1961

-Castro came into power and became dictator of Cuba (1959)

-Bay of Pigs which failed -> drove Castro into the arms of the communists
-Castro accepts USSRs proposal to build missile sites in Cuba
-Threat because major US cities in range
-USA Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Japan pointing to USSR and missiles in West pointing to East
Germany
1962
-USA sent spy planes developed pictures of missile sites -> alarmed USA