Bay of Pigs Invasion : April 1961

Bay of Pigs Invasion : April 1961

1. CAUSE

   • 1. In 1959, rebel Fidel Castro overthrows Cuban gov and takes power
     • Before him, Cuba was corrupt and run as a right-wing military dictatorship
       • However many Americans had business interests in Cuba
     • Castro nationalises American companies in Cuba
       • Americans stop all aid to Cuba
         • Incl. all imports of Cuban sugar
           • (Sugar is main income for Cuba)
   • 2. Castro seeks help from USSR
     • In 1960, USSR agree to buy 1M tonnes of Cuban sugar per year
       • Soviets see this as an opportunity to get involved closer to America
     • Castro becomes communist
   • 3. America is alarmed that there are communists at such close proximity
     • Potential threat

2. CONSEQUENCES

   • 1. September 1961, Castro asked for weapons to defend Cuba against America
     • Russia publicly promises to supply them with weapons
   • 2. 14 October 1962, the Americans discover the missile sites in Cuba
     • These sites brought every town in the US within range of Soviet nuclear missiles
   • 3. 22nd October, JFK announces on national TV that America is under threat
   • Communism spreads closer to America

3. WHAT HAPPENED

   • 1. Cuban exiles (supporters of Batista) living in US are trained to invade Cuba and remove Castro
     • Trained by CIA
     • Costs of $45M
   • 2. April 1961, 1300 of them land in Cuba ready to overthrow Castro
     • "La Brigada"
   • 3. Invasion failed as Castro was popular amongst Cubans
     • He was aware of the invasion
   • 4. All of La Brigada's equipment destroyed
     • President JFK humiliated