Transcript Bay of Pigs Invasion JH - BMC

Slide 1: Overview
Slide 2: The Conflict
Slide 3: The Plan
Slide 4: The Action
Slide 5: The Result
Slide 6: Gallery
Slide 7: Bibliography
United States of
America
Cuba
Flags
Date:
Cuban exiles trained by
the US
Cuban Militia
Commanders
Fidel Castro
Arnaldo Ochoa Sanchez
Ernesto Che Guevara
Grayston Lynch
Pepe San Roman
Erneido Oliva
Strength
1,500
51, 000
Casualties
Estimated 2,200
115 Dead
1,189 Captured
15th-19th April, 1961
Location: Bay of Pigs, Southern Cuba
Result:
Combatants
Victory for the Cuban Government
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US
President:
John F.
Kennedy
Cuba’s Prime
Minister: Fidel
Castro
US-Cuban tensions had grown since the Cuban
president, Fidel Castro had overthrown the
regime of General Fulgencio. This friction
caused the US to end diplomatic relations with
Cuba.
Even before relations were ended however, the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had begun
training anti-revolutionary Cuban exiles in order
to prepare for a possible invasion.
Since seizing power in 1959, Fidel Castro has
repeatedly prophesied US intervention which
would threaten his anti-imperialist revolution. In
response, he vowed to obliterate any invaders.
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President Kennedy confers with
Soviet Premier Nikita S.
Khrushchev in Vienna, 1961
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a United
States planned and funded attempt to
overthrow the government of the Cuban
revolutionary by armed Cuban exiles in
southwest Cuba.
The operation was designed in order to
overthrow the Castro regime without
revealing the involvement of the US.
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On April 17, 1,5000 exiles
armed with US weapons,
landed at the Bay of Pigs on
the South Coast of Cuba.
The exiles hoped to gain
support from the local
population however they were
soon met by Castro’s army who
quickly stopped their actions.
When the fighting finished on
the 19th of April, 100 men had
been killed while the remainder
had been taken prisoner.
Although US president, John.
F Kennedy first approved the
invasion, when it became
apparent that the operation
would fail he refused to order air
support.
Within three days, the force,
abandoned by Kennedy and the
US Military were forced to
surrender with disastrous
consequences.
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When the fighting ended on the 19th of April, the US
had suffered an embarrassing defeat. 100 exiles had
been killed while the remainder were taken prisoner.
Later the Cuban Government released the captured
exiles after a substantial ransom payout. A 53 million
dollar ransom in food and medicine was paid by the
US. The Kennedy administration was blamed for
inadequate air support and allowing the invasion to
take place. The operation prompted great humiliation
towards the Kennedy administration and significantly
increased Cold War tensions.
As a result the Cuban government became more wary
of US intervention in Cuba. After the victory, Fidel
Castro declared allegiance to the Soviets, announcing
for the first time that Cuba was heading towards
communism.
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Fidel Castro with Soviet leader
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Books/ Encyclopedia
‘Bay of Pigs Invasion’ Family Encyclopedia of World History, The
Reader’s Digest Association limited, London, 1996, pp. 65
‘Bay of Pigs Invasion’ World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc,
Chicago, 2001, vol 4, pp.766-167
Chronicle of the 20th Century, Penguin, Paris, 1990, pp. 863
Oxford Dictionary of World History, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
2000, pp. 60
The 20th Century, JG Press Inc, USA 2000, pp453
Internet- Website
Wikipedia. ‘Bay of Pigs Invasion’, 2006,
http://www.wikipedia.com)bayofpigsinvasion.html (31st July 2006)
The History Channel ’Bay of Pigs Invasion’, 2004,
http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/this_day_in_history/this_day
_April_17.php (6th August)
CD ROM
Microsoft. ‘Bay of pigs Invasion’, Encarta Encyclopedia, Microsoft
Corporation, USA, 1995
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