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How Did The Cold War Influence Kennedy's Foreign Policy

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How Did The Cold War Influence Kennedy's Foreign Policy
The cold war was a time of political and economic confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War 2 that lead to fear on both sides, specifically Americans wanting anti-communism influence in the world (Goldfield, The American Journey, 783). The United States presidents all were cautious with foreign policy decisions that could influence the effects of the Cold War (Goldfield, 822). A president who was greatly under control with his foreign policy being shaped by the cold war conflict was John Kennedy. Kennedy’s foreign policy was shaped by the cold war with the actions of communist control in Europe, Asia, and Cuba.
The cold war impacted Kennedy’s policies by making sure to keep a mutual but guarded relationship
…show more content…
A missile crisis rose when information revealed that the Soviets were working in Cuba on nuclear missiles that could hit the United States (Goldfield, 830). Solutions were hard to come up with in such short time but the most successful was creating a blockade for Soviet ships to be quarantined to allow time for diplomacy negotiations between Krushchev and Kennedy (Goldfield, 831). Kennedy waited for Krushchev to respond and accepted only one of the two letters Krushchev imposed. Krushchev would agree to remove the missiles in Cuba as long as the United States did not invade Cuba and removed missiles from Turkey (Goldfield, 831). President Kennedy created the Alliance for Progress for Latin American countries that were having social reform by providing economic help in attempt to stop the ideals of Castroism (Goldfield, 831). After settling the nuclear crisis, Kennedy knew that nuclear weapons should have a form of control. The Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed by the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union to ban nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and under water (Goldfield, 832). The treaty was the start of nuclear disarmament.
During the Cold war, both the United States and the Soviet Union were cautious of one’s actions. Kennedy responded to the Cold war events that were directly influenced his foreign policy. Events in Europe, Asia, and Cuba greatly shaped policies that were a response to Soviet/communist actions. Kennedy’s main goal was to not start a war over missiles (Goldfield,

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