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Castro’s first revolution attempt, in the summer of 1953, failed, and he was put in jail.
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Castro returned to Cuba, in December 1956, in an invasion that they hoped would lead to a swift victory.
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On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba, and Castro’s group took control of the nation.
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Beginning in March 1960, the CIA trained people who opposed Castro for the assault.
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A Cuban force of 20,000 easily overwhelmed the invaders, capturing about 1,100 men and imprisoning them.
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On October 23, 1961, a poll showed that one-fifth of Americans believed World War III was coming soon.
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By October 15, 1962, the administration knew with certainty that Cuba had the missiles and the launching capacity to attack the United States.
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On October 22, President Kennedy issued a formal demand to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that the missiles be removed from Cuba.