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Cuban Missile Crisis

This article explores the Cuban Missile Crisis and the broader impact of the arms race on the Cold War. It discusses the development of nuclear weapons, the reasons for the intensity of the arms race, and the strategies created by both sides. The article also highlights the key treaties and negotiations that aimed to manage and reduce nuclear tensions.

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Cuban Missile Crisis

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  1. Cuban Missile Crisis

  2. Impact of the Arms Race on the Cold War Brrrrrrrrr.

  3. Impact of Nuclear Weapons • Truman’s decision to use the bomb: • Started an arms race, helping to maintain hostility • Caused both sides to rethink military strategy and the way conflicts were handled • Put huge economic strains on both countries and thus played a role in the ending of the Cold War

  4. How Did It Develop? • Atomic bomb the counter to the larger conventional forces of the USSR • USSR gets the bomb in 1949, years before the US thought possible • US began developing hydrogen bomb, 1000 times more powerful, 1952 • 1950s saw the development of ICMBs • Missile gap after Sputnik in 1957 • Only perceived • Still caused the buildup of ICBMs

  5. Why Was It So Intense? • Stockpiling necessary to safeguarding interests • Continuing advances meant insecurity, constant rearmament • “Can they do it? … if so, how can we not?” • Both sides developed weapons into the 80s • Bernard Brodie explained purpose was not to win wars, but to avert them • Total war no longer possible • All leaders appalled at their use • So what strategies did they create?

  6. Eisenhower and Massive Retaliation • Eisenhower: US would fight with every weapon if attacked, despite consequences • Really trying to ensure no conflict would occur • Limited nuclear war problematic

  7. McNamara and Counterforce • Sec. of Defense under Kennedy: destroy military targets, not cities or populations • Issues with successfully hitting so many facilities • Not affecting a city • Ensuring the Soviets followed along • Soviets thought it brought up possibility of pre-emptive strikes • Public opinion not favorable

  8. Mutually Assured Destruction • Cuban Missile Crisis changed strategy • Should aim to target cities with objective of maximum casualties • If no one could survive, there will be no attack • Both sides accepted it, also saw the need for management • Test-Ban Treaty • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty • SALT Talks in 1972 • Satellites allowed for recon • ABM Treaty

  9. Reagan and Gorbachev • Reagan moved away from this stability • Biggest arms buildup in history • Stealth bomber and neutron bomb • Cruise missiles shipped to Europe • Strategic Defense Initiative to intercept all missiles before reaching US • Undermined MAD, gave first-strike capabilities • Soviets on the verge of collapse, could not compete • Gorbachev wanted security though political means, negotiation and cooperation

  10. Create outlines for the following Paper 2 questions. • For what reasons, and to what extent, did the Yalta Conference of February 1945 contribute to the origins of the Cold War? • Compare and contrast the roles of Truman and Stalin in the breakdown of East–West relations. • How did the concept of deterrence influence the development of Soviet-American nuclear strategy from the early 1960s?

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