In January, 1959, the leftist leader Fidel Castro seized control of the Cuban government, overthrowing the corrupt regime of dictator Fulgencico Batista. Batista had been supported by the American Government and businesses that feared a Communist rebellion. Thus, Castro and his Communist government were not at all welcomed by the Americans. Within a year of gaining control, Castro had brokered a trade deal with the Soviet Union to import oil. The refineries on the island, owned by American corporations, refused to refine the Soviet oil. Castro responded by nationalizing the refineries, making them property of the Cuban government. 4 months later, the U.S. cuts the amount of Cuban sugar it will allow to be sold. Sugar was the top export of Cuba. The U.S. and Cuba sever diplomatic ties.
The American Central Intelligence Agency creates a plan to overthrow the Castro government through a rebellion of Cuban exiles, trained and armed by the U.S. The plan is green-lighted by then President Dwight Eisenhower. When new President John F. Kennedy takes office in January of 1961, one of his top priorities is the overthrow of Communism in Cuba. When the CIA informs Kennedy that they have been training Cuban exiles for months for the planned invasion of the island, Kennedy agrees to it, as long as US forces are not directly involved. In April 1961, the exile forces invade the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. It goes disastrously. Kennedy refuses to directly support the invasion with US troops, fearing international condemnation. Nearly all rebel forces are quickly captured in the poorly planned invasion. A cold relationship has turned frigid.
The American Central Intelligence Agency creates a plan to overthrow the Castro government through a rebellion of Cuban exiles, trained and armed by the U.S. The plan is green-lighted by then President Dwight Eisenhower. When new President John F. Kennedy takes office in January of 1961, one of his top priorities is the overthrow of Communism in Cuba. When the CIA informs Kennedy that they have been training Cuban exiles for months for the planned invasion of the island, Kennedy agrees to it, as long as US forces are not directly involved. In April 1961, the exile forces invade the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. It goes disastrously. Kennedy refuses to directly support the invasion with US troops, fearing international condemnation. Nearly all rebel forces are quickly captured in the poorly planned invasion. A cold relationship has turned frigid.