Analysis of the Cuban Missile Crisis Essay -- History, Nuclear Weapons

The Cuban Missile Crisis remains an example of one of the most terrifying events in history for the people of the world. A very real threat existed for the crisis to escalate and create World War III, which would include the annihilation of countries and cause unimaginable damage from the use of nuclear weapons by the United States and the former Soviet Union. The conflict had historical roots in the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union, as well as in the history of relations between the United States and Cuba. The strife between the United States and Cuba culminated when Fidel Castro overthrew a government publicly supported by the United States, although political and military officials in the United States secretly welcomed the events. However, it soon became clear that the takeover of Cuba by Castro would result in escalating conflict between it and the United States, something that quickly became more evident in the Bay of Pigs invasion and Operatio n Mongoose; both designed to eliminate Castro from the political field in Cuba. The Soviet Union supported Castro’s regime and Cuba’s stand, and forced its hand with the placement of nuclear missiles on the island. The United States countered, and the two countries played out their hands to determine the fate of the world. In the end, the United States and the Soviet Union came to an agreement, both sides attempting to avoid a nuclear war. To this day, the way in which the threat was diffused remains an important model in studying how to avoid future conflicts that threaten the world. The history of relations between the United States and the former Soviet Union paved the foundation that would culminate in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The battles b... ...s a model in many ways for how not to handle negotiations; many of the benefits of studying this event, in fact, are to identify how to do just that, as well. Although the outcome was ultimately positive and nuclear war was avoided, the tactics and countermoves of the United States and the Soviet Union had the potential to backfire and cause nuclear destruction. The conflict with the United States and Cuba contributed to the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each country was attempting to solidify its power as not just a superpower, but the superpower of the entire world. As a result of this, one of the most terrifying events in the history of the world, even today, emerged – The Cuban Missile Crisis – and we still use it today as an example to prevent any possible errors that might once again escalate to create an event of such severity.