The causes of the Cuban missile crisis
In April 1962, the Americans put nuclear missiles in Turkey.
In 1959, a rebel named Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, an island just 90 miles away from America. Before Castro took over, the government led by Colonel Batista had been a Nationalist corrupt government .USA had many business interests in Cuba.When Castro came to power, however, he nationalized American companies in Cuba. In retaliation,USA cut all ties with Cuba. This was a blow to Castro as sugar was the mainstay of the Cuban economy. Castro was forced to look to the USSR for help, in 1960, the USSR signed an agreement to buy 1 million tonnes of Cuban sugar every year. Castro became a Communist.
America was alarmed. In April 1961, with Kennedy's knowledge, the CIA funded, trained, armed and transported 1,300 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba. They landed at the Bay of Pigs and made an attempt to overthrow Castro. The invasion was a disaster, and President Kennedy was humiliated.