Bay of Pigs invasion (apr 17, 1961 – apr 20, 1961)

Description:

-invasion force of US-trained Cuban exiles sent to Cuba by JFK

-supported by US (e.g. warships, indiscriminate bombing)

-intended to spark popular uprising + overthrow Castro - complete failure (exiles defeated after 3 days, no uprising as prominent anti-Castro protestors immediately arrested)

-USA "plausible deniability": didn't send any US troops, but involvement was quickly revealed when captured invaders admitted US training, finance & equipment in front of world media

-consequences: USA lost "moral high ground" in Cold War, showed Castro was right about US intentions, almost direct cause of Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962)

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