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Causes Of The Cuban Missile Crisis

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Thesis:
In 1962, the United States had a conflict with the Soviet Union that almost caused a nuclear war, called the Cuban Missile Crisis. The conflict started because the Soviet Union created a nuclear missile base in Cuba in October of 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis ended after thirteen days when both the United States and the Soviet Union made several compromises and the missile base was removed from Cuba.
Historical Context:
In 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union started the Cold War because of the tension between the two countries during World War II and even after it ended. The Soviets added to the tension by trying to spread communism throughout Europe. In order to try and stop the Soviet Union, “the United States and its European allies formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a unified military command to resist the Soviet presence in Europe (1949).” This conflict lead up to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when the Soviet Union formed an alliance with Cuba and they put a nuclear base ninety miles of their coast. “The Cuban Missile Crisis is considered the climax of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.” The United States got involved because Cuba is very close to their territory which means the Soviet Union would be able to shoot a nuclear missile at the United States. “Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend Cuba with Soviet arms and continue to ship weapons to Cuba.” And at this point, the United States

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