January 1, Fidel Castro and his “right hand man” Che Guevara take Cuba from Fulgencio Batista. Nationalizes factories and plantations May 1959 First Agrarian Reform Law: limits the Size of land holdings and forbids foreign land ownership. Creates friction with American companies and mafia doing business in Cuba. Builds relationship with USSR and begins buying Oil. US places embargo on Cuban goods

Unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the U.S. government Purpose Attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.

 In April 1960, the CIA began to recruit anti- Castro Cuban exiles in the Miami area. Until July 1960, assessment and training was carried out on Useppa Island and at various other facilities in South Florida, such as Homestead AFB.

 The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months after John F. Kennedy assumed the presidency in the United States.

 The Cuban armed forces, trained and equipped by Eastern Bloc nations, defeated the invading combatants within three days.

 On 19 April 1961, at least seven Cubans plus two CIA-hired US citizens (Angus K. McNair and Howard F. Anderson) were executed in Pinar del Rio province, after a two-day trial.

 Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within groups of people. It is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.

 -minimize conflict  -reach a consensus  -decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or  viewpoints.

 Eventually Schlesinger minimized his own doubts, that is, he performed self-censorship.  The Kennedy team stereotyped Castro and the Cubans by failing to question the CIA about its many assumptions:  ineffectiveness of Castro's air force  weakness of Castro's army  inability of Castro to quell internal uprisings.

 The failed invasion severely embarrassed the Kennedy Administration, and made Castro wary of future US intervention in Cuba. On 21 April, in a State Department press conference, President Kennedy said: "There's an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan... What matters is only one fact, I am the responsible officer of the government."

Who is shown in the cartoon? What is in his mouth? What is the point of drawing the cigar as if it is exploding?

 Castro intensified his relations with the Soviet Union by accepting further economic and military aid.  Khrushchev wanted to place nuclear missiles in Cuba as a response to U.S. Jupiter missiles being in Turkey  Kennedy demanded the removal of the missiles with orders for the U.S. Navy to search any vessels headed for the island.

Spy plane captures building of nuclear missile base in Cuba

 You are a presidential advisor to Kennedy. You must decide whether the president should be concerned about Soviet missiles and launch pads in Cuba. What do you advise the president to do? Kennedy has asked you to brainstorm possible U.S. responses to the Soviet missile threat in Cuba. What will you include on your list?  Look at your briefing and answer on your paper

Defense department advisor is discussing the Soviet offensive missile buildup in Cuba. Four major installations have been sighted.

 You are a member of the Executive Committee, known as ExCom, a group of Kennedy’s closest advisors gathered to help him work through this crisis. The president has asked you to assess these five possible responses. How would you prioritize these possible responses? What are the positive and negative aspects of each?  Read the briefing and answer on your paper

Map of the naval blockade of Cuba Blockade was set up 500 miles off the coast of Cuba in international waters.

 You are a member of ExCom. Respond to the four situations the president might face, keeping in mind his goals for the crisis as outlined in Top Secret Briefing C. Then offer your recommendation for what the president should do now.  Read the briefing and answer on your paper

 After days of secret communications between Khrushchev, Kennedy, and their agents, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S.’s public agreement not to invade Cuba  Kennedy admin. also agreed to secretly remove our missiles from Turkey  The U.S. was able to persuade the OAS to end diplomatic relations with Cuba, in response to Castro’s “shameful” actions

 Civil liberties have been whittled away – labor unions lost the right to strike, independent newspapers shut down, and religious institutions harassed  Increased literacy to 98%, has universal health care, opened over 10,000 new schools  Approx. 120,000 Cubans have left their homeland for sanctuary in the U.S.