A cluster of five countries; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica; are commonly referred to as Central America. Although these nations differ in their histories and politics, they share at least one factor: they have been caught up in the turmoil of America’s foreign policy in this region. These recordings depict the chain of events that have led to the Central America we view on television.

The World’s Political Hotspots Series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions recently have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

Colombia in the 1980s became known for its role in the illegal drug trade, and for political instability and violence caused by this problem. But much of this is a recent development in Colombia’s history that began in the 1530s, when Spain conquered local Indian kingdoms. This is the story of how Spain’s “New Granada” evolved into Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, and modern Colombia.

The World’s Political Hot Spots series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions recently have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

This island was once a clearing house for importing slaves into the New World. It later became one of the world’s few remaining bastions of Marxism, proclaiming socio-economic equality. In both forms, Cuba has played a unique and dramatic role in American affairs. This presentation focuses on Cuba’s economic and social upheaval, with special attention to how this has affected the United States.

The World’s Political Hotspots Series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions recently have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

In 1540, Mexico was declared to be New Spain. With a diverse culture and great natural resources, it should have prospered like its northern neighbor. But Mexico’s history includes political corruption, war, revolution, and grinding poverty. Why has the fate of Mexico been so different than that of the United States?

The World’s Political Hot Spots Series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

South Africa has become the world’s symbol of racism. From the moment the Dutch colonists set foot on the Cape in 1652, this nation has steered a straight course toward apartheid, resulting in consistent civil unrest. This presentation explores the economic and social forces that have brought South Africa into the international spotlight.

The World’s Political Hot Spots Series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions recently have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

At the end of World War II, the United States and Soviet Russia vied for dominance around the world. This contest was called the Cold War. Both Korea and Vietnam felt the full brunt of this conflict; each country was divided into two ideologically opposing sectors. To the north, the Communists dominated; to the south, the United States prevailed. In both countries, America faced what has been called her worst nightmare: involvement in a land war in Asia.

The United States at War Series is a collection of audio presentations that review the political, economic, and social forced that have erupted in military conflict. They describe the historical context for each of the nine major US wars and examine how a military conflict resolved or failed to resolve the forces that caused the war.

More than half of the world’s oil comes from Persian Gulf states. Political instability and religious strife there threaten to interrupt the world’s economic routines. Two presentations examine the history of Persia, Iran’s attempt to westernize, and the backlash of religiously fervent Muslims against the West and each other.

The World’s Political Hot Spots Series explains the basis of conflicts in some of the world’s most politically sensitive areas. Many of these regions are in today’s headlines, and tensions recently have become violent in virtually all of them. Each presentation covers up to ten centuries of background, revealing how and why today’s problems occur.

In 1895 Cuba began its struggle for independence from Spain–a struggle that resulted in a demand for US involvement. This demand gained intensity when the USS Maineinexplicably sank in a Havana harbor in 1898.

Tensions between the two nations rose as the United States continued to insist that Spain grant Cuba its independence and withdraw forces from the island. On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the United States. Due to an utter lack of preparedness on Spain’s part, the war was decidedly one-sided. The conflict lasted less than a year. In the resulting treaty, Spain renounced its claim to Cuba, and the United Statesacquired colonies in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

The United States at War series is a collection of presentations that review the political, economic, and social tensions that have erupted in military conflict and examine how the conflict resolved, or failed to resolve, those tensions.

World War II redrew the map of the world. No longer would Europe be the center of power. As the continent exhausted itself in yet another war, two new nations with conflicting ideologies were rising to prominence: the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Both nations would eventually fight on the same sidein World War II, but they would not emerge as partners.

What was the ultimate cost of World War II? For the Axis nations, it was defeat, humiliation, and economic ruin; for the Allies, the price was more subtle. They had instituted economic and social policies to pursue the war, many of which struck to the very heart of liberty. And soon, hostility between two of the Allied powers, America and the Soviet Union, would blossom into the Cold War.

The United States at War series is a collection of presentations that review the political, economic, and social tensions that have erupted in military conflict and examine how the conflict resolved, or failed to resolve, those tensions.

World War II reshaped the map of the world. No longer would Europe be the center of world power. As the continent exhausted itself in yet another war, two new nations, with conflicting ideologies, were rising to prominence. They were the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Both nations would eventually fight in World War II on the same side. But they would not emerge as partners.

The United States at War is a collection of audio presentations that review the political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict. They describe the historical context for each of the nine major US wars and examine how a military conflict resolved or failed to resolve the forces that caused the war.

What was the ultimate cost of World War II? For the Axis peoples, it was defeat, humiliation, and economic ruin. For the Allied peoples, the price was more subtle. They had instituted economic and social policies to pursue the war, and many of these struck to the very heart of liberty. Soon, hostility between two of the Allied powers, America and Russia, would blossom into the Cold War.

The United States at War is a collection of audio presentations that review the political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict. They describe the historical context for each of the nine major US wars and examine how a military conflict resolved or failed to resolve the forces that caused the war.