1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
Most of the businesses on the island were owned by Americans, and the US had a huge base on Guantanamo bay.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
If the US invaded themselves, it would be an open act of war, and the USSR might get involved and it could start a nuclear war.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The US did not provide the air cover it promised. Also, there were only 1,400 Cuban exiles, but 20,000 well armed commies.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
Earlier in the cold war, the US could hit locations in the USSR with icbms in 30 mins, but since the USSR had icbms in Cuba, the USSR could hit America, just as fast or faster.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Cuban Missle 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.
On Oct. 24 20 soviet ships neared the blcokade with the apperent intentinon of attacking, but then left. War almost started. On October 17 a U2 spy plane was shot down and its pilot killed over Cuba, war almost happened again.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
On those two days i think it was possible.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
American because it shows Kruschev shaking with exertion. It looks as though he is the one weakening and JFK staying strong.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA
Ussr trying to remove missles from table only if US makes concessions
To test the USA
The USSR wanted to see if the US was strong enough to stand up to the USSR. And Kruschev wanted to see if JFK was a strong president.
To trap the USA
To try to get the USA to start a nuclear war.
To get the upper hand in the arms race
To prevent the US from launching a first-strike against the USSR.
To defend Cuba
The USSR wanted to have a niche in the western hemisphere.
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think the USSR was just trying to use the Cuban missles as a bargaining piece but also so if the US attacked them, they got strike back fast. I do not think the USSR was trying to start a nuclear war because on Wednesday the 24 of OCtober their ships did not attack the American bloackade.
On Oct. 24 20 soviet ships neared the blcokade with the apperent intentinon of attacking, but then left. War almost started. On October 17 a U2 spy plane was shot down and its pilot killed over Cuba, war almost happened again.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
On those two days i think it was possible.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
American because it shows Kruschev shaking with exertion. It looks as though he is the one weakening and JFK staying strong.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
Why did the Soviet Union place nuclear missiles on Cuba?
To bargain with the USA
Ussr trying to remove missles from table only if US makes concessions
To test the USA
The USSR wanted to see if the US was strong enough to stand up to the USSR. And Kruschev wanted to see if JFK was a strong president.
To trap the USA
To try to get the USA to start a nuclear war.
To get the upper hand in the arms race
To prevent the US from launching a first-strike against the USSR.
To defend Cuba
The USSR wanted to have a niche in the western hemisphere.
5. Choose the explanation(s) that you think best fit what you have found out about the crisis. Explain your choice.
I think the USSR was just trying to use the Cuban missles as a bargaining piece but also so if the US attacked them, they got strike back fast. I do not think the USSR was trying to start a nuclear war because on Wednesday the 24 of OCtober their ships did not attack the American bloackade.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The American Dream in the 1950's
1. Baby Boom
As soldiers returned from WWII and started families, the population soared. In 1957 every 7 seconds a baby was born.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
Developed the Polio vaccine.
3. Interstate Highway System
Connected and homogenized nation, made it easier to drive long distance and live in suburbs.
4. Franchise
A company that offers similar products and services in different locations.
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
Because of new electric devices, and shorter work-weeks, Americans had more leisure time. The attended more sports games, played golf, bowling, hunted and boated. And read how-to books, mysteries, and romance novels. In 1953 Americans spent $30 billion on leisure goods and activities.
As soldiers returned from WWII and started families, the population soared. In 1957 every 7 seconds a baby was born.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
Developed the Polio vaccine.
3. Interstate Highway System
Connected and homogenized nation, made it easier to drive long distance and live in suburbs.
4. Franchise
A company that offers similar products and services in different locations.
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
Because of new electric devices, and shorter work-weeks, Americans had more leisure time. The attended more sports games, played golf, bowling, hunted and boated. And read how-to books, mysteries, and romance novels. In 1953 Americans spent $30 billion on leisure goods and activities.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Arms Race
1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
He was probabley thinking of deplomacy.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would not say that the Communist world was encircled because it was the USSR's neighboring countries that felt threatened and made pacts together.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
Maybe Dulles thought the best way to defeat the USSR was to out-spend it.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The U2 is being used to spy on them by the nosey Americans.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The US invaded the USSR's airspace, denied it was spying even though it was obvious it was, and did not apologize.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
It would say it wanted to make sure the USSR wasn't going to attack it.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
Yes, the USSR was just as suspicious of the US as the US was of the USSR
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
So the USSR would not try to attack Western Europe.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Using the threat of nucclear attack as a detterent to nuclear attack.
He was probabley thinking of deplomacy.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
I would not say that the Communist world was encircled because it was the USSR's neighboring countries that felt threatened and made pacts together.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
Maybe Dulles thought the best way to defeat the USSR was to out-spend it.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The U2 is being used to spy on them by the nosey Americans.
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The US invaded the USSR's airspace, denied it was spying even though it was obvious it was, and did not apologize.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
It would say it wanted to make sure the USSR wasn't going to attack it.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
Yes, the USSR was just as suspicious of the US as the US was of the USSR
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
So the USSR would not try to attack Western Europe.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Using the threat of nucclear attack as a detterent to nuclear attack.
Monday, April 5, 2010
RED SCAR (1950's)
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. HUAC
It was this organization that identified potentional commmunists and brought them to trial.
2. Blacklist
When someone can no longer get a job in their industry and is essentially banished .
3. Alger Hiss
A supposed Soviet spy who was accused by a fromer spy, WHittaker Chambers. He was convicted for perjury.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Two minor activists in the American COmmunist Party who were executed for espionage for leaking information about the atomic bomb to the USSSR.
5. Joseph McCarthy
An extremeley anti-communist senator who made many unfounded accaustations about communists so he would be reelected.
6. McCarthyism
Unfounded attacks on suspected communists.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
McCarthy wanted to use the hystery created by communism to get himself elected. But when he accused the US army of being communist, there was a trial and he made himself look stupid and he lost public support. Three years later he died of alcoholism.
1. HUAC
It was this organization that identified potentional commmunists and brought them to trial.
2. Blacklist
When someone can no longer get a job in their industry and is essentially banished .
3. Alger Hiss
A supposed Soviet spy who was accused by a fromer spy, WHittaker Chambers. He was convicted for perjury.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Two minor activists in the American COmmunist Party who were executed for espionage for leaking information about the atomic bomb to the USSSR.
5. Joseph McCarthy
An extremeley anti-communist senator who made many unfounded accaustations about communists so he would be reelected.
6. McCarthyism
Unfounded attacks on suspected communists.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
McCarthy wanted to use the hystery created by communism to get himself elected. But when he accused the US army of being communist, there was a trial and he made himself look stupid and he lost public support. Three years later he died of alcoholism.
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