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What were the US and the Soviet Union competing for? - Coggle Diagram
What were the US and the Soviet Union competing for?
Resources
oil?
Resources of land/countries
Military/MAD
Cuban Missile Crisis
16, 1962, John F. Kennedy and his advisers were stunned to learn that the Soviet Union was, without provocation, installing nuclear-armed medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Cuba.
Arms Race of the Cold War
Khruschev was desperate to create a nuclear balance with the USA. At the time, the USA had 295 long range missiles while the Soviets had 75.
By putting missiles in Cuba, the Soviets could catch up quickly by short range missiles
U.S. nuclear arsenal of 203 ICBMs, 1,306 long-range bombers with 3,104 nuclear warheads, and 144 SLBMs
Khruschev was not only aware of the disadvantage in quantity but also in the quality
The Americans had installed missiles in Turkey, which would hit the Southern cities of the USSR within 6 minutes of launch.
America had placed military equipment, including B52 bombers, in Turkey. Turkey was a member of NATO, which made it acceptable and legal from the west's point of view. However, to the Soviet Union it was provocative behaviour as Turkey shared a border with the USSR.
During the crisis, Khrushchev gave no indication of climbing down against J F Kennedy. When he did, it greatly weakened his political position at home despite his arguments that he had got America to promise never to invade Cuba.
Given America’s powerful nuclear superiority, as well as the deployment of the Jupiter missiles, Moscow suspected that Washington viewed a nuclear first strike as an attractive option. They were right to be suspicious. The archives reveal that in fact the Kennedy administration had strongly considered this option during the Berlin crisis in 1961.
Kennedy’s deployment of the Jupiter missiles “was a key reason for Khrushchev’s decision to send nuclear missiles to Cuba.”
National security
The missiles could target almost any American city from the east coast to parts of the west.
Monroe Doctrine
Imperialism/empire
Sphere of influence
American Missiles are placed in Turkey, which are within range of the Soviet Union.
Positive relationship between Communist China and USSR
If the Soviets doubted the America's willingness to oppose them, they may be encouraged to challenge America in other parts of the world
American allies may not feel secure if America did not stand up against the USSR for their own security
If the USSR won the arms race, the USA's allies may not want to depend on them for security
Ideology
USA: Capitalism
By putting missiles in Turkey the USA was able to show its sphere of influence across the globe. This angered Kruschev, so he also decided to send soviet missiles to Cuba.
N.A.T.O.
USSR: Communism
By putting missiles in Cuba, the USSR was supporting the communist government (Fidel Castro) as well.
Formation of Warsaw Pact
Cuba: Socialism/Communism
Khrushchev was also motivated by his entirely justifiable belief that the Kennedy administration wanted to destroy the Castro regime
Public/internal support/pressure
The elections were coming up and Kennedy needed to appeal to the public, who were very fearful of the situation
Both Khruschev and Kennedy were under pressure from generals/internal members
Technology
Space Race