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Castro Comes to Power
Fidel Castro gained power in Cuba and claimed to believe in democracy, but he did many things that angered the United States. In March of 1960, President Eisenhower gave permission to the CIA to begin a covert operation of training Cuban exiles for an invasion on Cuba. He hoped to start a revolution and get Castro overthrown. The US was angry because Castro was being friendly with the Soviet Union -
Cuban Exiles
On April 17, 1961 around 1,500 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba on the Bay of Pigs. The attack was a huge failure, and was a very embarrassing for the United States. JFK had to pay $53 million to Cuba. This event pushed Castro to be much more open to the Soviet Union and harsher with the U.S. -
Nikita Khrushchev
Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, who promised to defend Cuba with soviet arms. The flow to Cuba of soviet weapons which included nuclear missiles increased greatly. President Kennedy responded with a warning that American would not tolerate offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba. -
Missiles in Cuba
American planes see soviet missile bases in Cuba. Some of the missiles were ready to launch and could reach America in a matter minuets. This meant if Cuba had any beef with America they could start a nuclear war. This also could lead to anther proxy war between America and the Soviet Union. -
Kennedy Tells The Public
President Kennedy told the American public that the Soviet missiles were in Cuba and he would remove them. America already fearful of the Soviet Union and its communist ways was already on hight alert about a nuclear attack. President Kennedy also stated that any missile attack would put America into full fletched war with the Soviet Union. This would lead to a nuclear holocaust between two world powers. -
Navy Blockade
Kennedy implements U.S. Navy blockade against Soviet ships. Some of the Cuban-bound Soviet freighters altered their courses to avoid the confrontation, while others proceeded. Soviet ships reach the quarantine line, but receive radio orders from Moscow to hold their positions. Military forces go to DEFCON 2, the highest in US history. -
Halt of Soviet Ships
Soviet ships approaching Cuba came to a halt on October 25th, 1962. The UN came together to discuss further actions regarding the blockade in the Bay of Pigs. Surveillance revealed what was thought to be practice missile launching drills. This action increased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union because it was thought that the USSR was going to shoot missiles into the United States. -
Removal of Missiles from Cuba
Khrushchev announced his plan to remove missiles from Cuba on October 28th, 1962. The United States also promised not to invade Soviet Cuba. Fidel Castro accused the Kremlin of deserting the Cuban Revolution. This relieved stress between the United States and the USSR with the promise of destruction of nuclear weapons.
