January 1, 1959 - Cuba becomes Communist and Castro takes control of all American property.
October 19, 1960 - The USA impose economic sanctions so Cuba start trading with the USSR instead.
April 17, 1961- Kennedy uses Cuban exiles to try and invade the country. The invasion, known as ‘The Bay of Pigs invasion’ fails.
October 22, 1962-Khrushchev agrees to remove the missiles from Cuba.
October 26, 1962- Khrushchev writes two letters to Kennedy. The first says he will remove the missiles if Kennedy promises not to invade Cuba the second says that missiles must be removed from Turkey as well.
October 26, 1962-Publicly, Kennedy agrees to the demands of Khrushchev’s first letter. However, in secret he tells Khrushchev that he will remove the missiles.
October 1962-Castro asks the USSR for help in case America invades again so Khrushchev puts missiles on Cuba.
October 1962-U2 spy planes spot the missiles on Cuba so Kennedy sets up a naval blockade. He tells Khrushchev to remove the missiles or risk war.
