Crisis in Cuba: Castro, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. FIDEL CASTRO: FORMER LEADER OF CUBA, PUFFING AWAY (AROUND 1960).

I.Castro’s Rise to Power A. In 1959, Fidel Castro launched a revolt that overthrew Cuba's corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista. B. Castro soon accepted aid by the Soviet Union, nationalized businesses and became a communist dictator. II. Plans to Overthrow Castro A. President Eisenhower began making plans to overthrow Castro by the use of the CIA in B. When President Kennedy was elected he stated that it was the duty of the US to fight against communism.

III.Bay of Pigs Disaster A. Eisenhower had Cuban exiles trained by the CIA to overthrow Castro. B. On 4/17/63 Cuban exiles invaded Cuba through the Bay of Pigs, instead of inspiring a revolt among the Cuban people they were quickly defeated by Castro’s troops. C. The Bay of Pigs invasion became an embarrassment for Kennedy, since it failed.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS DRAWING? WHAT HISTORICAL EVENT IS IT SYMBOLIZING? Why? A PICTURE OF THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION

IV.The Cuban Missile Crisis A. In 1962, Castro asked Nikita Khrushchev, to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to prevent an American invasion. B. Khrushchev did not want to provoke the US into a hot war but also wanted to protect his allies. He decided to send the missiles. C. Kennedy does two things to react 1. Brinksmanship – he warned Khrushchev and Castro against aggressive action or they would go to war. In a way he dared them to do it! 2. On 10/22/62, Kennedy ordered a blockade on Cuba to prevent Russian ships from bringing in more missiles.

PRE A MAP THAT REVIEWS THE MISSILES’ RANGE AND ACCURACY. PRESIDENT KENNEDY ADDRESSES THE NATION ABOUT THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS.

V. Aftermath A. On 10/27 a Russian ship was stopped at the blockade. B. Kennedy and Khrushchev wanted to avoid war, but neither would back down from the conflict. C. On October 28, an agreement was reached, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles and Kennedy agreed to not invade Cuba.

Fidel Castro: still dictator of Cuba in 2005

Hey batter batter! Castro trying to play baseball while looking VERY OLD!

The Castro Brothers (Fidel and Raul) during the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950’s.

The Castro Brothers around 2006 – 2007 (when the transition of power was occurring).