Cuba was also a site of Cold War confrontations. Fidel Castro led a communist revolution that took over Cuba in the late 1950s. Many Cubans fled to Florida. The United States backed these Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. The CIA trained anti-revolutionary Cuban exiles to invade Cuba. The invasion plan was approved by Eisenhower's successor, John F. Kennedy. On April 17, 1961 about 1300 exiles, armed with U.S. weapons, landed at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) on the southern coast of Cuba. It was evident from the first hours of fighting that the exiles were likely to lose. President Kennedy had the option of using the U.S. Air Force against the Cubans but decided against it. Consequently, the invasion was stopped by Castro's army. By the time the fighting ended on April 19, 90 exiles had been killed and the rest had been taken as prisoners. The failure of the invasion seriously embarrassed the young Kennedy administration. Some critics blamed Kennedy for not giving it adequate support and others for allowing it to take place at all. Additionally, the invasion made Castro wary of the U.S. He was convinced that the Americans would try to take over the island again. Station 1

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If you were Kennedy what would you do? Flip this flap to find out what he did, compare his decision to what you chose... Option 4 Station 2

Impact of the Cold War at home The fear of communism and the threat of nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. During the 1950s and 1960s, American schools regularly held drills to train children what to do in case of a nuclear attack, and American citizens were urged by the government to build bomb shelters in their own basements. This desk will keep me safe... ?? Station 3

The convictions of Alger Hiss and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for spying for the Soviet Union and the construction of nuclear weapons by the Soviets, using technical secrets obtained through spying, increased domestic fears of communism. Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, civil servant, businessman, author and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations. Hiss was accused of being a Soviet spy in 1948 and convicted of perjury in connection with this charge in He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he only served 44 months. Julius Rosenberg (May 12, 1918 – June 19, 1953) and Ethel Rosenberg (September 28, 1915 – June 19, 1953) were American communists who were executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges related to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Theirs was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history. After they sat in the electric chair  Station 4

Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears of communism by recklessly accusing many American governmental officials and other citizens of being communists, based on flimsy or no evidence. This led to the coining of the term McCarthyism—the making of false accusations based on rumor or guilt by association. I have in my hand the name of 100 communists in the United States government and in the military! But I’m not going to tell you who’s on it! Station 5

The heavy military expenditures throughout the Cold War benefited Virginia’s economy proportionately more than any other state, especially in Hampton Roads, home to several large naval and air bases, and in Northern Virginia, home to the Pentagon and numerous private companies that contract with the military. Station 6

President Kennedy pledged in his inaugural address that the United States would “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” In the same address, he also said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Station 7

President Kennedy, a World War II veteran, was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, in an event that shook the nation’s confidence and began a period of internal strife and divisiveness, especially spurred by divisions over United States involvement in Vietnam. The president and first lady smile and wave at the public JFK is shot and Jackie tries to escape to safety Hours later, Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn into office on Air force One Station 7

Unlike veterans of World War II, who returned to a grateful and supportive nation, Vietnam veterans returned often to face indifference or outright hostility from some who opposed the war. It was not until several years after the end of the Vietnam war that the wounds of the war began to heal in America, and Vietnam veterans were recognized and honored for their service and sacrifices. Finished being built October 1982, US pull All soldiers out in 73’ Station 8

Internal problems of the Soviet Union The non-Russian ethnic groups in the U.S.S.R. (more than 50% of the population) did not want to be a part of the U.S.S.R. They did not meet the needs of their people, instead they focused their economy on the arms race with the United States. This led to gradual economic decline, eventually necessitating the need for reform. Communism, which the Soviet’s worked to instill in the hearts and minds of its population, never took firm root, and eventually lost whatever influence it had originally carried. Can I come over there? I am starving, our economy is terrible!! Station 9

Internal problems of the Soviet Union By the time of the 1985 rise to power of Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union's last leader, the country had deep economic and political problems which needed to be addressed. Recognizing this, Gorbachev introduced two reforms; a policy of glasnost, or freedom of speech, and perestroika, a plan to rebuild the economy. What Gorbachev did not realize was that by giving people complete freedom of expression, he was unleashing emotions and political feelings that had been pent up for decades. His policy of economic reform did not have the immediate results he had hoped for. The Soviet people consequently used their newly allotted freedom of speech to criticize Gorbachev for his failure to improve the economy. Who knew this is what freedom of speech would lead to! Station 9

Role of President Ronald Reagan from Challenged moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union, for example, in speech at Berlin Wall (“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”) Reagan beefed up the American military, costing the U.S. $1.1 trillion dollars in just five years! He created the Strategic Defense Initiative, which American’s nicknamed “Star Wars.” Star Wars was supposed to come up with ways to protect America from nuclear attack. Their proposition- to create a massive satellite shield in space that would intercept and destroy incoming Soviet missiles! Beat that! Station 10