A. How did the Cuban Missile Crisis bring the two superpowers to the brink of war?

It dramatically underscored the risks inherent in extending the Cold War throughout the world. The Soviets took Cuba under their wing after relations between the US and Cuba became strained. When the soviets entered the undisputed territory of the western hemisphere, they ignited a long dispute between two of the world's largest super powers.

B. Why did the United States support Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar? (1950s) Why did the the Soviet Union support Fidel Castro? (1959)

The Soviet Union supported Fidel Castro because its ties with the US were strained, and it was the Soviet’s first opportunity to get to the Western Hemisphere where most influence came from the United States. This was important to assert dominance around the world for the soviets.

C. How did the Bay of Pigs invasion diminish U.S. prestige.

It diminished US prestige because the invasion was unsuccessful, and the majority of Latin America diminished in their support for the US. All of the US invasion force was either killed or captured as a result of their failed invasion. The Cuban forces were too strong for the US.

Cuba