HST 604 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Cuban Missile Crisis, Avro Canada Cf-105 Arrow, Massive Retaliation
5 May 2020
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HST604 Module 9: Moment of Crisis - Tensions of the 1960's
The rise of the Berlin Wall: German Question Once Again
Khrushchev - genuinely interested in detente •
- remained concerned with german reserguance !
- issued an ultimatum with west in 1968 for West Berlin to become free + demilitarized city !
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Focusing on the German question in the late 1950s would kill several birds with one stone: •
it would provide a distraction away from internal power struggles at the Kremlin; •
it would fortify the image of Khrushchev as a tough negotiator,•
thus reinforcing the Sino-Soviet alliance and Moscow’s position as the leader of the Communist world; and it •
would also present Khrushchev as a peaceful conciliator interested in negotiating a settlement.
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Reaction to ultimatum was not what Khrushchev expected!•
- West refused to follow what they considered to be Moscows forceful demands !
- Seemed mutual accommodation was on horizon when Khrushchev visited US in 1959!
- building of the wall authorized by Khrushchev in 1961 (seal berlin from surrounding areas) !
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Fighting for Superiority: Nuclear Arms Race Intensified
Military Power - rested with the atomic bomb!•
broad decrease in reliance of conventional forces yet Americans + soviets retained large armies even though they •
were expensive !
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) + Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) !•
"New Look" Strategy - Massive retaliation - US Vowed to retaliate if attacked by Soviets (on a bigger scale + •
possibly different region) !
- Became component of Washington's assertive diplomacy !
- Canada scraped Avro Arrow in return for American Nuclear Security!
- US owned 5x more ICBMs than Soviets (under JFK) !
- Soviets remained behind in development of nuclear weapons !
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The Cuban Missile Crisis: MAD Avoided
Berlin Wall ended up bing a failure!•
Cuban Revolution - Fidel castro overthrew American puppet regime •
- Cuban American relations deteriorated !
- Soviet Uniion became Subas main trading partner , irritating washington !
- Khrishchev guaranteed Cuban security against american attack !
Soviet Troops deployed in Cuba •
- launching sites for intermediate-range ballistic missiles built !
- all of mainland US could be reached quickly !
- nature of Soviet presence was discovered by US in 1962!
- air and naval quarantine around Cuba !
- Khrushev eventually backed down when washington promised CUBA would not be invaded + American missiles
were removed from Turkey and Italy !
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Domino Effect - The Struggle over Indo-China
Emergence of many new states with decolonization •
UN doubled membership !•
- American + Soviets Coerced to join respective alliance system !
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Indichina - Vietnam, Cambodia, laos !
- French Colony in 19th century !
- 1950 sovereignty illusory !
- US supported colonial government there
- Why did US become involved in Vietnam? !
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Document Summary
Hst604 module 9: moment of crisis - tensions of the 1960"s. The rise of the berlin wall: german question once again. Issued an ultimatum with west in 1968 for west berlin to become free + demilitarized city. Reaction to ultimatum was not what khrushchev expected. West refused to follow what they considered to be moscows forceful demands. Seemed mutual accommodation was on horizon when khrushchev visited us in 1959. Building of the wall authorized by khrushchev in 1961 (seal berlin from surrounding areas) Military power - rested with the atomic bomb broad decrease in reliance of conventional forces yet americans + soviets retained large armies even though they were expensive. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (icbms) + submarine launched ballistic missiles (slbm) "new look" strategy - massive retaliation - us vowed to retaliate if attacked by soviets (on a bigger scale + possibly di erent region) Canada scraped avro arrow in return for american nuclear security.
