Between April 1956 and April 1961 the friendly relationship between the United States and Cuba collapsed, and the two countries grew to be fast enemies. This historical text recounts how Cuba, though largely "Americanized" at the time, became increasingly nationalistic, defensive and militarized under the Provisional Government instituted in 1959. Under the influence of a burgeoning paranoia, Cuba anticipated a covert invasion from the United States and purged American customs and values from Cuban society. Also examined is the poor insight and reliance on faulty intelligence by the United States which led to profound mistakes in its foreign relations strategy, and ultimately to a complete breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two nations.