Why was there such a major crisis between the superpowers over Cuba, 1962

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Why was there such a major crisis between the superpowers over Cuba, 1962?

        The Cuban missile crisis began in October 1962; when America found missiles in Cuba. The crisis was between USA and USSR. It all began when the inactive missiles were found; USA believed they had to get them out otherwise their country could be destroyed. President Kennedy took them to the brink of war to do so, which could have then resulted in World War 3.

        

        There are many factors within the Cuban missile crisis that could have led to World War 3. The main problem, that actually caused the Cuban missile crisis in the first place, was the closeness of the missiles to USA. Even thought they were inactive; America felt threatened as they were told that they were going to be activated in thirteen days. If they didn’t act quickly and remove the missiles, and they were then fired, then it would have hit America within a five-minute radius, which would cause eighty million to be killed. The threat of these missiles was massive! If there were shot, America would have to fire back, this caused it to become a crisis – so they had to get them out!

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        Another reason that caused it to become a crisis was that Kennedy had to rebuild his reputation after he looked weak, due to The Berlin Wall and The Bay of Pigs. At the point of The Berlin Wall Kennedy looked extremely weak. He did nothing to stop the wall from being placed there and did nothing to remove it. He knew that he was going to look weak, but he believed a wall was better than a war. At The Bay of Pigs Kennedy once again looked weak. He supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1.400 anti-Castro exiles ...

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