way that made the other side look belittled. In conclusion they are both to blame for their inconsiderate actions that could have led to a nuclear disaster where by mankind would have been destroyed