Final answer:
The Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 was a failed U.S.-orchestrated attempt to overthrow Cuba's Fidel Castro, resulting in the strengthening of Castro's regime and tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a significant event in 1961 where a covert operation aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro's government in Cuba failed disastrously. President Kennedy authorized a force of Cuban exiles to land at the Bay of Pigs, with the expectation that this would spark a popular uprising against Castro. However, the invaders were quickly defeated due to a lack of popular support and inadequate air support from the United States, leading to international humiliation and strengthening Castro's rule.
Following the failure of the invasion, Kennedy imposed economic sanctions on Cuba, while Castro sought Soviet military protection, setting the stage for future Cold War confrontations including the Cuban Missile Crisis. This event demonstrated the complexities of U.S. foreign policy and the significant consequences of miscalculation in international affairs.