The Enlightenment was a time period in which political philosophers re-examined government structures and the rights of citizens. In this era, many individuals like John Locke, Thomas Paine, Voltaire, etc. questioned the traditional forms of government used in Europe.
These individuals discussed the rights of the citizens and the limits that government should have on infringing upon those rights. This helps to spark a movement where people think critically about the government, the structure of society, and the decisions the government makes.
The United States and the Soviet Union came to the brink of nuclear war in 1962 over Soviet missile bases in Cuba. This was referred to as the "Cuban Missile Crisis". The US was mostly concerned about the very close proximity of the missiles to its shores.
