National Reaction to the Cuban Missile Crisis
This paper seeks to outline sources that review the Cuban Missile Crisis. The sources give a background and reasons that stirred a national reaction during the cold war. The Americans had made an attempt under President John Fitzgerald’s administration to overthrow Cuban President Fidel Castro. This led to a bad blood between the two countries. Cubans did not understand the reason of the attack at Bay of Pigs. The American had their naval base at Guantanamo bay in Cuba and had always had a good relationship with Cubans. Following the attack, the Cuban government sought for protection from its ally the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union built missile bases in Cuba, and that did not go down well with the American government.
SOURCE: Alice L. George. “Awaiting the Armageddon” How Americans faced the Cuban Missile Crisis.
SUMMARY: This book gives a broad picture of the public reaction during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Alice in her book vividly describes that took place during that period. She notes that most Americans keenly followed the happenings on their televisions at home. Fear engulfed the country as the possibility of a nuclear war loomed. Never before had the American had their country on the verge of war. Tension was high as people awaited on the resolutions that would finally be made.
EVALUATION: From the book, we clearly get what the atmosphere and feeling of the American people was during the cold war period. Alice helps us to understand the national reaction during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
SOURCE: CIA Documents on Cuban Missile Crisis 1962.html
SUMMARY: The CIA documents give an overview of what transpired between the Soviet Union government and the American government. The documents reveal the letters and other meetings that took place between the two governments. The documents also reveal the Tension was building up between the three countries. The United States did not loosen its slack on the matter. Despite the United States warning, the Soviet Union continued to build nuclear bases in Cuba. The United States feel deceived by Cuba. In another letter, President Kennedy made his hard stance to Khrushchev. He warned that if the Soviet Union did not adhere to their demands then the United States would take a military action against Cuba.
EVALUATION: The documents dissect and give a technical overview of the nuclear weapons and other details of what transpired.
SOURCE: Kenneth Michael Absher. “Mind-sets and Missiles” A First Hand Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis 2009
SUMMARY: Kenneth Absher gives a detailed account of Cuban Missile Crisis. The book gives an insight of treaties and decrees that the three governments had to deal with during the crisis. The Soviet Union vowed not to remove its missiles from Cuba unless the United States removed its missiles firm Turkey. John F. Kennedy saw this as a double cross. The book also describes events that took place like the military blockade and how the Soviet Union had plans to defy the naval blockade.
EVALUATION: Kenneth in his book makes us understand the events that took place during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Americans were on the brink of a nuclear war.
SUMMARY: Robert takes us through what happened during the cold war. His book gives details on how the public was affected by the events that took place. Fear and tension was the order of life during that trying moment. Some Americans fled to other countries to seek refuge. Families were affected on the imagination of a nuclear war.
Conclusion
Other documents that were useful in the establishment of this paper include “In the Company of Gentle Heroes”, The Canadian Encyclopedia and other intelligent resources. The books and journals elaborate the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The focus of this paper is to establish how the public reacted to the cold war. The sources are indeed useful in giving an overview of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
