cuban missile crisis

• 1962 - JFK discovers that the USSR had been sending equipment and expert advice to Cuba and they were preparing to station nuclear missiles on the island
• JFK sent warships to intercept the ships carrying the missiles
• The USA refused to trade with Cuba
• Khrushchev sends a $100M package of economic aid to Cuba, with military aid and advisers
• why were missiles placed in cuba?

  • to bargain with the US (gain something in return for removing them)
  • to test the US and see if they would step up
  • to close the missile gap (the US had more nuclear weapons)
  • to defend Cuba (only communist state in the Americas)
  • to strengthen his position (winning against the US)