Objective: To examine the impact of the Cold War on Latin America.

Communist Revolution in 1959 allowed Fidel Castro to take over as Communist dictator Fidel Castro, 1950’s Fidel Castro, 2006 Raul Castro current leader

Many Cubans fled to the US hoping to get political protection – scared of what was going to happen in Cuba after Castro seized power!

All the Leaders Involved: Fidel Castro – Communist Dictator of Cuba John F. Kennedy (JFK) – President USA Nikita Khrushchev – Communist Dictator of Soviet Union

Bay of Pigs Invasion Eisenhower’s $13 million plan that was implemented by Pres. JFK’s to send mostly Cuban exiles trained by US to overthrow Castro, lasted 3 days, huge failure and embarrassment to the US gov’t

Paramilitary Groups sent into Cuba

Americans, 2 of whom were eventually executed, are arrested in April 1961. They were accused by the Cuban government of smuggling guns to anti-Communist rebels a few days before the Bay of Pigs invasion.

The Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962 the USSR put missiles in Cuba facing the US The US used spy planes to take images of these missiles

CUBA The Soviet Union gave Cuba Missiles. This made the United States NERVOUS CUBA

JFK then ordered a blockade of Cuba

13 day standoff with no actual fighting (Cold War)

Upon approaching Cuba, the Soviets turned back due to blockade Results: USSR removed missiles from Cuba and US removed its missiles from Turkey and promised not to invade Cuba

Nicaragua A. In 1961, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), nicknamed the Sandinistas saw Communism as a positive path for their country 1. Sandinistas were inspired by Cuba

In 1974, the Sandinistas kidnapped several Nicaraguan elites at a Christmas Party 1. US Pres. Carter responded by cutting off all aid to the Nicaraguan gov’t until it improved its human rights violations 2. Sandinistas used state of emergency to gain full power 3. Pres. Carter immediately sent $99 million in aid to stop communist rule with the group known as the Contras (Nicaraguan Democratic Force)

C. Nicaraguan Peace Plan of 1987 1. earthquake and hurricane devastated Nicaragua and the US gov’t refused to send money, now under Pres. Reagan who personally hates communism 2. people of Nicaragua upset with their horrible economic conditions 3. US raises money to support the Contras by selling weapons to the Iranians in exchanged for the release of US hostages, became known as the Iran-Contra Affair a. was supposed to be a big gov’t secret ..yeah right! D. Nicaragua today it is a Constitutional Republic with a president

Other areas that Communism tried to take hold and the US got involved A. Chile, Guatemala, Grenada and Peru B. El Salvador about 12,000 people died by democide (killed trying to convert to democracy)