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Fidel Castro assumes power after Cuban Revolution.
Biography Fidel Castro took power of Cuba in 1959. This was dangerous for the USA because Cuba was right off the coast of Florida. In 1960, Cuba made trade agreements with Russia, where Cuba would send sugar to Russia in return for oil, machines and money. After this the US cancelled all trades with Cuba in 1960, which caused Cuba to nationalize all American-owned companies. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis
InfoThe Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the Soviet Union and Cuba on one side and the United States on the other. Soviet and Cuban governments began to build bases in Cuba for a number medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic nuclear missiles with the ability to strike most of the United States. -
Cuba aligns with Soviet Union
InfoVideo. After their revolution, the Soviet Union became the world's first Communist country. The U.S ended relations with Cuba, the Soviet Union happily filled the void, supplying Cuba with economic assistance, trade, and military support. When President Eisenhower refused to pay for the sugar Cuba had sold to the United States, the Soviets agreed to buy the sugar and Cuba became more closely aligned with the Soviet Union. -
The Bay of Pigs
info Bay of Pigs Backed by the U.S., a group of Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in a failed attempt to trigger an anti-Castro rebellion. The Bay of Pigs invasion ended the possibility of a US-Cuba friendship. Fidel Castro decided to allow the Soviet Union to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba and aid Cuba in its defense. -
Khrushchev and Kennedy hold summit talks in Vienna
info Vienna Summit Vienna Summit, meeting between President John F. Kennedy, and Premier Nikita Khrushchev. In there they discussed issues about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the relationship between their countries. Khrushchev told Kennedy, "Force will be met by force. If the US wants war, that's its problem." "It's up to the US to decide whether there will be war or peace.”. Kennedy replied, "Then, Mr. Chairman, there will be a war. It will be a cold, long winter." -
Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko, warns that an American attack on Cuba could mean war with the Soviet Union.
Andrei GromykoThe U.S considered attacking Cuba via air and sea. The US announced that it would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba and demanded that the Soviets dismantle the missile bases. Kennedy’s administration hoped that the Soviet Union would agree to their demands. Khrushchev wrote a letter to Kennedy "navigation in international waters and air space" "an act of aggression propelling humankind into the abyss of a world nuclear-missile -
A U-2 flying over Cuba gets photos of missile sites
InfoA U-2 aircraft, piloted by Air Force Maj. Richard Heyser, flew over the western part of Cuba. The pilot got photographic evidence of the existence of Soviet offensive missile sites in Cuba. The National Photographic Intelligence Center revealed that three medium-range ballistic missile sites were being developed near San Cristobal. Photo analysts counted eight large MRBM transporters at the three locations and four erector launchers in tentative firing positions. -
Joint Chiefs advice Kennedy to make an air strike.
Info. Joint Chief Chairman General Maxwell states that all the Joint Chiefs agreed to initiate an air strike and also a blockade on Cuba, but he expresses concern about political impact, and admits that the missile sites would probably not be destroyed. President Kennedy stated that it would give the USSR a perfect opportunity to take Berlin away from us. -
President Kennedy adresses the nation / U.S Defense Condition.
Info Video Congressional leaders are shown the photographic evidence of the Soviet missile Cuban installations. President Kennedy addresses the nation in a televised speech, announcing the presence of offensive missile sites in Cuba.
The United States military forces go to DEFCON 3 (Defense Condition 3) -
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev
InfoPresident Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev, in there he stated “Our ties with the Republic of Cuba, like our relations with other states, regardless of what kind of states they may be, concern only the two countries between which these relations exist” “You are not declaring a quarantine, but rather are setting forth an ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give in to your demands you will use force.” -
Soviet Ships change course, except for one
InfoShips carrying missiles and Soviet Union submarines that were on their way to Cuba approach the 800km blockade zone; the ones closest to the blockade stop and reverse their course except for one. United States Military forces go to DEFCON 2 (Defense Condition 2). -
Kennedy responds to Khrushchev's telegram.
Kennedy responded to Khrushchev's telegram, stating that the US was forced into action after receiving repeated assurances that no offensive missiles were being placed in Cuba, and that when these assurances proved to be false, the deployment "required the responses I have announced... I hope that your government will take necessary action to permit a restoration of the earlier situation." -
Khrushchev sends a letter to President Kennedy
InfoIn this letter, Khrushchev admits for the first time the presence of nuclear missiles in Cuba. He says that the missiles are only defensive. He also says that if the USA assured that they would not attack Cuba and the blockade withdrawn, the question of removing his missiles from Cuba would be a completely different one. -
U.S will not invade Cuba
InfoAn American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson
A U-2 strays into Soviet airspace, near Alaska, and is nearly intercepted by Soviet fighters
Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that he will make a statement that the U.S. will not invade Cuba if Khrushchev removes the missiles from Cuba -
Removal of missiles in Cuba and Turkey
Info Khrushchev sends a letter to congress announcning over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba. The United States in return agrees have all nuclear missiles in Turkey removed, which puts an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
