Changes

At the time, satellite technology was in its infancy.  The [[United States]] Military had a few satellites in orbit and it was their photography that alerted the USA to the situation.  It was early in the term of [[John F. Kennedy|John Kennedy]] who was a young and inexperienced president at the time.

At the time, satellite technology was in its infancy.  The [[United States]] Military had a few satellites in orbit and it was their photography that alerted the USA to the situation.  It was early in the term of [[John F. Kennedy|John Kennedy]] who was a young and inexperienced president at the time.

The United States discovered that the Soviet Union was installing offensive missiles capable of nuclear warheads at air bases in Cuba.  The potentially nuclear missles would soon be able to launch and strike the U.S. within seconds of launch.  Washington D.C. was well within their range.  President Kennedy demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles.  To ensure this would happen, and to insure no further develop of the missle base, he sent had the Navy blockade the island.  Eventually, [[Nikita Khrushchev]], the Soviet premier at the time, backed down to avoid a war with the United States and to maintain a relationship with Cuba.

The United States discovered that the [[Soviet Union]] was installing offensive missiles capable of nuclear warheads at air bases in Cuba.  The potentially nuclear missles would soon be able to launch and strike the U.S. within minutes of launch.  Washington D.C. was well within their range.  President Kennedy demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles.  To ensure this would happen, and to insure no further develop of the missle base, he sent had the Navy blockade the island.  Secret negotiations ensued.  The Russians demanded that U.S. nuclear missiles in Turkey be removed for the removal of missiles in Cuba, but this was rejected.  It was understood by both sides that the United States was militarily superior to the Soviet Union.  Eventually, [[Nikita Khrushchev]], the Soviet premier at the time, backed down to avoid a possible war with the United States and to maintain a relationship with Cuba.

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]