The Cuban Missile Crisis

1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.
Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 were the darkest days of the crisis because those were the days that the world almost broke out into war. Oct. 24 was when the Soviet ships almost ran the American blockade and almost came so close as to warrant shells to fly. Oct 27, was when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down in Cuban airspace and the president's advisors advised him to put together imediate military action.

2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I really don't think it was ever an option. Neither country wanted the entier destruction of the war on its hands. America and the U.S.S.R weren't stupid enough to think convetional warfare would demand a nuclear arsenal. The Soviets wanted to push the Americans and make them back down. The Americans wanted to show they wouldn't let the Soviets push them around.

3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
I think it's an American cartoon for a few reasons. The first is that Khurshchev is sweating and that means his resolve in doing what he might is failing and therefore he is weak. The other reason is that J.F.K. isn't sweating and looks perfectly calm which means his resolve to do what must be done isn't wavering and this shows him as strong.

4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I think all the reasons could be possible except to defend cuba and to gain an upper hand in the arms race. The Soviets could be testing or making deals with the Americans. If the Americans backed down they would have to make some consceions to get the missles out of Cuba. This could also be a test because of the fact that putting nukes in America's backyard could be a test to trick them into attacking first and to give the Soviets a reason to fire. I don't think that it would be to defend Cuba because it really doesn't make any sence what so ever to defend a country with nukes when you could do it with conventional weapons. Also I don't think it was to get an upper hand in the arms race because America was so stupid to think at all it would be smart to start a nuclear war.