1. The Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Fidel Castro
In January, 1959 a communist named Fidel Castro took over power in Cuba.
He was supported by the Soviet Union.
Cuba, 90 miles off the Florida coast.
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4. The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Continuing with their pledge to fight communism in April 1961 the U.S. backed an army of Cuban exiles that planned to overthrow Cuba’s communist dictator Fidel Castro.
JFK ( ) had backed the plan.
The Cuban army easily crushed the rebels and the U.S. was humiliated. 3

5. Missiles!!
In October, 1962 U.S. spy planes spotted Russian nuclear weapons in Cuba.
The threat of having Nuclear missiles 90 miles off the U.S. coast was something Americans would not stand for.
The next 13 days would bring the world closer than ever to Nuclear War.
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