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Bay of Pigs
President Eisenhower gave permission to the CIA to secretly train exiles for an invasion of Cuba. They were hoping that the CIA and the exiles would cause a massive uprising to overthrow Castro. Nothing went as planned; this event led the Soviet Union to know that the US would do anything to stop Communism. This angered teh USSR and pushed the countries farther from being able to talk them into Democracy. The US had to pay $53 million worth of food and medical supplies for the commandos. -
Bay of Pigs
Thirteen to fifteen hundred Cuban exiles supported by the US military landed on the southern coast of Cuba. This attack was to become known as the Bay of Pigs. Nothing went right from the very beginning, as an air strike had failed and a small group sent forward to distract Castro's forces never reached the shore. The 25,000 Cuban troops backed by Soviets quickly defefated the invading rebel army; many were killed or taken prisoner. This caused great tension between the US and the Soviets. -
Cuban Missile Crisis--Summer 1962
The transport of weapons from Moscow to Cuba increased. The weapons would help Cuba build and possibly launch nuclear missiles at the US. President Kennedy responded to the rise of transport of nuclear materials by warning Cuba that America will not tolerate nuclear weapons in Cuba. This led to American pilots flying over Cuba and taking photos of what looked to be nuclear missile sites. Cuba hated us even more; this made possible "friendship" impossible as Cuba started shooting down US planes. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Photographs taken by American planes revealed Soviet missile bases in Cuba. A majority of these missiles were ready to be launched at any moment to the US east coast. They had the capability to reach the US in minutes. Tensions ran high in both countries. If the missiles were launched, it would start an all out war between the US and the Soviet Union. -
Kennedy Makes Announcement
JFK announced his plan to remove soviet missile sites in Cuba he said that missile sites had been established there by the Soviets. They said it was to "to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere". He announced a strict quarantine on harsh military equipment under shipment to Cuba & that any launch of a nuclear missile from Cuba would require a full retaliatory response. Created tension between the Soviets and the US because of the severity of a possible nuclear attack -
The US Navy blockade
The U.S. Navy blockade against Soviet ships began at 10:00 a.m. Washington DC time. Some of the Cuban-bound Soviet freighters altered their courses to avoid the confrontation. Majority didn’t want war. At that same time, others proceeded. This almost caused an all-out nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A US Ambassador provided pictures to the UN Security Council of Soviet nuclear activity in Cuba. These pictures of the missile bases were taken from a plane flying overhead. President Kennedy writes Soviet leader Khrushchev urging him to avoid conflict. Soviet ships heading towards Cuba stopped to avoid battle at sea. Tensions grew between the US and the USSR -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Khrushchev offered a plan to eliminate missiles from Cuba if the US promised not to invade the island. America made a secret pledge to eradicate missiles from Turkey. Both countries agreed to this deal and there was no cause for a nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis came to an end after thirteen harrowing days. This eased tension between the two countries.
