History – Everything You Never Knew about Latin America

PBSuccess: The 1954 Guatemalan Coup

The list of U.S.-backed, -led, and -sponsored coups in Latin America is lengthy and bloody. In one example from 1954, the United States intervened in the decade-old Guatemalan Revolution, deposing a popular and democratically elected leader in favor of a dictator who would be friendly to U.S. business interests. The following is a short recapContinue reading “PBSuccess: The 1954 Guatemalan Coup”

The 1973 Chilean Coup

“¡Viva Chile! ¡Viva el pueblo! ¡Vivan los trabajadores!” As his speech neared its end, Chilean President Salvador Allende cemented his legacy as a martyr for the people of his country. “Long live Chile! Long live the country! Long live the workers!”1 Within hours, he would be dead, and his country would be ruled by aContinue reading “The 1973 Chilean Coup”

The Treaty of Tordesillas

In last week’s overview of Carnival, I noted that the celebration had different spellings in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking parts of the world. I received a question asking why some parts of Latin America spoke Spanish while others spoke Portuguese (not to mention why English, French, Dutch, and other European languages are also prevalent). TheContinue reading “The Treaty of Tordesillas”

The South American Dreadnought Race

I have a soft spot for naval history, as I’ve always had a fascination with the sea. Today’s post is my first foray into writing about military warships, and I’ve chosen one of the more unique and overlooked aspects of naval history as my topic. In the modern age, battleships are mostly a relic ofContinue reading “The South American Dreadnought Race”

The Building of the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is not the longest manmade waterway in the Western Hemisphere, but it is the most important, as it bridges the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Additionally, its construction is one of the most impressive feats of human engineering in history. Numerous political leaders bandied about plans for connecting East and West through PanamaContinue reading “The Building of the Panama Canal”