Latin American History Archives ‑ History.com

A Timeline of US‑Cuba Relations

The United States and Cuba share a long, complex history—first as allies and trade partners, and later as bitter ideological enemies. For four centuries after the arrival of Christopher Columbus, Spain ruled Cuba as its main colony in the Caribbean, but the U.S. long coveted the island just off its southern coast. America provided major […]

The Mariel Boatlift: How Cold War Politics Drove Thousands of Cubans to Florida in 1980

After Fidel Castro loosened emigration policies, some 125,000 Cubans landed on U.S. shores over a span of five months.

Why the Bay of Pigs Invasion Went So Wrong

Before the break of dawn on April 15, 1961, a squadron of eight B‑26 bombers piloted by Cuban exiles roared down a Nicaraguan airstrip on a secret mission. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and President John F. Kennedy hoped the Bay of Pigs Invasion would result in the overthrow of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. But the operation […]

The Epic Motorcycle Trip That Turned Che Guevara Into a Revolutionary

Before Che Guevara became a Marxist guerilla commander, before he became a revolutionary icon emblazoned on T‑shirts, before he was even known as “Che,” there was a buddy, a bike and an epic road trip that would change the course of his life and world history. In December 1951, 23‑year‑old Argentine medical student Ernesto Rafael […]

The Secret Cold War Program That Airlifted Cuban Kids to the U.S.—Without Their Parents

“What are you doing here?” The social worker peered at Carlos Eire, shocked to find the Cuban 12‑year‑old in a home for delinquent boys in Miami, Florida. “You’re supposed to be with your uncle.” By 1963, the preteen had been living in the foster home for months, accompanied by his brother and a revolving cast […]

13 Photos of Powerful Communist Leaders and Dictators

Communism as an ideology arose in the wake of the first Industrial Revolution when overworked, underpaid workers felt exploited and sought better representation in government. The Communist Manifesto, as laid out by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, called for a classless society where each person would contribute according to ability and receive according to his […]

The Surprising Role Mexico Played in World War II

Most may not think of Mexico as contributing to the Allied effort, but it contributed key resources, as well as fighting power.

41 Has a Secret Meaning in Mexico, Thanks to a Queer Underground Ball

The ‘Dance of the 41’ changed the way that Mexico interpreted gender and sexuality forever.

How the Castro Family Dominated Cuba for Nearly 60 Years

For nearly 60 years, the Castro family controlled Cuba. But in April 2018, it was announced that the island nation long dominated by the specter of its former dictator, Fidel Castro, and his family will get a new leader. On April 19, 2018, the 86‑year‑old Raúl Castro will step down and Miguel Díaz‑Canel, his handpicked […]

JFK Files: Cuban Intelligence Was in Contact With Oswald, Praised His Shooting Ability

On October 26, the National Archives made public more than 2,800 files relating to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, just hours before the deadline set for their final release by Congress in the 1992 JFK Records Collection Act. President Donald Trump announced he was blocking the immediate release of some 300 files, […]

The Biggest Revelations in the Declassified JFK Assassination Files

The National Archives just released more than 2,800 previously classified records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, sparking a feeding frenzy among historians and conspiracy theorists alike.Click HERE for our most recent story on what the documents contain. As CNN has reported, among the earliest revelations to emerge from the newly released files were […]

5 Things You Might Not Know About the Bay of Pigs Invasion

The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attack on the southwestern coast of Cuba in April 1961 by CIA‑led Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution. Explore some intriguing facts about the failed U.S.‑orchestrated attack on Fidel Castro’s Cuba. 1. The paramilitary group that led the invasion took its name from the serial […]