Key learning points

1. In 1959, Fidel Castro led a nationalist revolution in Cuba which overthrew Batista's unpopular, US-backed government.
2. Castro confiscated US property; the USA responded with economic sanctions which led Cuba to move closer to the USSR.
3. The USA's attempt to use CIA-trained, Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro ended with defeat at the Bay of Pigs.
4. The Bay of Pigs incident damaged the reputation of Kennedy and the USA and meant Cuba and the USSR became closer allies.
5. Kennedy was concerned that the USSR would place missiles in Cuba but Khrushchev assured him that this would not happen.

Keywords

• Revolution - a rapid and important change

• Export - a product or service that is sold and transported to another country

• Nationalist - someone who strongly believes in and supports their own country, placing its interests above those of other nations

• CIA - stands for Central Intelligence Agency; part of the US government that is responsible for espionage and secret operations

• Exile - someone who has been forced to leave their home and live somewhere else, often for political reasons

Common misconception