Final answer:
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed covert operation that took place in 1961, with the goal of overthrowing Fidel Castro's government in Cuba. The United States armed and equipped Cuban refugees, but the invasion was crushed by Castro's military.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed covert operation that took place on April 17, 1961. It was planned by the Eisenhower administration and authorized by President Kennedy with the goal of overthrowing Fidel Castro's government in Cuba. The United States armed and equipped Cuban refugees, but the invasion was crushed by Castro's military, leading to humiliation for the United States and further strengthening nationalistic fervor among the Cuban people.