The Bay of Pigs

• 1a. Eisenhower agreed a plan with the CIA to overthrow Castro, which Kennedy then inherited when he became President.
• 2a. The plan was for a group of Cuban exiles to be trained to invade Cuba, and then start an anti-Castro revolution and put a pro-US government in charge.
• 3a. On 17 April 1961, around 1,400 Cuban exiles landed on the ‘Bay of Pigs’ in Cuba.
• 4a. However, Castro’s government found out about the invasion, and around 20,000 soldiers were waiting for them.
• 5a. The USA couldn’t send American military aid to help the exiles.
• 6a. Ordinary Cubans did not rush to help the exiles.
• 7a. Castro showed evidence of the Cuban victory to the world’s media.
• 8a. The invasion had failed.
• 1b. It was a public humiliation for the USA.
• 2b. It was very embarrassing for Kennedy who had just become President.
• 3b. It was one of the reason Khrushchev felt he could re-issue the Berlin Ultimatum at the Vienna Summit.
• 4b. The failure of the Cuban people to rise against Castro allowed Khrushchev to argue communism was popular.
• 5b. Cuba declared himself to be a communist.
• 6b. It led to stronger relations between the USSR and Cuba, and in September 1961, Khrushchev publicly announced he would send arms to Cuba.
• Who agreed on a plan to overthrow Castro?

  Eisenhower
• What was the plan for the Cuban exiles?

  To invade Cuba and start an anti-Castro revolution
• When did the Cuban exiles land on the Bay of Pigs?

  17 April 1961
• What did Castro's government do in response to the invasion?

  They prepared with around 20,000 soldiers
• Why couldn't the USA send military aid to the exiles?

  They were prohibited from doing so
• How did ordinary Cubans react to the exiles?

  They did not rush to help them
• What was the outcome of the invasion?

  The invasion had failed
• What did Castro do after the invasion?

  He showed evidence of victory to the media
• What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion for the USA?

  • Public humiliation for the USA
  • Embarrassment for President Kennedy
  • Encouraged Khrushchev to re-issue the Berlin Ultimatum
  • Allowed Khrushchev to argue communism was popular
• How did the Bay of Pigs invasion affect Kennedy's reputation?

  It was very embarrassing for him
• What did Khrushchev do after the invasion?

  He felt emboldened to re-issue the Berlin Ultimatum
• What did the failure of the Cuban people to rise against Castro imply?

  It allowed Khrushchev to argue communism was popular
• What political stance did Cuba declare after the invasion?

  Cuba declared itself to be a communist
• What was the effect of the invasion on USSR-Cuba relations?

  It led to stronger relations between them
• What did Khrushchev announce in September 1961 regarding Cuba?

  He would send arms to Cuba