Analyzing The Bay of Pigs Invasion
Overview
These primary source excerpts are broken into 2 groups: Cuban perspectives and American perspectives of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Consider having students work in pairs or small groups to read, discussion and answer the questions for their perspective. Then have students from both perspectives share observations. Consider using a guided question such as "Why are views so different for the same event, especially of those who fought at the Bay of Pigs?"
Background
Photo: Fidel Castro in a tank near Playa Giron (aka Bay of the Pigs) on April 17, 1971.
As someone who was fortunate to visit the Museo Girón as part of the Cuban Culture & Society Teacher Institute through Tulane University, I thought it would be good to have students analyze and discuss U.S. and Cuban perspectives of the famous Bay of Pigs invasion, which occurred from April 17-19, 1961. On the following pages are some primary source quotes in a reproducible worksheet format with discussion questions that could be used when teaching about this topic. This could be a helpful exercise before students write a DBQ essay or to work on analytical skills using various primary source documents. You could have students partner up or work in small groups to analyze one or both perspectives on the invasion and then have a class discussion.
Activities
Use the attached primary source excerpts with the questions to consider and have students analyze them individually, in pairs or small groups. You could split the class in half so half read the Cuban perspectives and half read the American perspectives. Then allow time for groups to report out and share their findings. A guiding question could be: How could two sides see the Bay of Pigs invasion so differenly?
Resources
The History Channel Bay of Pigs Invasion Website
This website includes short video clips, audio clips and additional information about the invasion. Students could read it in class if they have a digital device, it could be assigned for homework or you could print out some of the material for in class reading and show the clips to the entire class.
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/bay-of-pigs-invasion
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Website
This website includes letters, archival materials, audio speeches and additional information about President Kennedy’s involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-Bay-of-Pigs.aspx
50th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion (1 ½ hours)
Historians Timothy Natfali and Peter Kornbluh and Alfredo Duran, a Cuban exile who participated in the assault, examine the steps leading to the Bay of Pigs and lessons learned by the Kennedy Administration.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/mDT9kKj0dEaYkORl3AiPJg.aspx
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
This website includes a summary of the events and a brief overview of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/bay-of-pigs
Cuba: The 40 Years War Documentary (52 minutes)
In 2001 40 years after the Bay of Pigs invasion, 5 Cuban-American veterans return to Havana to attend a conference on the invasion. It was the first time these men had set foot on Cuban soil since their release from Castro's prisons in 1963. Appropriate counterparts on the Cuban side were expected to attend, but whether Castro himself would show up was never assured and remained a mystery till the opening session. When he did finally show up, he sat directly across from the ex-CIA operative, Sam Halpern, who ran John F. Kennedy's Operation Mongoose, the objective of which was to assassinate Fidel Castro.
Bay of Pigs: Death to the Invader (In Spanish)
A special report on the aggression of the people of Cuba (actual 1961 film footage).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7dTJJwg_lU
Sixty Six Horas
Documentary about the CIA-organized invasion of the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Includes interviews with the main participants as well as images of the battle. In Spanish with English subtitles.