LAURA ARIZA MARGUERITE DE SCORRAILLE AIDAN KAPLAN JONATHAN REGINELLA The Bay of Pigs

Historical Background US involved in Cuban affairs since the Spanish American War Platt Amendment 1902 Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s

Historical Background 1934  Batista overthrew Ramon Grau San Martin Batista was a corrupt and repressive dictator Foundations for the Cuban Revolution

Fidel Castro Son of a wealthy farmer Attended the famous Jesuit school of Belen in Havana 1945  Enrolled in the University of Havana 1947  Participated in expedition to overthrow Rafael Trujillo

The Cuban Revolution 26 th of July Movement  Attempt to overthrow Batista  Organized in Mexico by Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara December 1956 to January 1959  Guerilla war in Cuba

Post- Revolution Cuba Castro increases repression against opponents “The War Against the Bandits” ( )  Six-year rebellion

Tensions with the United States “Until Castro, the U.S. was so overwhelmingly influential in Cuba that the American ambassador was the second most important man, sometimes even more important than the Cuban president.” (Earl T. Smith, former American Ambassador to Cuba, during 1960 testimony to the U.S. Senate) Castro took steps to reduce American influence on the island Castro expropriated American refineries and nationalized them

Tensions with the United States In retaliation, the U.S. cancelled its imports of Cuban sugar, provoking Castro to nationalize most U.S.- owned assets on the island To prevent the Cuban economy from collapsing, the USSR agreed to buy the sugar

The Plan to Invade Eisenhower administration concerned with direction of Cuban government under Castro  Kennedy elected, informed, and approved of plan CIA given funds to recruit and train Cuban exiles in Miami  Many recruits were former professional soldiers Once trained and supplied, the small force was sent to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua

The Invasion April 15, 1961 – Group of exiles flew out in B-26 bombers to destroy the Cuban air force April 17, 1961 – 2506 Brigade began the land assault in the Bay of Pigs  A much smaller rebel force landed on east coast to confuse Cuban military Only small, local Cuban militia is able to counter the invasion  Militia leaders notified the distracted Castro of the invasion

The Resistance Castro orders remaining Cuban aircrafts to attack the small fleet behind the invaders  Stocked with supplies: food, weapons, ammunition Without supplies, captured airstrips were useless to rebels Castro arrives himself and takes command  With supplies and far greater numbers of soldiers, the Cubans push back the rebel force

The Failures of the Attack Repainted, WWII B-26 bombers sent to bomb Cuban airfields  Missed targets and failed to destroy entire air force The 2506 Brigade that landed in the Bay of Pigs became pinned down immediately Cuban government knew of the incoming invasion The attack proved to be extremely unorganized and very ill planned

Surrender and Negotiated Release On April 19 th, 1,200 of the 1,400 invaders surrendered to Castro’s forces Mass trials were held for the captured men  All were sentenced to either 30 years in prison or execution The U.S. negotiated their release for $53 million worth of food and medicine

Global Effects Castro’s position across Latin America and Soviet standing in the Third World strengthened Increased Cuban dedication to the revolution Castro more wary of the U.S. and more receptive to Soviet reinforcement Castro accepted Soviet missiles being placed on Cuba This escalated the Cold War and paved the way for the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

Bay of Pigs Invasion: Legacy Severely tarnished the United States’ reputation across the world Led to a spread of communism across Latin America Kennedy’s inspiring rhetoric was seen was a cover for U.S. imperialism

Questions To what extent do you think the US intervention in Cuba was justified? Was it a fair intervention? How did the Bay of Pigs help Fidel Castro keep control of Cuba? Do you believe the US continues to feel threatened by Cuba today?

Sources Castañeda, Jorge C. Compañero: the Life and Death of Che Guevara. New York: Vintage Books, Coltman, Leycester. The Real Fidel Castro. New Haven and London: the Yale University Press, 2003.