The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful attempt by United States-backed Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961.
On April 17, 1961 about 1300 exiles, armed with U.S. weapons, landed at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) on the southern coast of Cuba.
The invasion was stopped by Castro's army.
By the time the fighting ended on April 19, 90 exiles had been killed and the rest had been taken as prisoners.
The invasion made Castro wary of the U.S.