What does Cuba, the USSR, and the United States have in common?
The countries involved in the crisis were powerful and had influenced other countries in the past. For example, the United States of America had turned into major world powers during the defeat of the Central Powers in both World War I and II. The USSR had helped the United States win World War II, but the tensions of their past were still clear. Cuba had not done much with the both World Wars, but instead they had bought American products such as grain, cloth, and other necessities for day-to-day life.
- The United States
- The USSR
The USSR was a powerful nation made up of leaders and a strong military presence. Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the USSR during the Missile Crisis, was on the brink of war with the United States. Khrushchev and the leader of the Republic of Cuba had made a pact to conquer the North American strip of land, otherwise known as the USA. Khrushchev had manufactured nuclear machinery to be placed on the Cuban shore facing Florida. This was a way to indirectly threaten the United States; a hopeful strategy to conquer their goal.
- Cuba
Cuba is an island off of the Golf of Mexico ruled by the dictator Fidel Castro. The relationship between Cuba and the United States was tense and strenuous one; Cuba had payed the American government money for goods and items they needed. During the Cold War, when the USSR had strong roots in communism, Cuba had started to adopt communism as its government system. When America had discovered Cuba's new government system and nuclear missile sites, they had a trade embargo set, completely banning trade with Cuba.