Bay of Pigs Invasion

In the early 1950's the United States was worried about the spread of communism in the world. The United States provided many forms of aid to countries that were about to fall to the communist government. The Truman Doctrine, Eisenhower Doctrine, and the Marshal Plan provided food, weapons, and clothing to countries to help keep communism at bay. But when communism entered Cuba, the Cold War got a little more frigid.

In January 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew the dictator of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista. In the beginning Castro was a very conservative dictator. He was liked by the Cuban people, and by other countries, including the United States. The United States government thought that Castro was a spiritual leader who would have a positive influence on the citizens of Cuba. Vice President Richard Nixon stated that, "The one fact we can be sure of is that Fidel Castro has those indefinable qualities which make him a leader of men" (Kornbluh, 7).

When Fidel Castro realized how much power he had it literally went to his head.

Within six months, Castro was portraying Cuba as a victim of American imperialism, to muster the Cuban's sentiments. The revolutionary regime began taking over United States properties, land, and industry

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

The United States provided funds, equipment and training. , including American oil refineries, sugar mills, and electric utilities. Both were about the attempted Bay of Pigs invasion.

In June of 1960, the United States Congress passed legislation enabling President Eisenhower to take retaliatory steps such as cutting off sugar purchases from Cuba, and placing an embargo on all exports except for food and medicine. In the last analysis, however, there are only two courses which would eliminate the Castro regime at an early date: an invasion or a complete blockade. 8 tons of supplies and weapons for 4000 men. The invasion was a failure and an embarrassment to the Kennedy administration (Britannica). The burden of the blame falls most heavily on the Agency that conceived and directed the invasion itself. Citizens were watching Castro open his gates of revolution to the communist and Cuba became a monolithic dictatorship.

As for the captured, Fidel Castro demanded money for the release of the exiles, but President Kennedy would not comply with his demand.

The Bay of Pigs invasion was not the end of tense moments between Cuba and the United Soviets Socialist Republic and the United States of America. For months there has been evident and growing resistance to the Castro dictatorship. For exactly two weeks beginning on October 15, 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis existed.

Approximate Word count = 1828
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.