Why did Kennedy order a naval blockade around cuba?

Answer 1

Two were established, an economic boycott in February of 1962 and the Missile Crisis to prevent the introduction of Soviet weapons in October of the same year.

While it is not completely perfect, I suggest seeing the Costner film (based on books about and tapes of the administration) titled Thirteen Days. It is the quickest way to get a good idea of the tension and the situation.

The blockade (quarantine) during the missile crisis was because Cuba was (viewed as) a pawn of the USSR and they placed rocket-powered nuclear warheads on Cuban soil aimed at the USA. The blockade was a compromise measure by the Kennedy administration between invading Cuba and thus setting off a likely nuclear exchange with the USSR due to treaties and (being seen to be) doing nothing and being an appeaser to the USSR. Bobby Kennedy worked very hard to handle the politics in the USA and to get buy-in from the cabinet and other stakeholders in the government to avoid military action. The Blockade prevented further buildup of offensive arms aimed at the USA in the Western Hemisphere and gave the USA and USSR time to negotiate and it gave the USSR time to dismantle the in-place missiles and to save face. Essentially it was a strategic response to an aggressive move by the USSR in the cold war.

Answer 2

The Soviet Union was putting ICBM's (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) into Cuba. Kennedy's Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended the U.S strike Cuba immediately before the missiles became operational. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara believed this course of action would cause a series of actions that would lead to a nuclear exchange. His recommendation to the President was that they blockade Cuba of all ships containing weaponry (the blockade would be called a "quarantine" because a blockade was techincally an act of war). By blockading Cuba McNamara along with Kennedy felt it would leave them other options for diplomacy while keeping further weapons from reaching Cuba as well as sending a clear signal to the Soviets. There were many time during the thirteen days in October of the Cuban Missile Crisis in which The United States and Soviet Union were just an instant or decision away from all out nucler war. The decision to blockade is probably the biggest reason that you were able to ask this question and I am able to answer it.

Answer 3

Two were established, an economic boycott in February of 1962 and the Missile Crisis to prevent the introduction of Soviet weapons in October of the same year.

While it is not completely perfect, I suggest seeing the Costner film (based on books about and tapes of the administration) titled Thirteen Days. It is the quickest way to get a good idea of the tension and the situation.

The blockade (quarantine) during the missile crisis was because Cuba was (viewed as) a pawn of the USSR and they placed rocket-powered nuclear warheads on Cuban soil aimed at the USA. The blockade was a compromise measure by the Kennedy administration between invading Cuba and thus setting off a likely nuclear exchange with the USSR due to treaties and (being seen to be) doing nothing and being an appeaser to the USSR. Bobby Kennedy worked very hard to handle the politics in the USA and to get buy-in from the cabinet and other stakeholders in the government to avoid military action. The Blockade prevented further buildup of offensive arms aimed at the USA in the western hemisphere and gave the USA and USSR time to negotiate and it gave the USSR time to dismantle the in-place missiles and to save face. Essentially it was a strategic response to an aggressive move by the USSR in the cold war.

Answer 4

to prevent Soviet ships from bringing nuclear weapons to Cuba

Answer 5

To prevent Russian missiles and equipment from being set up there, targeting USA