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US - Spanish War
US defeats Spain, which gives up all claims to Cuba -
Cuba's independence
Cuba becomes independent. Under terms of its independence the island is placed under US protection and the US has the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. -
Cuban Government Gets New Leader.
Sergeant Fulgencio Batista seizes power in a coup. -
Failure At The Take Over
Fidel Castro leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Batista regime -
Guerrilla War
Castro lands in Cuba from Mexico and takes to the Sierra Maestra mountains where, aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara, he wages a guerrilla war against the Batista regime. -
Castro As Prime Minister
Fidel Castro leads a guerrilla army into Havana, the capital, forcing Batista to flee. Castro becomes prime minister -
Tradfe embargo
All US businesses in Cuba are nationalised without compensation. In response, the US imposes a trade embargo. -
US's failures to 'fix' Cuba
The US backs an invasion attempt by Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs. The plan fails and US involvement is made known. Cuba makes closer links with the USSR.
The CIA begins to makes plans to assassinate Castro as part of Operation Mongoose. All attempts are unsuccessful. -
Missile Crisis Sumary
Cuban Missile Crisis occurs when USSR nuclear missiles are discovered on the island. The US releases photos of the missiles in Cuba leading to a crisis which takes the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. Resolved when the USSR agtrees to remove the missiles in reutrn for the withdrawal of US nuclear missiles from Turkey -
The Beginning
Rumours emerge in the US sentate that Russian missiles are to be placed on Cuba. -
Spy Orders
President Kennedy orders a U-2 reconnaissance flight over western Cuba. -
US Spies
A U-2 flying over wstern Cuba discovers missile sites. Photographs provide hard evidence that Soviets have missiles in Cuba -
Military Meeting
Kennedy calls for a meeting of his political advisors and military leaders. At that meeting Kennedy and his advisors discuss possible diplomatic and militay courses of actions. -
Building Arms
Kennedy is told by his General that an air strike could not be guaranteed to destroy all Soivet missiles in Cuba. Kennedy decides on a quarantine of Cuba for the time being. Another U-2 flight reveals bomber planes are being rapidly assembled and cruise missile sites being built on Cuba's northest shore. -
Meeting At The White House
Political leaders assemble at the White House for a meeting with Kennedy. They are shown the photoraphic evidence of the Soviet missile installations. The congressional leaders support stronger action. The President addresses the nation in a televised speech, announcing the presnece of offensive missile sites in Cuba. -
Naval Blockade
A naval blockade of Cuba is put in place by American ships. Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev in which Khrushchev comments that there is a "serious threat to peace and security of peoples". -
Release Of Naval Blockade
Soviet ships en route to Cuba either slow down or reverse their course except for one. -
Missile Withdrawal
Kennedy sends a letter to Khrushchev laying the responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union. Kennedy's advisors discuss a proposal to withdraw US missiles from Trukey in exchange for the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba. -
Cuba Should Be Safe
A CIA report states that there has been no halt in progress in the development of the missile sites and another reconnaissance flight reveals the Soviets are also attemting to camouflage the missiles.
Khrushchev sends another letter to Kennedy proposing removing his missiles if Kennedy would publicly announce never to invade Cuba. -
Fighter Down
A new letter from Khrushchev arrives proposing a public trade of Soviet missiles in Cuba for US missiles in Turkey.
An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot. The plane had strayed into Soviet airspace. -
Tentions Have Been Cleared.
Khrushchev announces that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba.
