1. Aubrey, Hannah, Jordan, Kelsey
Bay of pigs invasion
Aubrey, Hannah, Jordan, Kelsey

2. Castro Assumes Power
When Fidel Castro overthrew the former dictatorial president many U.S. officials became nervous because the former dictator was pro-American and was an ally to American companies.
American corporations and individuals owned half of Cuba’s sugar plantations, cattle ranches, mines, and utilities.
Castro wanted Cubans to take more control of their nation and reduce American influence
There were many American attempts to assassinate Castro

3. Cuban Relations With the Soviet Union
May Castro developed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union
The U.S. responded by prohibiting the importation of Cuban sugar
The USSR agreed to buy the sugar to prevent the Cuban economy from collapsing

4. Eisenhower to Kennedy
Jan US government ended diplomatic relations with Cuba and stepped up preparations for an invasion
Eisenhower ended these relations 17 days before Kennedy took office
Jan President Kennedy declared Cuba a communist nation

5. Preparation for the Invasion
1960- President Eisenhower authorized the CIA to recruit Cuban exiles living in Miami and begin training them to overthrow Castro
Kennedy did not want a “direct, overt” intervention in Cuba to prevent a retaliation from the Soviets as an act of war
The plan was to destroy Castro’s small air force

6. The Invasion
April 15, Cuban exiles took off from Nicaragua in American bombing planes painted to look like Cuban planes & conducted a strike against Cuban airfields
Castro had found out and moved his planes in advance
April 17, Cuban exile brigade began its invasion on the southern isolated shore known as the Bay of Pigs
The invasion was a disaster: the radio station on the beach broadcast every detail to Cuban listeners, coral reefs sunk exile’s ships, and backup paratroopers landed in the wrong areas
Castro’s troops pinned the invaders and the exiles surrendered after less than a day of fighting
114 killed and 1,100 taken prisoner