What happened in Cuba?

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  • What happened in Cuba?
    • In 1959, a revolution takes place which brings Fidel Castro to power. Cuba is now a communist state.
      • What did the USA do?
        • American CIA invade the Bay of Pigs in hope that the Cuban masses will rise up against the government.
        • Attack at Bay of Pigs is a failure. This indirectly leads to Kennedy placing nuclear missiles in Turkey.
          • On 16 October 1962 an American U-2 spy plane flies over the nuclear missile site in Cuba and takes photographs.
            • American CIA invade the Bay of Pigs in hope that the Cuban masses will rise up against the government.
            • Photographs are shown to Kennedy on 18 October. Allies are informed of this on 21 October, shortly before it was revealed to the public.
              • USA announces a 'quarantine' like state of Cuba. They say that they will stop and search all ships going to Cuba.
                • Kennedy did not know how to respond. The Americans had considered taking out the missiles from Turkey but they didn't want to succumb to USSR's demands.
                  • Americans demand that the missiles are removed from Cuba or else they will attack and invade Cuba.
                  • Kennedy decides on ignoring the second letter and responding to the first one, accepting the Soviet proposal.
                    • On 27 October 1962, Robert Kennedy (the President's brother) has a meeting with the Soviet Ambassador.
                    • R. Kennedy assures the Soviet Ambassador that the missiles will be removed from Turkey, but this will be hidden from the public. In turn, USSR must remove the Cuban missiles.
              • Americans demand that the missiles are removed from Cuba or else they will attack and invade Cuba.
      • What did the USSR do?
        • After Kennedy places missiles in Turkey, Khrushchev places nuclear missiles in Cuba as an act of defence.
        • Soviets try to secretly move the nuclear missiles to the Caribbean.
          • In public, Khrushchev states that 'no missile capable of reaching the United States will be placed in Cuba.
            • After Kennedy places missiles in Turkey, Khrushchev places nuclear missiles in Cuba as an act of defence.
            • Khrushchev is proven to be lying when the photographs of the nuclear missile site in Cuba are revealed. However, Khrushchev continues to deny placing any missiles.
              • When both the superpowers come very close to a war, Khrushchev writes a letter to Kennedy on 26 October 1962, stating that they will remove the missiles if the USA promises not to invade Cuba.
              • On 27 October, Khrushchev writes another letter to Kennedy saying that USA must remove the missiles from Turkey, and only then USSR will remove the Cuban missiles.
                • R. Kennedy's message of the deal over Turkey is given to Khrushchev. The Soviets readily accept this deal and promised that they would remove the missiles.
                  • When both the superpowers come very close to a war, Khrushchev writes a letter to Kennedy on 26 October 1962, stating that they will remove the missiles if the USA promises not to invade Cuba.
                  • The crisis is over.
                    • R. Kennedy assures the Soviet Ambassador that the missiles will be removed from Turkey, but this will be hidden from the public. In turn, USSR must remove the Cuban missiles.

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