failures+of+the+US+policy+of+containment

Aileen Liew

__Background information__ __Vietnam__ __Cuba__
 * Soviets wanted to spread communism whereas the US wanted democracy in the liberated countries/states of Eastern Europe
 * US and Soviet Union compete for political influence around the world
 * Eastern European countries become communist
 * communism not only spreads into Eastern Europe, but also into Asian countries such as Vietnam and Korea as well as Cuba.
 * US containment policy was advocated by American diplomat Kennan
 * North Vietnam= Communist regime ruled by Ho Chi Minh, supported by the Societ Union
 * South Vietnam= weak regime ruled by Diem
 * U.S. wanted to establish a democracy in South Vietnam
 * U.S. supported military coup to overthrow of Diem's regime
 * Vietcong= southern Vietnamese communist guerillas, support from the North
 * U.S. troops were defeated by the Vietcong and north Vietnam troops
 * North and South Vietnam were united under north Vietnam Communist leader Ho Chi Minh
 * Fidel Castro and the Communist party overthrew the dictator Batista
 * Castro established a Communist regime, supported by Soviets
 * U.S. supported military coup,Bay of Pigs, attempted to overthrow Castro's regime; failed
 * Soviets decided to place nuclear missiles in Cuba
 * American intelligence discovered a ship carrying nuclear missiles into Cuba
 * President Kennedy decided to blockade Cuba by preventing the ship from entering Cuba
 * Khrushchev promised to send the ship back to Russia if Kennedy promised not to invade Cuba.
 * Kennedy agreed and Khruschev sent the ship back.