Explain the U.S. & Russian Positions
...sible options for the dilemma: a nuclear strike on the missile sites in Cuba, an air attack with conventional bombs, or a naval blockade to prevent the Russians from transporting more missiles to Cuba. Upon the consideration of his brother, Robert, President Kennedy decided on a "quarantine" of Cuba through a naval blockade. After stiff negotiations, the Soviet Union agreed to remove it missiles from Cuba without the addition of anymore. Although the US was not cooperative on removing its nuclear weapons from Turkey, it did, however, agree to remove its naval blockade on Cuba; in addition, President Kennedy assured Krushchev that the US would not invade Cuba. The Russian aim throughout the ordeal was for the removal of American nuclear weapons in the country of Turkey as it sat dangerously close to their border. Krushchev planned to extend Soviet influence into the Western country of Cuba; while at the same time demonstrating their particular situation with Turkey by placing similar devices in Cuba to make the Americans understand how they felt. The confrontation was settled on November 20, 1962 when the Soviet Union agreed to remove it missiles from Cuba. The Berlin Wall The Soviet Union erected the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961; therefore, separating both Berlin and Germany. Krushchev built the wall in order to remove the Western Powers from their outpost (Berlin) in East Germany. He also intended to stop the emigration of East Germans to the West through West Berlin. Some Russians saw Krushchev's solution as being a weak and unsatisfactory solution for expelling Americans from the East. The US had intended to strengthen their positions in East Germany before the wall was built. Kennedy's reaction was that of minor protest; as a result, he was accused of being soft on communism because he didn't send any troops in to tear down the wall. The Space Race The Space Race was a competition in which the United States and the Soviet Union tried to display their superiority over the other through advancements in space technology and exploration. The Russians succeeded in beating the Americans at sending both the first satellite and man, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1957. This advancement earned the Russian prestige and the power to demand concessions from the West. The American public felt disappointed at the Russian advancements in space and as a result, President Kennedy responded by promising that the US would land the first man on the moon before 1970, and before the Russians. In July of 1969, Kennedy's promise became authentic when Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon. After the landing, A new American President, Reagan, devised a plan to develop a space based anti-missile system to destroy any Soviet nuclear missiles before reaching its target. Krushchev also wanted to develop an anti-missile space system in order to out-perform the Americans. Nuclear Weapons Development Following Krushchev's decision on the Berlin Wall, he received much criticism from the Russian people. In response, he ordered new nuclear tests that eventually led to the creation of the Hydrogen bomb. This advancement caused the Americans to soon follow with their own Hydrogen bomb as the arms race began to heat up with increased funding by both sides in order to out perform the other. These advancements caused either country to gain a greater respect for the other. This respect led to the Geneva Summit in November 1985; President Reagan met with Gorbachev in order to discuss the control of nuclear weapons, as either side was willing to make huge cuts to their nuclear arsenal. Gorbachev wa...