Foreign policies of JFK Bay of Pigs April 17 1961
This event was set in 1959, when the U.S. attempted to aid Cuba
after their country fell to communism. United states provided training,
equipment and logistical support to recapture their country. The 1961 invasion
failed miserably. As a result, Cuba turned on Soviet Union. The Soviet Union
were more than happy to provide their help to Cuba. Khrushchev was looking for
allies in Latin America to build a Soviet missile base while the U.S. has
missiles based in Europe targeting the Soviet Union.
Cuban Missile Crisis Oct 1962
This particular crisis was Kennedy's chance to show everyone who
he was and what he was all about. On October 16th, 1962, that the U.S. found out
that the Soviets were building missile sites in Cuba. The U.S. air force wanted
to bomb the sites. Kennedy was afraid that these actions would cause a war. He
set up a blockade in Cuba. At the last moment, the Soviet Union backed off and
recalled their ships. They agreed to remove missiles and bases from
Cuba.
Building of the Berlin Wall 1961 to 1989
After WW2, the German capital of Berlin was divided into four
zones. In 1950, three Western allies had created West Berlin, while the Soviet
Union had created East Berlin. Due to this, East Germans were dissatisfied with
their communist government. In August of 1961, the Soviet Union and Communist
East German Government built a wall to block off East Berlin so Communism
wouldn’t spread. At the time, Kennedy believed that he could establish
relations with the Soviet Union and didn’t want to alter his foreign policy
over Berlin. Kennedy’s view changed shortly after the Cuban Missile crisis.
After that, Kennedy adopted a policy of containment toward the Soviet Union. He
wanted to stop Communism. He spoke the unforgettable sentence, “All free men,
where ever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free
man, I take pride in the words: ich bin ein Berliner(I am a citizen of
Berlin).”
Peacecorps March 21 1961 to present
Kennedy believed in more than just helping people. He wanted to
spread Democracy. Kennedy created the Peacecore in 1961. He sent volunteers to
the third world countries. These volunteers helped build roads, hospitals, and
houses all over the world. It was one of the first acts he made as a President.
This act helped develop nations. By March, 1963, it grew to over 5,000 members
and 10,000 the following year. So far, it has served 139 countries all over the
world.