President Kennedy decided that the best form of offense was defense; stationing a blockade on Cuba in hopes that the Soviets would stop shipping weapons. The Cuban missile crisis had been precipitated on October 14, when American U-2 spy planes spotted a ballistic missile on a launching site. The term flexible response first appeared in U.S. General Maxwell D. Taylor’s book The Uncertain Trumpet (1960), which sharply criticized U.S. Email; Back to Article; Related resources for this article. President Kennedy and Secretary of Defense McNamara in an EXCOMM meeting.For 14 days in October 1962 the world stood on the Aside from the development of the two sides' nuclear arsenals and their deployment of conventional military forces, the struggle for domi- This situation almost caused a nuclear war; however, the communication between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev prevented the war. Thank you for subscribing! As Britannica’s entry on international relations reports, what followed was a tense standoff of brinksmanship for 13 days, beginning on October 16: Welcome to Britannica School, a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Elementary, Middle, and High School.. Cuban missile crisis. Thank you for subscribing! As can be guessed from the name, the Cuban Missile Crisis took place in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy informed€ Cuban missile crisis Britannica.com The Hidden History of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The crisis was a … Articles ... Sign up for our Britannica for Parents newsletter for expert advice on parenting in the 21st century! Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in Oct. 1962 created the highest tension between the US and the Soviet Union in the time of the Cold War. The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and was the moment when the two superpowers came closest to nuclear conflict. It took place in October 1962, when the Americans discovered preparations to install Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. Cuban Missile Crisis The relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba allowed the former to start shipping missiles to the the latter. The Cuban missile crisis was an escalation of prewar tension between the United States and the Soviet Union in the framework of the Cold War. The Cuban missile crisis, the tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in nearby Cuba, is often presented as a triumph for young American Pres. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston ... Sign up for our Britannica for Parents newsletter for expert advice on parenting in the 21st century! Formerly secret documents from U.S., Cuban, Soviet and East Bloc archives. The Cuban Missile Crisis took place during an era called the Cold War, “a state of geopoliti- ... (Encyclopedia Britannica). Be on the look out for the Britannica for Parents newsletter to deliver insightful facts for the family right to your inbox. Department of Defense Cuban Missile Crisis Briefing Materials. Flexible Response, U.S. defense strategy in which a wide range of diplomatic, political, economic, and military options are used to deter an enemy attack. Jul 8, 2019 - Cuban missile crisis, major confrontation at the height of the Cold War that brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of a shooting war in October 1962 over the presence of Soviet nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba. Discover encyclopedia articles, multimedia, primary sources, games, and other learning resources that support student research and reinforce curriculum standards.